ATLANTA - Georgia Dome (71,228)

[GunnerJacket]

AJC columnist Tony Barnhardt offered an excellent rebuttal to this idea, which more and more feels sadly like posturing by the Falcons. I don't doubt the sincerity of the desire for an outdoor experience, but the Dome has become too valuable to the area's economy and identity to risk losing all the concerts, convention events and, most importantly, the Super Bowl, SEC championship game, SEC men's hoops tournament and the NCAA Final Four. Perhaps that very reason is why the Falcons think they can strong arm the City into creating another facility, but that would really sour my opinion of (Falcon's owner) Arthur Blank. But if the Falcons new home kills the city's chances to continue hosting those events in the future, they'll have done far more harm than they could ever hope to reconcile to this community.

Ultimately the best interest of everyone is the Falcons making the best out of whatever the city can afford in a domed or retractable stadium. I'm still aghast at how reworking this facility is considered insufficient, but as originally theorized, I think this is all a lot of early posturing for the negotiations yet to come.

[en1044]

Is it possible to just throw a retractable roof on this thing?

[GunnerJacket]

Originally Posted by en1044

Is it possible to just throw a retractable roof on this thing?

It's possible to do a lot of things, it's simply a matter of costs. For some reason the Falcons think it's unreasonable to amend the interior structure but they really like the location. Put another way, the costs to renovate it the way they really want wouldn't provide the return on investment desired. Frankly, I'm skeptical of that assumption simply because the ROI of building new would appear to be just as negligible. After all, this isn't the Metrodome we're talking about.

Flexibility in size is one thing they'd like, with say a min capacity in the 65-68k range to ensure more sellouts for regular season Falcons games, and then a greater than 80k capacity for Super Bowls, Chic-Fil-A bowl, etc. That is unworkable right now but then again that's not so large a variation as to warrant being a priority, IMO. (Compared with Jerry World's 20k deviation)

There's the usual banter about the suites and high end seating, but that seems more a product-related issue to increase demand. There's also a genuine interest to improve tailgating atmosphere and create a more appealing stadium architecture, but neither of those is going to dramatically increase ticket values in my mind. Otherwise the venue isn't a relic and the sightlines and concessions are quite decent, the Falcons simply don't have the best lease agreement compared to modern standards.

I think what it boils down to is this - The Falcons as a franchise are not going to severely increase in value unless 1) the product wins some trophies and takes on a stronger local and national profile, or 2) the revenue stream related to the venue is improved. Since they can't completely control the former, they're doing what they can on the latter, beginning with all the talk and fantasizing that doesn't cost anything.

[Dallas boi]

This stadium is nice, if the dome was round it would look better.

[Dallas boi]

[GaForce]

Georgia dome under construction













Man....Seeing these photos before the roof was finished makes me wish they didn't put one on the place. I understand why they domed it. To get conventions, Super Bowls and College championship games, but the NFL experiece would've been so much better if this didnt have a roof

[eMKay]

Yeah, it might just be better without the roof. It would be completely ridiculous to replace this modern stadium.

[weava]

Originally Posted by eMKay

Yeah, it might just be better without the roof. It would be completely ridiculous to replace this modern stadium.

That would be awesome if they removed the roof. I doubt they would consider it since they seem host NCAA basketball games there fairly often

[GaForce]

Originally Posted by weava

That would be awesome if they removed the roof. I doubt they would consider it since they seem host NCAA basketball games there fairly often

Yeah that's why they are up in arms about building another stadium because this place makes money hand over fist between the Falcons, SEC Football and Basketball. I really wish they would put a retractable on this thing. And not one of those peep hole kinds like in Dallas or Arizona. Maybe one that opens like this??

[en1044]

I don't think a roof like that would be possible financially.

[Carver02]

Originally Posted by rantanamo

^We have been asking Europeans such questions forever.

Five years later and I'm the first to acknowledge this witty remark?


Re: The GA Dome: It's a beautiful facility in a great location. The exterior is distinctive and the interior certainly seems modern enough. It's a good home for the Falcons who don't need to move anywhere. Hopefully they will update the surrounding facilities as suggested to keep and expand convention business and the Falcons will stay put.

[rantanamo]

I like the "peephole" in Dallas. It was actually made to mimic Texas Stadium. If it wasn't, the roof would have been more wide open considering that's what the proposals said. Anyways, appreciate unique roofs. They really aren't that common.

[Jericho-79]

Does the Georgia Dome currently have the second-highest dome/roof in North America?

I figure the order of height would be like this:

Cowboys Stadiums > Georgia Dome > Superdome > BC Place > Rogers Centre > Reliant Stadium > University Of Phoenix Stadium > Lucas Oil Stadium > Ford Field

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[will101]

Originally Posted by Jericho-79

Does the Georgia Dome currently have the second-highest dome/roof in North America? I figure the order of height would be like this:
Cowboys Stadiums > Georgia Dome > Superdome > BC Place > Rogers Centre > Reliant Stadium > University Of Phoenix Stadium > Lucas Oil Stadium > Ford Field
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

The stadiums that you listed, in order of maximum roof height:
Rogers Centre, 310 feet
Cowboys Stadium, 292 feet (only 90 feet between the field and scoreboard)
(tie) Superdome and Lucas Oil Stadium, 273 feet
Georgia Dome, 271 feet
Reliant Stadium, 265 feet
University of Phoenix Stadium, 206 feet
BC Place, 204 feet
Ford Field, 168 feet.

[Jericho-79]

Originally Posted by will101

Rogers Centre, 310 feet
Cowboys Stadium, 292 feet (only 90 feet between the field and scoreboard)
(tie) Superdome and Lucas Oil Stadium, 273 feet
Georgia Dome, 271 feet
Reliant Stadium, 265 feet
University of Phoenix Stadium, 206 feet
BC Place, 204 feet
Ford Field, 168 feet.

That's funny. I always thought Jerry's World had the highest dome in North America.

You could see that thing all the way from the DFW Airport.

[Jim856796]

Maybe we'll have to futureproof the Georgia Dome so it won't be threatened with demolition because of a new stadium for the Falcons.

[FloridaKnight]

Originally Posted by Jim856796

Maybe we'll have to futureproof the Georgia Dome so it won't be threatened with demolition because of a new stadium for the Falcons.

I'm pretty sure they're in the process of renovation/already have renovated a bit in recent years. That dome's gotta be a cash cow for the city too with all the events it hosts throughout the year too.

[will101]

Originally Posted by Jericho-79

That's funny. I always thought Jerry's World had the highest dome in North America.

You could see that thing all the way from the DFW Airport.

People do not think of the former Skydome as being that high, because it is less than 100 yards from an 1,800 foot tower.

[rantanamo]

Originally Posted by will101

The stadiums that you listed, in order of maximum roof height:
Rogers Centre, 310 feet
Cowboys Stadium, 292 feet (only 90 feet between the field and scoreboard)
(tie) Superdome and Lucas Oil Stadium, 273 feet
Georgia Dome, 271 feet
Reliant Stadium, 265 feet
University of Phoenix Stadium, 206 feet
BC Place, 204 feet
Ford Field, 168 feet.

[pirlo_21]

wwe's wrestlemania is here in four weeks the stadium should look great