The process of bringing a new Falcons stadium to downtown is moving along, but it's definitely not getting any less complicated. The AJC reports that, during a three-hour work session with the public and Falcons officials, several city council members "signaled they want the stadium project to help fund a batch of community needs," including new infrastructure, MARTA improvements and hyperlocal job sourcing. Several council members seemed to support one proposal to grant at least 30 percent of stadium contracts to minority-owned companies, and a few Everyday Joe's who spoke asked for guarantees that the stadium would bring jobs to Vine City and English Avenue. "Guarantee" is a tough word, but Falcons President Rich McKay reportedly said there will exist an "equal opportunity employment commitment."
The current plan is for Falcons owner Arthur Blank to pony up about $800 million of the $1 billion price tag for the proposed retractable-roof stadium, with the city accounting for the rest via a hotel-motel tax (to back bonds). It would theoretically go up very near where the Georgia Dome now stands — though rumors of a move to Los Angeles or to the suburbs if a deal isn't reached soon have been circulated. The City Council basically holds the long-debated stadium's fate in its collective hands. The board of Invest Atlanta, the city's economic development agency, was scheduled to meet this morning to discuss its potential use of the aforementioned bonds, the AJC reported. A public input session is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 27 at City Hall. Should be a bona fide barnburner!
— By Curbed Atlanta contributor Tyler Estep
· Atlanta Falcons stadium debate continues at City Hall [AJC]