Reading and hearing the rumors that it's possbility the Falcons flee town and mvoe across country to Los Angeles. This doesn't seem like the greatest idea and while I think it's a long shot given the team is winning and there is fan supports it still seems to be possible. Any thoughts?
I don't believe Blank would Bluff without being able to back it up. I also think he used it as leverage in a private setting. In return some in that setting used it as leverage to hurt him in the fan base. The Falcons have made the playoffs 4 of the last 5 seasons yet the suites are almost half empty and many seats as well. What will it look like if they start losing? Blank makes no money on the dome, he is willing to put up 700 million of his own and is asking for 400 mill from Atlanta. Atlanta has offered two and there is the matter of other property, etc. cost. Blank is a smart buisness man and a some point the multi millionair is going to need a payoff. The Falcons have never been worth more. LA a city that didn't want to give their team the funds to keep them, since has wished they had. They offer Blank the #2 media market as well as a stronger fan base from the start and I'll bet a lot more than 400 mill. Blank has done a lot for the Value of the Falcons, when does he get a pay day. A new stadium will bring a Superbowl and much more with it for many more years to come. As a tax payer i would say i'm not interested in my taxes going up for it, but as a non- tourist i say hell ya. Bottom line Blank deserves a pay day and LA will give him that.
OK, Here we go again. Yet another team threatining to move to LA. A year ago it was the Vikings and Rams, now its you. Here's the situation in Los Angeles. We have two groups wanting to build a stadium here to attract an NFL team. The first is AEG. These guys are the people that built the Staples Center. (Lakers/Clippers/Kings) They want to put it on a piece of property right next door to it. The problem? It will be on city property. So they have to deal with the city. They seem to have all their problems worked out and are now just waiting.
The other group is called Majestic Realty. This guy is a land developer. He OWNS 700 acres about 20 miles east of LA and want to put a stadium there. All private money. No city/state involved. Both groups seem to have their ducks in a row and are just sitting, waiting for the phone to ring. No takers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,YET
Although I agree that the Jags coming here makes the most scence, Im looking at whats happening in San Diego. The city is doing EXACTLY what the city of LA did back in the day to the Raiders and Rams. They are just pointing to the stadium they have and saying "play there or leave". Well, the Rams and Raiders did just that. And remember, there is going to be a shiny new stadium just 90 miles up the road in LA. You dont think that the Chargers aren't looking???
And remember, there is going to be a shiny new stadium just 90 miles up the road in LA. I forget the date that the Chargers have to cancel their current lease. It is either the first of February or the last. I think the Chargers are tentative because of what happened with the Raiders. Money will drive it eventually but right now the best use of LA is the leverage it gives other NFL teams (as you mentioned). I just think that Jacksonville is unlikely to ever be able to fully support an NFL franchise and will have to move, whether to LA or elsewhere.
Scratch the Jaguars off that list of your they committed to playing in London for the next 5 years using the game as a home game and Los Angeles will want 8 home games a year for the team they bring in there to promote for their fanbase.
Scratch the Jaguars off that list of your they committed to playing in London for the next 5 years using the game as a home game and Los Angeles will want 8 home games a year for the team they bring in there to promote for their fanbase.
Not even a small hurdle, here. First, LA would be willing to give up a game until the new stadium is built and that is at least 3-4 years away. Second, every contract has a buyout and the London contract will have one as well.
Guys, this is all a case of much ado about nothing.
The story is that in casual conversation, Blank had mentioned that those business guys SoCalSaint referenced (and greetings, SoCalSaint - thanks for stopping by) are contacting NFL teams and had called him.
He probably did NOT intentionally throw it out as a ploy or bluff. That's really not his style. We don't even know the context of the conversation.
Most likely someone in the room asked him if the team had been contacted by other areas - wondering if perhaps Chamblee had reconsidered, or that perhaps Lawrenceville or Buford might be thinking about adding yet another feather to Gwinnett's cap.
If someone asked, Blank would answer honestly.
The story went wild from there. Local media blew it into something slightly bigger than it was. Internet sources then blew it all out of proportion, and the local sports radio turned it up to eleven.
But please note that Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed stressed that Blank never Ever EVER tried to use it as a leverage ploy or gave the slightest hint about possibly moving the team - to LA, or even to Chamblee - in that meeting.
It's called buisness and Blank just put the ball back in Atlanta's court, he went from 700mill to 800mill making the city who offered two, not four move to three. I hope they pass and Gwinnett jumps on it. Would love to move the stadium north.
Torgo No doubt your right. Just giving you my view from the left coast. Its always fun to see the fan reaction when stories like this pop up. Things like this have been happening since the late 80's. Back then it was the Dolphins.(yes, the Dolphins) They wanted a new stadium and if they didnt get one they were going to come to LA and share the coloseum with the Rams. Well guess what. They got their stadium. Even the Saints tried this in the early 90's. Got a new lease deal. So this is not news to us out here, But it is sure fun to watch.
One other thing,,,,,,Nice season. The ending? Not so much,but congrats. I think we can give you a better run for your money next year
It will be interesting to see how the Saints do with the switch to 3-4. We might be headed that way ourselves. Our head coach is refusing to answer questions about it, which is not his usual style.
(He's the Zen Master of Coachspeak - he'll give a long, drawn out answer to every question in a press conference, without actually saying a thing.)
There. See how easy that was? Just mention LA and ((((((POOF))))), a new stadium appears. Its magical. Ill give you guys credit, you did it with alot less fuss than the Vikings crowd.
