Falcons Looking For A New Barn...?

((HT:AJC))

D. Orlando Ledbetter lets us know that Arthur Blank may be looking to build his own stadium for his football team and have it open by the time his lease at the Georgia Dome ((pictured, thanks GWCC)) expires.

Arthur Blank says he wants the Falcons to continue to play home games downtown. However, the owner and team officials have explored a number of sites in metro Atlanta to build a new stadium.

In addition to discussions with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority about a new stadium, five sites are currently under consideration by the team. They are Fort McPherson, the General Motors plant in Doraville, Honor Farm, Bellwood Quarry and a site owned by Waste Management near Forest Park.

However, the Falcons have not had discussions with the owners of those sites. The only formal conversations about a stadium have been with the GWCC, manager of the Georgia Dome.

Waste Management spokeswoman JoAnn Birrell said the Falcons had not contacted the trash company and she was unaware of any interest by the team.

The possibility of a new Dome was included in a master plan announced late last year by the GWCCA.

“Our number 1 priority is to continue to work with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and stay downtown,” Blank said earlier this month.

The Falcons are in the lower fourth of the National Football League in revenue. Blank wants a better lease and more management control from the Authority or a new stadium where they control all or most.

The lease expires when the bonds sold to build the Dome are paid, which could be as early as 2016 or as late as 2020. It takes roughly seven years - from site development to construction - to complete an NFL stadium.

“Our job is to look at everything that potentially is available so we are aware of options that we have,” Blank said.

Here is a closer look at the sites under consideration:

Fort McPherson: Georgia’s oldest Army base is located in southwest Atlanta. It is scheduled to be closed by the federal government in 2011.

The GM plant in Doraville: The former automobile plant site is 165 acres along I-285 between Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Buford Highway and bordered by MARTA.

Honor Farm: The old Atlanta Prison Farm is a 290-acre property a half-mile east of Moreland Avenue in southwest DeKalb County.

Bellwood Quarry: The former gravel mine on 137 acres at 900 Lois Street in northwest Atlanta, now owned by the city, is near the Bankhead MARTA station.

Waste Management site: The Falcons said they have looked at property between 285 East and 75 South. Waste Management has a four-acre site near Ga. 42 in Forest Park.