Arthur Blank, Kasim Reed unveil plans for Georgia Dome site
ATLANTA - Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank unveiled the plans for the site of the Georgia Dome on Friday.
They announced a new greenspace called "The Home Depot Backyard," which will take the place of the former home of the Falcons.
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Craig Menear, Chairman and CEO of The Home Depot, David Allman, Chairman of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, and Frank Fernandez, Vice President of Community Development for the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation joined Reed and Blank at the announcement.
"The legacy of memory making will live on via the current site of the Georgia Dome converted into green space after demolition" said Allman.
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The Home Depot Backyard, a 13-acre greenspace on the current Georgia Dome footprint, will be used for game day parking, arts and culture events, entertainment, and community activation beginning in 2018.
“Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be one of the finest sports and entertainment venues in the world, and more importantly, a catalyst for transformation in the surrounding neighborhoods of Atlanta’s historic Westside,” said Blank. “The Home Depot is a natural partner for us to create a space that will drive connectivity and community engagement, key elements of the core values that we share. We are proud to be working together to bring the Westside to downtown and all of Atlanta.”
The demolition of the Georgia Dome is on hold due to the completion of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium falling behind schedule.
During a teleconference Tuesday, Chief Executive Officer of AMB Group, LLC Steven Cannon said keeping the dome intact is simply an insurance policy, and nothing more.
"Until we have 100 percent certainty, we will hold onto that insurance policy. We do not expect to use the Georgia Dome whatsoever," said Cannon.
Cannon said by June, workers will look at the construction timeline again, and they will determine whether to recommence the decommissioning of the dome.