Mercedes-Benz and SunTrust Buy Names for Atlanta Stadiums
With construction in progress in Downtown Atlanta and Cobb County, the Braves and Falcons have signed deals to name their new stadiums. SunTrust Park, for the Braves, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, for the Falcons, recently signed naming rights that will last for the next 25 years.
Right next to the Georgia Dome, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium construction has begun with plans to open in 2017. With a 27 year deal in place with the German automaker, the stadium will host the College Football Playoffs, NCAA Final Four, and an MLS team under Mercedes-Benz logo.
The $1.5 billion dollar Mercedes-Benz Stadium might be confused with the New Orleans Saints’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome that recently hosted the Super Bowl in 2013. The decision to brand Atlanta’s football arena comes after moving luxury car headquarters to Sandy Springs and with it 800 new jobs. Approximately 4,500 construction and hospitality jobs will be created to build and host the stadium
Across in Cumberland, Cobb County, SunTrust Park is on track to host the Atlanta Braves in 2017. The new facility will also feature an entertainment complex surrounding the park with restaurants, a small shopping area, a hotel, and office space.
The Braves bid farewell to Turner Field after 16 years of baseball and 15 playoff series. High renovation costs and poor mass transit issues led team ownership to decide against staying in Downtown Atlanta.
The renderings show a buzzing city enclosed around SunTrust Park with a viable rail and bus system instead of miles of parking spaces. The ballpark and city area is estimated to run $622 million, almost half of which funded through taxes.
With two new sports arenas rising in the Atlanta-metro area, the countdown to the 2017 seasons begins.
