Atlanta Braves announced today that they have plans to build a new $672 million ballpark in Cobb Co. If done, it would make the Braves the first club to have a stadium built under the Selig tenure and then move into a newer ballpark. Turner Field, where the Braves currently play, was originally the Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Summer Olympics, and was renovated in 1997 to host the ball club.
According to reports, executives John Schuerholz, Mike Plant and Derek Schiller, said the new ballpark will be built at the northwest intersection of I-75 and I-285 in the Galleria/Cumberland Mall area. They said the Braves have “secured” approximately 60 acres of land for the project.
The Braves said they plan on starting construction in the middle of 2014. The ballpark will be open-air and seat approximately 41,000 to 42,000 people, a significant drop from Turner Field’s 49,586. In doing so, the Braves follow what most all new ballparks are holding to: smaller capacity, which drives up premium ticket prices as demand increases. The Braves will play in Turner Field for the next three seasons. The Braves’ lease on Turner Field expires in 2016.