New Stadium Timeline

Atlanta Falcons announced that 360 Architecture has selected three Atlanta-based firms, pending final contracts, to partner in the design of the new stadium in Atlanta. The three firms are – Goode Van Slyke Architecture (GVSA), Stanley Beaman & Sears, and tvsdesign.

In a vote by NFL team owners, the Atlanta Falcons were approved for $200 million in NFL G-4 stadium financing for construction of a new multi-purpose stadium in Atlanta.

The GWCCA Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve a contract for 360 Architecture to serve as the lead architect on the new stadium project, signaling the official start of the design process.

• GWCCA Board of Governors’ Presentation
• 360 Presentation to Board of Governors
• NSP Architectural Services Agreement
• Resolution- Agreement for NSP Architect Services
• The press release

The GWCCA Stadium Development Committee unanimously voted to recommend 360 Architecture to the full board when it meets on April 30, 2013. In addition to selecting an architect, GWCCA and the Atlanta Falcons also reviewed the process for selecting a general contractor and an owner’s representative, which would oversee the construction of the stadium.

• Architectural Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Overview
• 360 Presentation to Stadium Development Committee

The GWCCA announced 360 Architecture as the “Apparent Awardee” firm to design the new stadium. The Authority and Atlanta Falcons will now begin the process of negotiating a contract with the firm. The final agreement is subject to GWCCA Board approval.

The GWCCA interviewed the five finalists for architectural services as the process to select an architect moves forward. The finalists presented to 19 representatives, including Executive Director Frank Poe, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, the Evaluation and Recommendation Committee (ERC), and other advisors.
Complete Release Here

Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development agency, voted 8-1 to approve issuing more than $200 million in bonds to finance the public contribution for the new retractable-roof stadium.

The Atlanta City Council voted 11-4 in favor of an amended resolution extending the hotel-motel tax to 2050 and for other key agreements among the City of Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) and the Atlanta Falcons, thereby taking a significant step toward the construction of a new retractable roof stadium in downtown.
Complete Release from the City of Atlanta

The GWCCA Board of Governors met to review a completed business deal for a new stadium. The Board unanimously authorized the Executive Director to execute and deliver the following agreements:

• Overview Document (an Executive Summary of all the documents listed below)
• GWCCA – Falcons MOU
• Tri-Party MOU
• Funding and Development Agreement
• Operations and Maintenance Agreement
• Hotel Motel Tax Funding Agreement
• GWCCA New Stadium Resolution
• GWCCA Press Release
• Presentation to the GWCCA Board of Directors

In a joint press conference Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the Atlanta Falcons announced they have reached an agreement on key city terms for the construction of a new stadium in downtown Atlanta, subject to approval by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) board, the Atlanta City Council and Invest Atlanta.

Officials from GWCCA attend a work session of the Atlanta City Council Finance/Executive Committee to respond to questions about the proposed new stadium that were generated as a result of a presentation to council members a week prior. Representatives from the Mayor’s office, Invest Atlanta, and the Atlanta Falcons also participated in the four hour Q&A session.

The GWCCA presents a review of its efforts regarding the proposed new stadium project to the Atlanta City Council Finance/Executive Committee. The presentation includes: a review of the GWCCA campus master plan, four phases of studies and analysis, and the status of the on-going negotiations with the Atlanta Falcons.

The GWCCA and Atlanta Falcons short-listed five finalists for Architectural Services on the proposed new stadium project. Finalists, in alphabetical order include: 360 Architecture, Ewing Cole, HKS Inc., Populous, & TVS Design/Heery/Gensler. Each finalist will now prepare a Design Services Proposal and formal presentation that will include the first conceptual designs for the project. Interviews will be scheduled in the next 30 days.

The Atlanta Falcons and GWCCA jointly agreed to extend the evaluation period for Architectural Services until Monday, January 28. Ten responses to the RFQ solicitation were received and additional time is needed to review qualifications and references and to prepare additional program information for finalists.

Ten firms submitted their qualifications for Architectural and Design Services in response to the new stadium project RFQ solicitation. Listed Alphabetically: 360 Architecture, AECOM, Eisenman Architects, Ewing Cole, HKS Inc., Populous, RGC Stadium Design, Rosetti, TVS Design/Heery/Gensler and Woods Bagot.

The GWCCA Board of Governors voted unanimously to move forward with an agreement on business terms that will form the basis of a definitive contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell traveled to Atlanta to met with Gov. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed to discuss the stadium issue.

The GWCCA releases updated draft of the non-binding term sheet. This document reflects additional details on the capital improvement fund and considers both potential new stadium sites.

The GWCCA Board of Governors meets and reviews a draft summary of the updated non-binding term sheet. A few significant open items are still undefined in this document including the lease payment, capital improvement fund, site and repurposing of the existing Georgia Dome site if a southern location is selected.

Stadium Development Committee hears Barrett Sports Lease Analysis report. The goal of the analysis was to provide the Authority with a comprehensive deal structure/lease evaluation of market rate NFL stadium deals as part of its due diligence process with the Atlanta Falcons.

GWCCA publishes first draft of a non-binding one stadium retractable-roof business term sheet between the Authority and the Atlanta Falcons.

GWCCA Executive Director Frank Poe and Falcons President Rich McKay held a joint press conference to announce the two sides have abandoned the two-stadium possibility and would now begin to focus on a one-stadium, retractable roof option to replace the Georgia Dome.

Stadium Development Committee meets to hear a report from Barrett Sports Group on the Atlanta Falcons valuation impact analysis. Also discussed is a study conducted by Populous on the effect of one stadium with a retractable roof showing the scheduling impact and cost.

 The GWCCA received the results of a third commissioned study performed by Populous Architects regarding the feasibility of building an open-air stadium on the GWCCA campus and sustainability of the Georgia Dome for the next 20 years. The report also studied: Property allocation for a new stadium, construction cost estimates, traffic patterns, parking availability and pedestrian access as well as capital maintenance and improvements needed to sustain the Georgia Dome for the next 20 years.

The GWCCA received a report from Barrett Sports Group that analyzes:

• A duel stadium scenario
• Potential stadium funding sources
• Bonding capacity for surrounding counties
• Case Studies of Selected NFL Stadiums

The GWCCA commissioned a third Master Plan study with Populous Architects regarding the feasibility of building an open-air stadium on the GWCCA campus and sustainability of the Georgia Dome for the next 20 years.

Master Plan II Released. The intent of this study was to examine what a new NFL stadium program would look like and understand how the Georgia Dome may or may not be able to incorporate these features and program elements compared to new construction. *please note, a mathematical error was detected on slide 87 on 3/5/13 and the report has been updated to reflect the corrected version.

 Falcons president Rich McKay said in an interview with the AJC that the team's preference would be an open-air stadium, rather than a renovated Georgia Dome, or a retractable-roof facility.

The Georgia State Senate approves House Bill 903 which represents a cornerstone in advancing the partnership between the Falcons and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority by extending the existing hotel-motel usage fee in Fulton County through the year 2050 if a new stadium deal reached.

Master Plan I Released. This study included an analysis of the entire 200-acre GWCCA Campus and buildings, renovation of the Georgia Dome, replacement of the Georgia Dome with a new football stadium, renovation of the GWCC and expansion of the GWCC.

NFL issues a study on the state of the League, NFL Stadium Development and Falcons' Situation

 Falcons owner Arthur Blank broached the idea of a new stadium, predicting in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the team would have one in a decade or so. A new stadium "is not in the back of my mind; it's in the front of my mind," Blank said in that interview, adding that the team would spend the next few years investigating the matter.