BRADENTON, Fla. - Opponents of bond financing for the Atlanta Braves' new $672 million baseball stadium have filed notices of three appeals.
County officials and attorneys were notified of the appeals Aug. 25, setting the stage for an elongated process before the Georgia Supreme Court as to whether it was proper for a Cobb County Superior Court judge to validate $397 million in bonds for the project.
Construction of the Major League Baseball stadium is expected to proceed, and be completed on time, regardless of the appeal, an official said.
Cobb County Judge Robert Leonard issued a ruling July 25 validating the bonds that will partially finance the new facility. The bonds will be issued by the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority through an interlocal agreement with Cobb County.
Petitions to intervene in the validation from a dozen local residents opposing the project were overruled by Leonard. He also said that the stadium bond deal is lawful and that proper procedures were followed in approving the financing.
The Braves are moving to the northwest corner of the Interstate 75 and I-285 intersection in Cobb County, about 14 miles away from Turner Field in downtown Atlanta where they have played since 1997.
Bond proceeds will go toward construction of a 41,500-seat stadium.
The Braves are the second professional sports team in Georgia to see local residents oppose bond financing for a new stadium.
The National Football League's Atlanta Falcons received notice June 5 that their bond validation would be appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court.
Stadium opponents have until Sept. 8 to file their brief. Oral arguments will be held in November.
Opponents who live near the football stadium are appealing the validation of $278.3 million in revenue bonds that will be issued for the $1.1 billion facility. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville validated the bonds in May.
Despite the pending appeal, the Falcons have begun work on their 71,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium next to the 22-year-old Georgia Dome, where the team currently plays in downtown Atlanta. The Dome will be razed after the new facility opens.
The Falcons plan to pay for the bulk of the new stadium's cost with a loan from the NFL, personal seat licenses, team debt and equity.
