In 2013, the Atlanta Braves announced that the team would no longer be playing at Turner Field, their home stadium since 1997, and would be relocating to Cobb County. The Braves’ new location is 20 miles northwest of the old Turner Field, well outside of Downtown Atlanta.
What happened to the Braves’ Turner Field? It’s Georgia State’s football stadium now
What was once an MLB stadium is now home to college football.
The next question became, “What is happening to Turner Field, then?” One answer: College football. Turner Field was sold to Georgia State University, along with a private development team, for $30 million last November. The stadium will be used to host Georgia State football’s home games, beginning in 2017.
On Thursday, GSU officially announced that the home opener from the former Turner Field, now known as Georgia State Stadium, is set for Thursday, Aug. 31st. The Panthers will face Tennessee State. Via the AJC:
Most of the money — $26 million — would go toward stadium renovations to remake Turner Field into a 22,000-seat stadium. That work, which would take place in two phases, would include a new field, covering upper deck seating, reorienting lower bowl seating and upgrading locker rooms and other areas. Georgia State would also use $5 million in student tuition money to relocate its hospitality school into newly renovated space at the stadium.
Previously, Georgia State’s football team played in the Georgia Dome, which they had been doing so since the Panthers’ first season in 2010.
GSU says the capacity that could expand to 33,000 by the project’s completion.
The sale also allows Georgia State to embark on a mixed-use development in the area around the stadium, which will also extend GSU’s campus in itself.
“Our joint venture is committed to restoring elements to the original street grid, improving storm water management, creating jobs for local residents all while creating a mixed-use community which combines retail, office and residential in a vibrant, safe atmosphere.” Keisha Lance Bottoms, executive director of Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority said.
It’ll be interesting to see what the initial conversion product of Turner Field into a football stadium will look like, but it sounds like GSU has the vision (and most importantly, the funds) to make the transition a smooth one in the long run.
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