Atlanta Braves and Omni Hotels Have a Deal
By Fred Owens
Braves new ballpark and surrounding entertainment complex – mixed use area in Cobb County
According to Tim Tucker at the AJC the Braves will announce a deal with Omni Hotels and Resorts as part of the mixed-use development around the new ballpark in Cobb County. Omni is the fourth major corporate sponsor to sign on and reflects what happens when a baseball team is a subsidiary of a corporate entity.
The Deal and The Reason It’s Good News
I’ve seen all the studies that say using tax payer money for a new pro sports complex is a bad deal and mostly they have been; the Marlins didn’t even leave a twenty on the dresser for Miami when they left the next morning.
Mostly these deals went bad because of the way they were conceived; the team is pitched as a way to rejuvenate an area and repay the investment through tourism etc, On their own a team can’t do that particularly when the development is in an urban area with size and other restrictions. The Cobb County site has no such restrictions and the team is not seen as the primary way money will be added to the county coffers.
From the outset this was conceived as a mixed entertainment destination, not a ballpark surrounded by existing businesses hoping to cash in. While existing business will no doubt benefit the concept always included new clubs, restaurants, and entertainment options that would draw people year around.
While Comcast and Delta Airlines primarily brings office space and employees to the area the Omni deal means conventions and trade shows; money from outside the area that will stay there after the visitors depart.
The last two announced partnerships didn’t happen because the companies loved the Braves. While Delta was already a sponsor and Sun trust had a connection with the team, Comcast and Omni came because they were pitched a business plan that fitted their needs by people who know business and that happened because of Liberty Media.