First Pitch At SunTrust Park Is Just A Year Away
One year from now the Atlanta Braves will open their season at SunTrust Field, the new Cobb County home for the team for at least the next three decades.
Construction work at SunTrust Park is more than halfway complete. The scoreboard, seating and curtain walls are all nearly in place. Precast wall panels are now being put into place, brick work continues and glazing windows has begun.
More than $242 million worth of construction work has been completed and continues at a rate of $20 million per month.
There are some 860 workers on the ballpark site daily with another 125 working on the mixed use site. Of the $390 million of funds committed or contracted, more than half have gone to Cobb County companies.
County Manager David Hankerson reports that the contractor – American Builders – continues to recover lost time due to the weather early in the year by accelerating structural steel, masonry, and precast concrete installation. “It’s beginning to look like a ball park,” he said.
Sun Trust Park is the anchor of a massive entertainment and shopping area in the Cumberland CID area of Cobb County that will be opening next year. The ball park will flow directly into the surrounding development, creating a vibrant atmosphere with unique shops, restaurants, offices, residences and entertainment venues that are accessible 365 days a year.
The Atlanta Braves have also said the stadium will host a number of concerts starting in the summer of 2017, but wouldn’t announce any particular acts.
“The Braves project will change the future of Cobb County forever,” Commission Chair Tim Lee said. “Last year at this time, Sun Trust Field was a pile of dirt.”
By next year Cobb will be home to three professional sports franchises, The Braves; The Atlanta Blaze lacrosse, playing at Kennesaw State University; and Atlanta United Soccer with headquarters and training facilities on Franklin Road in Marietta.
The Braves opened their final season at Turner Field April 4 against the Nationals. The team’s final game at Turner Field – barring any postseason play – will be Sunday, Sept. 3, against the Tigers.
