The Atlanta Braves are moving to Cobb County and everyone is kind of stunned

For more than half a century, the Atlanta Braves have rented a prime chunk of property just south of Downtown. To accommodate this prized tenant, city and county officials have demolished entire blocks, proffered tax breaks, rerouted roads, and constructed not one but two massive stadiums. It’s not been enough. Today the Braves announced they will leave Atlanta proper – and move twelve miles up the freeway to Cobb County, hosting opening day 2017 in a brand new ballpark.

So, who knew about Cobb Commission Chair Tim Lee’s ties to a turf company before the Braves deal was announced?

When Tim Lee isn’t running Cobb County government, he's promoting an artificial turf manufacturer. But the Cobb County commission chair doesn't see that job conflicting with his newfound role as cheerleader-in-chief for a $672 million Atlanta Braves stadium. "I am so far removed from the process of what goes in what stadium, it's not even funny," Lee told me last week.

In case you’re curious, here’s what dissenters wanted to discuss at the Cobb Commission meeting on the Braves stadium

Before Tuesday’s vote on bond financing agreements for the new Atlanta Braves stadium, Cobb County commissioners refused to let critics voice concerns. A brief standoff ensued, as several members of the advocacy group Cobb Citizens for Governmental Transparency (CGT) stood to protest before police escorted them from the room. We were curious to hear what CGT might have said if given the chance, so we asked representatives of the group whether they’d come to the Cobb chambers with talking points in hand. As it turns out, they had.

LEAD baseball players weigh in on the Braves move

I don’t think I will be able to get to as many games because of transportation to and from the games. It was easier up here because it only took me like four or five minutes to get there and only fifteen walking. And I think it will hurt the area around Turner Field because now we don't have anything here.

Commentary: Dear Braves fans, stop taking it out on Cobb

Listen you ITP people, there’s no reason to get personal. We Cobb residents didn’t ask for a baseball stadium any more than you Atlantans lobbied to kick the Braves out. Please direct your anger at Braves owner Liberty Media and your *own* elected officials. Hating on Cobb County is like an ex-wife blaming her husband’s new spouse, even though she’s the one who initiated the divorce.

MLB Hall of Fame: Bobby Cox more than belongs

Ninety-one years of managing, 7,558 wins, seventeen pennants, ten Manager of the Year awards, and eight world championships were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame when the veterans committee unanimously cast their ballots for Tony LaRussa, Joe Torre, and Bobby Cox today. And Bobby carried his weight in every category. Except the last one.

Atlanta Braves break ground on Cobb’s SunTrust Park

It was party time in East Cobb, Tuesday morning be damned, courtesy of the county’s newest corporate citizen. The Braves laid down AstroTurf beneath the dance hall-sized tent they pitched in the middle of the barren Cumberland construction site that will, in two years time, be their new home—the newly christened SunTrust Field.

Who is casting All-Star votes for Justin Upton?

What do a supermodel and an evangelical political strategist have in common? How about a legendary half of Outkast and our hometown burrito chain? They all support  Atlanta Brave Justin Upton's All-Star bid. Oh, so does BJ Upton, in case you wondered.

Fire on the property of the attorney who filed an SEC complaint about the Braves stadium financing

East Cobb lawyer Susan McCoy hoped “something exciting” would happen when she asked the feds to investigate Cobb County’s bond deal with the Atlanta Braves. “I didn’t realize that would be my garden and fence burning up,” she said.

Braves Relocation Update: Statement from Central Atlanta Progress

From the downtown booster organization: "We are hopeful that the Braves and the City will develop a scenario that will keep them at Turner Field far beyond 2016."

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