It’s official. The Atlanta Braves’ controversial new home in Cobb County, Georgia, the fourth-most populous county in the state, has announced the name of it’s new home: SunTrust Park.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 during the official groundbreaking ceremony. SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest banking organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients, has a 25-year agreement with the MLB team.
SunTrust chairman and CEO William H. Rogers Jr. announced the bank will mark the occasion with a $100,000 donation from the SunTrust Foundation to the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation, in honor of the legendary Braves player.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to partner with a great organization that shares our values for winning and serving the community,” Rogers said in a statement to press. “This partnership provides SunTrust increased visibility on a regional and national level through a truly unique mixed-use development that will attract fans and visitors throughout the year. Importantly, it will help us reach more people as we fulfill our bank’s purpose of lighting the way to financial well-being.”
While the move from the city of Atlanta to Cobb County was either cause for shock or celebration by many fans, the city’s Mayor Kasim Reed commented about the team vacating the blighted Atlanta neighborhood, “one of the largest developments for middle-class people that the city has ever had” will go up at the site of Turner Field after the Atlanta Braves move to Cobb.
“We’re not walking around here moping. I hate losing. But there are times when other people make plays. We’re not losing anything. The Braves are still in the region so I don’t feel like this is a loss.”
According to Reed, the Braves asked for between $150 million and $250 million for infrastructure improvements for the team to remain downtown, which in his professional opinion would have left the city absolutely cash-strapped” and unable to chip away at a nearly $1 billion infrastructure backlog.
The Atlanta Braves plan to be in their new Cobb County stadium by the 2017 season. It will be located in Atlanta at the intersection of I-75 and I-285 in the bustling Cumberland CID, SunTrust Park will flow directly into the surrounding development, creating a vibrant atmosphere with unique shops, restaurants and entertainment venues that is accessible 365 days a year, not only on Braves game days.
“The new ballpark constitutes a new chapter in Atlanta Braves baseball, and we are excited that SunTrust has decided to build upon our decades-long relationship and embark on this journey with us,” said Atlanta Braves Chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk. “Both of our organizations have deep roots in Atlanta and loyal fans throughout the Southeast and across the nation. We couldn’t imagine a more perfect partner and look forward to seeing the first pitch at SunTrust Park in 2017.”
Click continue to see the funny reactions to the new development and naming.
