Atlanta Braves Continue Pitching for Success at SunTrust Park
Depending on whether you’re a glass half full or half empty kind of person, there’s no doubt that following the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball is nothing if not interesting. Since 1966, the team has thrilled and frustrated fans at three different ballparks in Atlanta, although the future for the franchise is beginning to look more promising than ever before.
Old Homes and Former Glories
From their 1871 origins as the Boston Red Stockings, via Milwaukee between 1953 and 1965, the Atlanta Braves are considered to be the oldest continuously playing team in American professional sports. When the franchise arrived in the Georgia city in 1966, the original home ballpark was the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, where they resided until shortly after winning the 1995 World Series.
Following the 1996 Summer Olympics and as part of the legacy of the games, the Braves took residence in what had originally been built as the showpiece Centennial Olympic Stadium, moving less than one block from their former home. Refitted as a baseball-only venue and renamed Turner Field, although still relatively new compared to other ballparks in MLB, prohibitive upkeep and renovation costs led to the franchise seeking a new home by the end of the 2016 season.
Between the two venues and particularly the latter, fans of the Atlanta Braves had witnessed a phenomenal era of success for the team. Along with the 1995 World Series triumph, the team also won five West Division titles between 1969 and 1993, then achieved the remarkable feat of 11 consecutive East Division titles between 1995 and 2005, plus five National League Pennants between 1992 and 1999. Certainly, a glorious history the team would hope to transplant successfully to their new home ballpark.
Vision for the Future at SunTrust Park
The current 2019 MLB season is one that shows growth and the prospects of an excellent post-season campaign. Boasting what looks to be an unassailable lead in the National League East, the latest MLB odds on bet365 for the Atlanta Braves has them priced at plus-800 and considered genuine contenders for the World Series. Despite the strength of the Houston Astros, LA Dodgers or the New York Yankees, Braves’ fans are keeping their fingers crossed for a repeat of the 1995 triumph.
As part of a project costing over $1.1 billion, SunTrust Park became the luxurious new home of the Atlanta Braves in 2017. This new venue for the team was constructed as part of a public-private partnership, which also incorporates a $400 million business and entertainment district of 60 acres, with the stadium itself occupying around 15 acres of an overall 60-acre site.
This project was multi-faceted in that it not only sought to build success for the Atlanta Braves within the ballpark, but also throughout the surrounding area. Now known as The Battery Atlanta, the surrounding area has undergone extensive regeneration. The Braves secured a partnership with Comcast to not only provide high-tech infrastructure for SunTrust Park, but also to occupy a nine-story office building overlooking the stadium. Other important business partnerships quickly followed.
Omni Hotels & Resorts have also opened a luxury hotel that stands alongside the stadium. This full-service hotel features a two-story restaurant and rooftop hospitality suites, including an elevated pool deck overlooking the ballpark. In addition to a host of restaurants, bars and eateries being located around The Battery, concert promoter Live Nation has also penned a deal with the Atlanta Braves to manage live music and comedy events at The Roxy, adjacent to SunTrust Park.
Such a big investment indicates the future of the Atlanta Braves appears to be very bright indeed. Along with now boasting some of the best facilities and infrastructure in MLB, there’s every chance that with such a huge economic boost, the franchise could soon be treating fans to another long-awaited World Series appearance, if success in the diamond continues.
