Atlanta Braves’ risky switch to Truist Park now looks like a homerun in MLB

News arrived in November 2013 that the Atlanta Braves would depart Turner Field for a new stadium in Cobb County, drawing immediate skepticism. The spectrum of outrage extended from the potential for more traffic jams to whether taxpayers should be footing the bill to enhance the prosperity of private companies.

Almost a decade following their move to Truist Park, however, the Braves have proven the naysayers wrong and raised the bar in MLB for the siting of sports complexes within mixed-use developments.

Truist Park and The Battery become a blueprint for success

While seemingly just a new ballpark, the 2017-opened Truist Park served as an anchor for a larger vision surrounding The Battery Atlanta, a mixed-use development featuring retail, dining, and entertainment spaces. This merging helped make the area a 12-month destination, drawing fans and foot traffic even in the offseason.

The combination of the ballpark and The Battery complements one another, creating a lively environment that adds to the overall experience while producing additional streams of revenue beyond ticket sales.

Economic impact and franchise revitalization of Truist Park and the Atlanta Braves

The Braves have not exactly saved a ton of money on the move, though. They moved, and revenue has continued to rise ever since. High attendance and The Battery have helped with this. This relative financial peace allows the Braves to invest more aggressively in their roster, which has certainly helped them remain a quality contender in recent seasons.

The economic impact on Cobb County, however, is more complicated. County officials point to rising property values and related tax revenues, but some analyses question whether public money spent on the stadium ever paid back what it was supposed to. At the same time, Kennesaw State University economist J.C. Bradbury found in a report that the county's economic impact could be less than originally expected, which begs the question of whether public dollars should even find their way to these types of projects in the first place.Also Read: Pitbull and Tim McGraw to perform before Braves vs. Reds at Bristol Motor SpeedwayHowever, the Braves' decision to relocate to Truist Park has undoubtedly altered the course of the franchise, no matter what interpretations to the contrary are made. The marriage of the stadium and commercial district that continues to thrive has proven that the team is economically solvent while creating a blueprint for stadiums in pro sports down the line. Call it bold, ambitious, or sheer folly, but the Braves' decision soon may serve as a case study in how smart planning and investment can change a sports franchise and its community — and how quickly it can happen as the Braves continue to build on this foundation.