Braves Plan Move From Downtown Atlanta

ATLANTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Big news for sports fans in Atlanta, the Braves are deciding to leave town….sort of.

The Bravos are moving to a new location in Cobb County a few miles away from their current home.

According to the Braves website, Turner Field needs more than $150 million in infrastructure repairs that wouldn’t enhance the fan experience.

Fox Sports 1670’s Bill Shanks says the move comes as a complete surprise for all of those who follow baseball.

He says a majority of season ticket holders, live in the Cobb County area, and the move will help cater to them.

“Now it’ll be easier for them. They’ll have both 285 and 75 they’ll have access to. They’ll have more land, they’ll have more areas to build businesses up around there to make it a more fan friendly attraction, and the parking at Turner Field was not great. So this is the Braves chance to have their own place and to make it easier for their fans, that are in that area already, to come see them play,” Shanks said.

Officials say the Braves’ lease with Turner Field ends in 2016.

The new stadium is reported to cost about 450 million dollars.

Turner Field was built for use during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and the Bravos have called it home for almost 20 years.