Atlanta Braves

I’m stepping out of my comfort zone today and posting photos I took with my cell phone. You see, our Sunday morning walks are not for the faint of heart! And, schlepping 10lbs of camera gear really isn’t a good idea…..let alone the fact you tend to draw a LOT of attention when you’re carrying a camera around your neck looking like a tourist who just stepped off a cruise ship in the Bahamas! Trust me……..I speak from experience.

So, when Michael said he had a new path for us this morning and that it would take us from the Condo down to (and through) Rottenwood Creek, by The Weather Channel, by the new Braves Stadium and back home……….I decided my handy Samsung 6 would do just fine!

RottenWood Creek

Walking under I-285.

Walking over I-75 to SunTrust Park

The entrance to Delta’s parking garage at SunTrust Park

Bronze Statue

Another Bronze Statue

Cool Billboard

Braves Chop House

I can’t forget Coca-Cola!

To put into perspective just how far we walked, this is a picture of our condo. It’s hard to tell, but there are two (2) major interstates (I-285 and I-75), a six (6) lane parkway (Cobb Parkway), a mall and several hills between where I was standing (in front of the stadium) and the condo!

2 1/2 hours and 8 miles later we made it back…….I was glad I opted for the cell phone!

In our area of town, it seems as though someone blew a whistle and all of the building contractors set out on a race to swallow up every piece of empty land. We have roads being widened with mammoth sidewalks, bull dozers moving mounds of dirt and dump trucks lining up to haul it away. And then, there are the cranes……everywhere you turn!

The crux of the growth was the announcement of the Atlanta Braves Baseball Stadium moving from downtown Atlanta to just up the street to Cobb County. It’s still in the city of Atlanta so they don’t have to worry about dropping (or explaining) the name “The Atlanta Braves.” But, to say the move has been without controversy is an understatement (that’s a story for another day).

It was a surprise announcement in November, 2013 and with a little over 14 months left before opening day it seems as though the new stadium is rapidly taking shape.

Stairways and ramps to the grandstands are starting to show signs of life.

And, the giant frames that will eventually hold the jumbo-trons, scoreboards and lights are beginning to rise above the cranes.

Growing up, I never imagined the Braves Stadium would be within walking distance of my home. Why would it? The original Atlanta Fulton County Stadium was torn down to make room for “The Ted” which was built for the 1996 Olympics. So, it would seem that the Braves would forever remain downtown.

At times it can be frustrating to navigate through the road closures and extra traffic, but we’re beginning to get excited about the transformation to our “little town.” We’re getting excited because they’re building more than just a baseball stadium, they’re building a destination…….a place of year long events, shopping, concerts and much more.

So, welcome to Cobb County “Atlanta Braves”…..we’re glad to have you here!