Cobb Agrees To Settlement With Atlanta Braves In Fee Dispute

MARIETTA, GA -- Cobb County commissioners have approved a settlement with the Atlanta Braves over various issues concerning fees and costs involving SunTrust Park. The Braves have agreed to pay the county $1.486 million of a “system development fee” which involves water and sewage capacity at the stadium. The county will agree to reimburse the Braves in project management costs. The settlement will result in a net payment of $1,366,250 to Cobb County.

“This is part of a partnership where occasionally you have disagreements,” said Cobb County Commission Chairman Mike Boyce. “I think this is an agreement that will satisfy both sides. We are happy we will come out of this with a 1.4 million dollar check. This hopefully will put some of the questions about the deal with the Braves behind us. We’re not going to solve anything by looking at the past we need to find a way to move forward.”

The board approved the settlement by a 4-1 vote during their Tuesday meeting. Commissioner Lisa Cupid cast the lone dissenting vote.

The dispute started earlier this year after the County sent a letter to the Braves seeking payment of the System Development Fee. The Braves countered with a list of their own demands totaling $4.6 million. The dispute was headed to mediation before this settlement. The details approved by commissioners include:

• The Braves parties will agree to make a full payment of the $1,486,250 SDF to the Cobb County Water System.
• The County will reimburse the Braves $500,000 for payment of the County’s Project Management costs.
• The Braves will credit the County $380,000 to satisfy the Bridge Signage and Maintenance agreement.
• The County will make the final two payments as scheduled for the Transportation and Infrastructure provision of the Development Agreement.
• All other claims and demands of the Braves Parties will be resolved without payment or reimbursement.

Image courtesy Atlanta Braves