GA Supreme Court OK's Braves Bond Validation

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The Georgia Supreme Court has backed a lower court’s ruling that the validation of some $397 million in bonds meant to finance the Atlanta Braves’ new stadium was constitutional.

Three Cobb County residents had appealed Judge Robert Leonard’s July 2014 decision to validate the bonds for SunTrust Park, arguing that the county overstepped its boundaries by putting itself far in debt without first putting the matter before the voters in a referendum.

Cobb County entered into an intergovernmental contract between itself and the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority to issue the bonds, but the latter entity will have no hand in repaying the debt or building or operating the stadium.

In a unanimous decision, the high court ruled in favor of the Braves and the county, declaring that the financing of the $622 million stadium was based on precedents set by the court itself, Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. The court did note some concerns with using so much public money for a private stadium, but added that it was up to Cobb’s elected officials to wrangle with that issue.

SunTrust Park is planned to be open in time for the start of the 2017 season.