Rich McKayATLANTA - An Atlanta Falcons executive says the team will consider moving to a suburban location if it does not strike a deal to build a new downtown stadium by 2017.
Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay says the team would have no choice but to consider a suburban site if negotiations on the downtown Atlanta site break down.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that McKay made the comments during an Atlanta City Council meeting Wednesday. It's not the first time the team has raised the specter of leaving downtown Atlanta. McKay says this time, the idea is "a reality of what we have to do" and not a threat.
State and local officials are considering plans to use a special hotel tax to help finance a new stadium in downtown Atlanta.