Fans Love New SunTrust Park

Cobb fans reacted positively to the Braves’ new home at SunTrust Park and even report that the expected traffic problems are less than expected.

“The traffic Armageddon didn’t happen as people had predicted,” said District 2 Commission Bob Ott. “It took me just 11 to 15 minutes to get there from my house.”

The park and The Battery drew praise from those who attended the opening game on April 14 as the Braves beat the San Diego Padres 5 to 2. There was a full house on opening night with 41,149 tickets sold.

“The excitement and energy in the Battery was palpable,” said Jodi A. Miller, a Vinings lawyer. “Of course it was the grand opening, but it looks like it’s going to be everything Cobb County and the Braves hoped it would be. Well done, Cobb County! Welcome home Braves!”

MaryJane LeCroy of Smyrna is a season ticket holder and was impressed.

“We thoroughly enjoyed SunTrust Park during opening weekend,” she said. “The ballpark itself has a more intimate feeling with great views. Food and beverage choices are abundant and go far beyond the standard hot dogs, peanuts and Coke. There certainly is something for everyone.”

Ceremonies marked the opening game with nods to the players who have had their numbers retired, a presentation of Jerseys from Braves top staff to County Commissioners and even a military jet flyover. The first pitch was thrown by Hank Aaron to Bobby Cox, just as they had done to close out the team’s run at The Ted.

Traffic was on the minds of fans and officials before and after the game. Even The Governor chimed in.

“You can get there without any real problem, Gov. Nathan Deal said. “We didn’t even have to use the blue lights.”

“So far, there have been no major traffic problems caused by Braves traffic,” said Ron SIfen of Vinings. “There have been some localized spots on Circle 75 Parkway, Windy Ridge Parkway, and Interstate North Parkway where traffic can back up perhaps a tenth of a mile. The interstates and arterials such as Cobb Parkway have not experienced backups due to anything related to the Braves.”

“Many predicted the Cumberland area would be a bad location, and there was not much transit, and traffic would be much worse than traffic at Turner Field. Braves traffic at Turner Field used to back up I-75 for miles, and traffic around the stadium was terrible. So far, the Cobb County location is proving to be a superior location, and is causing dramatically less traffic problems than the downtown Atlanta location.”

Fans packed the Cumberland Connector bus that ran a loop from the Cumberland Transit Station to the ballpark. Many had gotten on at the MARTA Arts Center Station and caught the CobbLinc bus.

Bruce LaBudde of Smyrna caught the Cumberland Connector on Cobb Parkway to the Battery.

“It was fabulous,” he said, noting that he had a long history of Braves games. “I went to the Braves’ opening game in Atlanta with my dad in 1966.”

Ms. Miller said that she was proven wrong about Braves traffic.

“I just couldn’t see how it could work successfully,” she posted on Facebook. “I could not believe how smoothly traffic moved around the stadium (in the opener). At 5:30 the Windy Hill and SunTrust Park exits were clear and moving well. In fact, you hardly would have noticed that there was a home game.”

From the May 2017 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.