Getting to a Braves game just got a bit harder for some folks. According to WSBTV.com, the 2011 MARTA budget includes cuts to a number of bus routes, service hours, and most importantly for Braves fans, it includes the elimination of the MARTA Braves Shuttle.
The Shuttle runs before and after each game to take fans to and from Turner Field and Five Points MARTA Station where they catch the train out to their comfy suburbs. While it makes taking MARTA to the games very convenient, the shuttle is a complete waste of money on the part of MARTA. The cost comes from having to pay drives overtime while they idle during the game.
As much as the Braves have enjoyed their considerable rise in attendance this season, they can expect that increase to take a major hit if the MARTA shuttles are canceled. Obviously, this is all because of the silly oversight when MARTA was laid out, not to include the then Atlanta Fulton County Stadium on any route (and this is when the Braves and the Falcons played there, and they had concerts there all the time).
We'll see if the Braves organization applies any pressure to get this decision reversed. They might have to kick in some money to help fund the shuttle, or raise the price of the shuttle, making it less appealing.
0 recs | 35 comments
Oof, this could get ugly. All the Braves need is another excuse for fans to not come to games.
10-4 - May 27, 2010
If you’d only taken MARTA, you’d be there by now
MBL1 - May 27, 2010
….Depending on where you’re going, assuming that it’s conveniently located along a T-shaped route through the city, and that your starting point was also reasonably near one of these route points.
Bronn - May 27, 2010
baha
MBL1 - May 27, 2010
Oh well.
If you have two people going to the game, MARTA costs $9 total. Parking in the blue lot is, what? $12?? I’d much rather drive down with a buddy or two and tailgate before the game than take slow, inefficient MARTA.
Screw MARTA.
Fatvirus - May 27, 2010
yeah, but
what if you spend $80 drinking at the game? MARTA for DD of the year!
someguy1 - May 27, 2010
Good point
:)
HEYJUDE - May 27, 2010
considering what they charge for beer at the ballparks nowadays, I’m not so sure $80 would even get me drunk
DCP916 - May 27, 2010
Now me and my 20 buddies gotta walk 10 blocks!
cbwilk - May 27, 2010
First thing I thought of when I read the title.
Smoltz's Beard - May 27, 2010
Ditto.
Lizziebeth - May 27, 2010
It was five blocks.
TradeAndruw - May 27, 2010
For him. Me and my 20 buddies have to walk 10.
cbwilk - May 27, 2010
Traffic
I was never a big MART Shuttle fan, since it really didn’t save me any time…
This bums me out for two reasons: (a) see above about fans deciding not to go and (b) traffic will be even worse now as we’ll have more drivers…
Jman781 - May 27, 2010
Just walk from Georgia State.
softbatch - May 27, 2010
So people should have to walk 2 miles if they don't want to drive?
lingsched - May 27, 2010
2 miles each way
lingsched - May 27, 2010
In the snow. Barefoot.
Smoltz's Beard - May 27, 2010
uphill both ways
Lizziebeth - May 27, 2010
you forgot – after milking the cows before school….(remember, I live OTP in BFE)
rbravesfan - May 27, 2010
It’s only 1 mile (look at google maps and chose “on foot”). And it’s better than waiting for shuttle buses to show up and being crammed in on an over-crowded bus. I’m not saying people “should have to”. But walking in this case isn’t a horrible option. In early the 90s, you’d have hordes of people wearing Braves shirts and carrying foam tomahawks all get off at Georgia State and walk together. I’m not really sure why it’s not done anymore.
softbatch - May 27, 2010
Yeah...
Because downtown Atlanta is the safest place to be walking around at night after a game. Not like there’s been about twenty armed robberies at Georgia Tech’s campus the last two years or anything. Nope, nothing to see here.
AuditDawg - May 27, 2010
WE NEED THE LEAGUE TO DO SOME FAN APPREICATION
WHOS WITH ME?
TradeAndruw - May 27, 2010
If I couldn’t take MARTA to the games I would probably go to MAYBE a tenth of the the games I go to. Luckily, the walk from GA State isn’t bad. Still faster than getting out of one of the parking lots.
sunking1056 - May 27, 2010
This is idiotic
Marta is a great alternative for people who don’t want to mess with traffic. Yeah, the lots cost 12 bucks but that doesn’t include gas and the hassle of having to deal with rush hour in Atlanta. (Just a disclaimer, I prefer the lots myself… but right now I live in downtown Atlanta right next to Five Points and I don’t have a car. When I want to go to games I walk to Marta and pay $2.50 for the shuttle which takes me to the game and back afterwards). I always thought never having a Marta line that went straight to the stadium (without a shuttle) hurt the Braves attendance, and this will only hurt it more. I’m sure the Braves will figure something out so that this isn’t the end of the shuttle.
lingsched - May 27, 2010
Dear MARTA,
Leave the shuttle intact and we’ll buy you a cinnabun. Thanks!
- Out-of-town fans used to taking the MARTA everywhere on visits.
J-Freak - May 27, 2010 via mobile
second this
It’s very easy to get a hotel near the north line, ride in to 5 points, then catch the bus to the stadium. Much simpler than an out-of-towner trying to navigate that traffic.
This is why, even as much as I love the Braves, I would never in a million years want to live in Atlanta
AU_Jonesy - May 27, 2010
I'm disabled and the lots are my only option as walking 2 miles is out of the question I am just worried that a lot of people won't come to the games
Also there will be more traffic and BTW how rich do you have to be to get drunk off of $7 beers? LOL
jimmontg - May 27, 2010
Oh if ATL only had a great public transit. It would totally benefit the downtown area. Urban sprawl and white flight, damn you
BeantownVol - May 27, 2010 via mobile
i used to
live in Minneapolis. They have a light rail system that takes you directly to the Metrodome, and it also takes you to Target Field and the Target Center. It’s fantastic. The fact that Atlanta hasn’t joined up with baseball here yet is ridiculous.
There should be a light rail of some sort heading out to Turner Field, end of story. This is a no-brainer. Also, the area around Turner Field should not scare people. What happened to putting money into these types of areas? Why are there no bars around it? I don’t get it. Maybe someone knows some of the legal stuff going on here but there really needs to be a ton more investing going on there.
Now that I’m out in the Marietta area, 1. There needs to be some light transit system heading up here, 2. Georgia people need to get over ethnic groups being everywhere and that it will never be all white – ever, 3. There must be a simpler way for us to use public transportation to get to a ballgame. Traffic around Atlanta is terrible for a number of reasons, but this just adds to it.
ronjba - May 27, 2010
why are there no bars or commercial investment?
Because they don’t wanna get robbed every night.
There are some neighborhoods around that area that you really don’t want to go into, especially at night.
DCP916 - May 27, 2010
that's the point
invest in the area. That’s what Braves fans have been pointing out as an issue why most don’t come to the games (and lack of easy transportation)
ronjba - May 28, 2010
every time I've been to a Braves game..
the MARTA buses have been jammed pack.
Only a government run job could lose money when they fill out 20+ buses every home game.
Adam716 - May 27, 2010
The Braves
should do some sort of deal where they cover part of MARTA’s expenses and work to expand that shuttle service for Turner Field
drumzalicious - May 28, 2010
Get out of here with all that perfect logic.
NCChopper - May 28, 2010
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