August 3, 2015 Jeff Rader Kathie Gannon
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August 3, 2015 Jeff Rader Kathie Gannon DeKalb County Commissioner DeKalb County Commissioner District 2 Super District 6 1300 Commerce Drive 1300 Commerce Drive Decatur, GA 30030 Decatur, GA 30030 Dear Commissioners Rader and Gannon, Thank you for your letter today and for taking the time to share your collective concerns and suggestions. I hope my responses below will satisfactorily address your points, as well as further explain our position in this transaction. Our search for the site for our Atlanta United headquarters and training complex was a thorough and highly-competitive process, with a number of attractive opportunities offered up that would accommodate our needs. We were very pleased with the high level of excitement expressed to us about this project throughout the metro Atlanta area. As we weighed our options, DeKalb became our first choice for a number of reasons, including our ability to contribute to the county’s economic growth, the site location and flexibility for future expansion, strong youth soccer participation by county residents, the fact that DeKalb is the most diverse county in the state, and the passion that county leaders displayed toward partnering with us. We are making a significant investment – approximately $35 million – in building out this complex, which as you know will include a stadium, headquarters building and three additional soccer fields. In addition, we are planning for the potential of future expansion to include all or some combination of an indoor practice facility and additional soccer fields, which would cost us up to about $16 million. Considering the level of our investment, the county’s ability to use the stadium and fields, the office space that will be used by the Parks and Recreation department, and the ownership of the complex by the county at the end of the lease term, we think this is a very fair deal for the county. While, as you note, we can’t guarantee a specific direct economic impact of our project, what I am comfortable in saying is that it will not be insignificant. There will be jobs during and after construction; youth academy training, matches and tournaments throughout the year, bringing both players and their parents; Atlanta United first team practices that will be open to fans; and multiple events hosted at the stadium by Atlanta United, the county and its residents. All of these activities are sure to attract people to the area from other parts of metro Atlanta and the surrounding region, which could attract new business in the Memorial Drive corridor. Importantly, DeKalb will have a business whose owner and other leadership are committed to being part of the fabric of the community. All of our other businesses have a long and proven track record of community engagement throughout metro Atlanta and in other markets across the country where we have a presence. In total, we have granted more than $300 million to various charitable organizations – the majority in metro Atlanta – to improve the communities in which we live and work, and I have publicly committed that 95 percent of my estate will go to our family foundation upon my demise. Our community engagement – physical, emotional and fiscal – will certainly extend to DeKalb County, both through the work we already do in the county, as well as through the additional focus and connections made by Atlanta United. While our track record speaks for itself, you have my personal assurance that, if DeKalb County becomes Atlanta United’s home community, we will be deeply involved in supporting specific needs of the county and its residents and partnering in improving quality of life for those most in need. Recognizing that the Board of Commissioners vote takes place on August 3, I’m sending this letter to you via email, with a hard copy to be delivered to you prior to the meeting tomorrow. Thank you for your consideration. Warm regards, 
Arthur M. Blank Owner & Chairman Atlanta United FC
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