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ATLANTA -- When Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed found out a neighbouring community had made a generous offer to help finance a new Braves stadium, he balked and said the city simply couldnt compete. Reeds decision comes a few months after the mayor faced tough criticism for pushing through a plan to use public money to support a new NFL stadium downtown. And it underscores the challenges facing cash-strapped communities nationwide as they weigh the risks and rewards of using public money to help finance major sports venues. "The bottom line is that the city was presented with a choice, and that choice was encumbering between $150 million to $250 million in debt and not having money to do anything else," Reed said, referring to the citys share of costs for desired improvements at Turner Field. Instead, the mayor announced Tuesday that Turner Field would be demolished when the Braves leave in 2017, making way for a new large-scale development. Reed has said the city couldnt match Cobb Countys offer of $450 million in public support to the Braves, though the team disputes that figure. When faced with the question of how much to contribute to stadium construction or refurbishment, local leaders have to weigh the state of their communitys finances. In Atlantas case, Reed said the city has a $900 million backlog in infrastructure projects. There have been instances of communities not putting up public money, but those are the exception, said Judith Grant Long, an associate professor of urban planning at Harvard University. Most notable is the current home of the San Francisco Giants, which was the first privately financed major league stadium in decades. On the other end of the spectrum, Long pointed to the $975 million Minnesota Vikings stadium project. There, the public contribution has been estimated at $498 million. "The impact of the recent recession on state and local tax revenues, and consequently fiscal management, should influence thinking about all new capital projects and the role of public debt," Long said. The new 42,000-seat Braves stadium would be located about 10 miles north of downtown and cost $672 million to build. Reed has said he was informed of the $450 million in public financing during a meeting with the team, but the Braves said the costs havent been finalized and "reports of this figure are erroneous." Cobb County appears to have at least three financing options that would not involve raising taxes on residents, including a hotel/motel tax that brought in $10 million in revenue last year, a community improvement district that pools money from area businesses for infrastructure projects and a budget surplus. The proposal does include options for commercial development, including restaurants, retail, hotel and entertainment facilities that would surround the stadium and also would boost revenues. Details on the public funding are expected to be released in the next few weeks. In defending his decision, Reed argued the Braves situation was much different than the citys plan to contribute at least $200 million in public funding to support a new $1.2 billion, retractable-roof stadium for the Atlanta Falcons. Reed said the Falcons deal will use the citys hotel/motel tax for improvements to state-owned property where the NFL stadium will be built. There was no such funding mechanism for the Braves, so any contributions would have forced the city to take on significant debt, Reed said. "It doesnt mean I dont want the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta," Reed said. "Were not going to put the city on its back financially." Reed touted the publics relatively small share of costs for the NFL stadium. Long said that was lower than the average of about 70 per cent in public money for stadium projects. William Perry, executive director of the government watchdog group Common Cause Georgia, was a vocal critic of the mayor for not seeking more public input on the Falcons stadium deal. He said this week that the mayor appeared to be applying inconsistent logic by fighting for the Falcons but letting the Braves leave. Braves executives said the decision to leave Turner Field was based on several factors, including $150 million needed to replace seats and pay for other upgrades as well as another $200 million to improve the fan experience. The team cited a lack of mass transit options in the area, too few parking spaces and limited freeway access. "Our new location will give us the opportunity to develop the surrounding area of the new ballpark, transforming it into a mixed use, 365-day destination and creating an enhanced atmosphere for our fans during Braves games," the team said in a statement. Studies have shown stadium projects create only modest increases in overall tax revenue and job creation, Long said, although more teams are taking a role in developing lodging, entertainment and retail around the venues. "In part, this is evidence of a trend where teams are more interested in development around the stadium as part of their evolving business model," Long said, adding that it can also help with gaining approval. "However, these urban development benefits ... are slow to materialize." For Cobb County, the benefits of the project are clearly worth any risk. "This makes Cobbs marketability so much stronger, and it helps us become more than a suburban community," said Brooks Mathis, an executive with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce who helped negotiate the deal. "We are going to see huge benefits for many, many years to come especially having such a wonderful organization like the Braves be a part of our community." Allen Iverson Jersey . Earnshaw, 31, most recently spent time on loan in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv from Welsh club Cardiff City, which plays in Englands second-tier League Championship. Earnshaw began his career with Cardiff Citys youth program and turned professional in 1998. Lorenzen Wright Jersey .C. - Steve Clifford isnt exactly singing his teams praises after the Bobcats won for the sixth time in seven games. http://www.grizzliesbasketballpro.info/Marc-Gasol-Grizzlies-Jersey/ .com) - The Boston Bruins announced Monday that the team has signed goaltender Niklas Svedberg to a one-year contract. Bryant Reeves Grizzlies Jersey .Y. -- Phil Jackson lost out on his preferred coach, but hes working hard on keeping his star player. Dillon Brooks Grizzlies Jersey . Week 2s biggest games include Florida facing Miami and Notre Dame travelling to the Big House to conclude their rivalry against Michigan in primetime on TSN2 and TSN 1050.Wanted. CFL coaches. Several openings available. Send your resume to Scott Milanovich c/o Toronto Argonauts. Experience preferred. That may sound a bit extreme, but the Toronto Argonauts coaching staff has been decimated in the off-season. Former defensive coordinator Chris Jones is the new head coach in Edmonton, while former special teams coordinator Mike OShea was named as the Blue Bombers head coach in early December. The main difference between the two? Jones didnt leave on his own. On Tuesday, it was announced that Jones was bringing four members of last years Argo staff with him to Edmonton. Steve McAdoo was Torontos o-line coach for the past four seasons and becomes Edmontons new offensive coordinator. Ed Philions first year coaching in the CFL was last year with the Argos defensive line, the same group hell coach with the Eskies. Two young assistant coaches, Jason Shivers and Craig Davoren leave Ontario to become defensive backs coach and offensive assistant coach respectively. Scott Milanovich replaced Jones with former Winnipeg head coach Tim Burke, but now has a lot of vacancies on the staff. Was he surprised at all with the number of defections? "Not at all," Milanovich told TSN.ca. "I knew a week after the season who was going." The coach says that at some point after the season Eskies GM Ed Hervey called Jim Barker, his Toronto counterpart, and asked for permission. Its an expected part of life on the coaching carousel. "All of the contracts would have been up at the end of the month. I spoke with Chris (Jones) about it. I told him who was and wasnt availabble.dddddddddddd There were no surprises." Perhaps the least shocking move is that McAdoo is heading west. He and Jones coached for three seasons together at Tennessee Tech, four years together with the Montreal Alouettes and the last two campaigns together in Toronto. When Jones left, Burke was hired almost immediately to replace him. It was an easy fit. They had coached together in Montreal, Burke had a ton of experience and had great success as a DC in the league. The OShea replacement hasnt been as easy. "I think (special teams coordinator) is a very difficult position to fill in the CFL" Milanovich explained to TSN.ca "It doesnt get the respect it deserves. I dont think you can go and get an NCAA D-1 or NFL coach and get a successful transition in one year. The return game, the halo, the number of snaps you take on special teams makes it more of a position that needs CFL or CIS experience." The search continues and Milanovich says the club has focsed on several candidates. "I have spoken to maybe four or five" continued the coach. "Ive dug around and asked about six or seven others and have asked other guys for their opinions." Historically the CIS has been snubbed as a breeding ground for CFL coaches, though Mike OShea named long-time Queens DC Pat Tracey as the Bombers special teams coach. Would Milanovich have a problem going that route? "Not for the right guy." Milanovich hopes to have that guy, and the rest of his new staff assembled in the next two to three weeks. He hopes to announce the entire staff at the same time. ' ' '