Thursday, July 01, 2004
Falcons moving training camp to Flowery Branch in 2005
After 6 years, the Falcons are graduating from Furman University.
Starting next July, the Falcons will conduct their entire preseason training at their Flowery Branch complex, joining a number of other NFL teams who do their preseason and in-season training at the same location.
The team's future at Furman had been in doubt as team owner Arthur Blank has considered bringing the team closer to its fan base. In 2003, Blank signed a two-year contract with the school with an option for a third year, which has been declined.
"If we have it at our facility, fans all over the Atlanta area and the state can come over," Blank said. "It's going to be a lot easier for them and fan-friendly."
While the drive to Flowery Branch -- about an hour from downtown Atlanta -- isn't a breeze, it's far shorter than the roughly 2 1/2-hour hike up to Greenville, S.C.
"It's going to benefit us, as far as not having to travel and also our family and fans," said tight end Alge Crumpler. "It's got to."
The decision became official Wednesday night when the Flowery Branch City Council unanimously approved the construction of expanded facilities at the team's headquarters. The plans include a dormitory to house players during camp, a revival of the team's Falcon Inn at its old Suwanee complex. The Suwanee site, which the team left after the 1999 season, was its training camp home from 1979 to 1998.
The Falcons already are planning an expansion to their four-year-old headquarters to accommodate the Georgia Force arena football team Blank purchased in May. Construction of the dorms, which will be beyond a retention pond next to the two practice fields, is scheduled to start in October.
In recent seasons, the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers have left college campuses to train at their own complexes. Seven other teams do likewise.
Aside from being closer to fans, teams benefit by being able to use their own fields, weight and video equipment, locker rooms and coaching offices. While all players will stay in the dorms, coaches and staff will be able to sleep at home. The need to isolate players for the sake of building morale, an oft-cited reason for the traditional training camp, has been decreased by offseason workout programs. Nearly all of the Falcons players, for instance, have been working out in Flowery Branch since March.
The news disappointed Furman, which also hosted the team from 1971 to 1978 and had received positive reviews from team officials and players.
"The only thing we couldn't do was move closer to Atlanta," said Chris Colvin, an assistant athletics director and the university's training camp coordinator.
But it is a boon for Flowery Branch, which was waiting for the team to commit full-time to camping there since the team moved from Suwanee in 2000.
Said Flowery Branch Mayor Bryan Puckette, "It gives us an opportunity to play host as a city more often and share what we have in Flowery Branch with others."
Starting next July, the Falcons will conduct their entire preseason training at their Flowery Branch complex, joining a number of other NFL teams who do their preseason and in-season training at the same location.
The team's future at Furman had been in doubt as team owner Arthur Blank has considered bringing the team closer to its fan base. In 2003, Blank signed a two-year contract with the school with an option for a third year, which has been declined.
"If we have it at our facility, fans all over the Atlanta area and the state can come over," Blank said. "It's going to be a lot easier for them and fan-friendly."
While the drive to Flowery Branch -- about an hour from downtown Atlanta -- isn't a breeze, it's far shorter than the roughly 2 1/2-hour hike up to Greenville, S.C.
"It's going to benefit us, as far as not having to travel and also our family and fans," said tight end Alge Crumpler. "It's got to."
The decision became official Wednesday night when the Flowery Branch City Council unanimously approved the construction of expanded facilities at the team's headquarters. The plans include a dormitory to house players during camp, a revival of the team's Falcon Inn at its old Suwanee complex. The Suwanee site, which the team left after the 1999 season, was its training camp home from 1979 to 1998.
The Falcons already are planning an expansion to their four-year-old headquarters to accommodate the Georgia Force arena football team Blank purchased in May. Construction of the dorms, which will be beyond a retention pond next to the two practice fields, is scheduled to start in October.
In recent seasons, the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers have left college campuses to train at their own complexes. Seven other teams do likewise.
Aside from being closer to fans, teams benefit by being able to use their own fields, weight and video equipment, locker rooms and coaching offices. While all players will stay in the dorms, coaches and staff will be able to sleep at home. The need to isolate players for the sake of building morale, an oft-cited reason for the traditional training camp, has been decreased by offseason workout programs. Nearly all of the Falcons players, for instance, have been working out in Flowery Branch since March.
The news disappointed Furman, which also hosted the team from 1971 to 1978 and had received positive reviews from team officials and players.
"The only thing we couldn't do was move closer to Atlanta," said Chris Colvin, an assistant athletics director and the university's training camp coordinator.
But it is a boon for Flowery Branch, which was waiting for the team to commit full-time to camping there since the team moved from Suwanee in 2000.
Said Flowery Branch Mayor Bryan Puckette, "It gives us an opportunity to play host as a city more often and share what we have in Flowery Branch with others."
