Quote:
Originally Posted by the_tyrant
People always mock Atlanta 1996 for the terrorist attack, the commercialism, and the overall "crudeness" of the facilities.
But you know what, honestly, Atlanta got probably one of the best deals when it comes to the Olympics.
The main stadium got another 20 years of life by becoming the home of the Atlanta Braves (due to be demolished when the lease runs out in a few years). At least the Braves paid rent (probably barely enough to maintain the thing), and the public-private partnership has allowed local government to make some of its money back from the 20$ parking, 6$ hot dogs, and 5$ beers.
Many of the peripheral stadiums went to local schools, and some are still in use.
Finally, the blatant commercialism at least made quite a bit of money, covering quite a bit of the costs.
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In retrospect that does sound like the wiser course. No one will shed many tears if a bunch of pre-fab Olympic buildings get torn down. It's the glamor projects always seem to become monuments to pointlessness, because it's too painful to admit defeat and just take the wrecking ball to them.