Upset Braves fans resort to almighty petition to keep team in Atlanta

• Joeff Davis
• Letters that will be sent to team execs say that "the building of a new ball park for the Braves is wasteful, irresponsible, and unnecessary."

Thousands of Atlanta Braves supporters are demanding that team execs change their minds about relocating the ball club outside the city limits.

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition asking the Braves' organization to reconsider its plans to move to Cobb County, where the team hopes to construct a new $672-million stadium and accompanying mixed-use development. The plea says that Turner Field's abandonment would be an "eyesore for the city as well as insult and injury" to all fans throughout the metro area.

"Abandoning Turner Field (which is owned by the City of Atlanta) represents the worst kind of greed and disregard for Atlanta's already sizable investment in the franchise," the petition says. "It also shows disrespect for Braves fans in Cobb County who are now asked to foot a substantial bill for a wholly unnecessary new ball park. "

Petition organizers will send the following letter to team leaders for each signature it receives:

To:
Derek Schiller, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Terry McGuirk, Chairman and CEO
Recently, you announced that you intend to move the Braves from downtown Atlanta to Cobb County. As a Braves fan, I oppose your decision. The building of a new ball park for the Braves is wasteful, irresponsible, and unnecessary.

Keep the Braves in Atlanta. Don't abandon the Ted.
Sincerely,
Your name

You can also lend your John Hancock to a similar petiion to stop Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee from possibly spending $450 million in taxpayer funds.