Atlanta Braves close on Cobb Co. land for new stadium

ATLANTA — It’s official. The Atlanta Braves last week closed on a 57-acre tract of land in Cobb County where they plan to build a new stadium.

The team is building a new $672 million stadium near the interchange of interstates 75 and 285. The Braves’ current lease at Turner Field expires after the 2016 season, and the new stadium is expected to open for the 2017 season.

The Braves have played in downtown Atlanta since moving from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966. The team played in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium until 1996 and moved into Turner Field, built for the 1996 Olympics, for the 1997 season.

The new 41,000-seat stadium will be smaller than Turner Field. The Braves are working with the Boy Scouts to relocate turtles on the properties.