<P> On December 10, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, in a unanimous decision, approved the blueprint and most of the agreement terms for the new stadium plans . According to The Atlanta Journal - Constitution article, the term sheet is non-binding and changes could be made at any time as regards stadium construction . Stadium location, however, is yet to be worked out; proposed locations being reported are within walking distance of the Georgia Dome, with one site located one - half mile north, and the other one block directly south, at the one of the stadium's existing parking lots . The project made national headlines for the first time in 2012 on December 15, with team owner Arthur Blank stating in The New York Times that he would rather a new stadium be constructed than a "remodeling job" of the Georgia Dome . </P> <P> During a January 10, 2013 press conference, Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed expressed his optimism and confidence in the construction of the new stadium; he also mentioned the possibility of the new stadium helping the city compete for its first Major League Soccer team . </P> <P> On March 7, 2013, the Atlanta Falcons and the city of Atlanta agreed to build the new downtown stadium . The maximum public contribution for the project is $200 million, coming from the hotel - motel tax in Atlanta and unincorporated Fulton County . The Atlanta City Council officially approved the stadium on March 19, 2013 . The council voted, 11--4, in favor of the use of city hotel - motel taxes to pay $200 million toward construction costs and potentially several times that toward costs of financing, maintaining and operating the stadium through 2050 . On May 21, 2013, the NFL approved a $200 million loan to the Falcons organization for the purpose of building the stadium . </P> <P> On June 18, 2013, it was announced that the Falcons have completed a full conceptual design of the proposed new stadium, and that they have secured the initial approval to proceed with the schematic design phase . According to Doug Farrar's Shutdown Corner, "The stadium will seat approximately 70,000 people, with 180 luxury suites and 7,500 club seats ." The main agency involved will be 360 Architecture, partnered with three other architectural firms . </P>

Who paid for the new atlanta falcons stadium
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