ATLANTA — The city’s Ethics Board has denied a request by Invest Atlanta for free, premium Mercedes-Benz Stadium tickets. They would have been used to attract Atlanta business interests.
The board ruled on the July request Thursday night, after a contentious debate over the tickets which would have been granted to the city’s economic development arm. Invest Atlanta had argued their seating request was not for free tickets, given its large MBS investment through bond money.
The decision was tabled for two months, while the Ethics Board fought a City Council proposal that would have dismantled the current board. The original proposal would have allowed the mayor and council final approval of the independent board. Members are nominated through entities such as a law firms and universities.
RELATED STORIES:
- City authority to 'wait and see' on free Falcons tickets
- Ethics board proposal 'retaliation' for Falcons ticket request, councilwoman says
- Reed to ethics board: 'I don't have an ax to grind'
Some board and council members believed the proposal was in retaliation for the Ethics Board involvement with the Invest Atlanta decision.
That caused a nearly five-hour debate during a recent City Council meeting.
Ethics Board members will not comment on their decision. They will draft a letter explaining the denial in the coming days.
Cox Media Group
