Atlanta Church Offered Extra $8 Million By Falcons For New Stadium Land

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are offering an extra $8 million to buy a church property that sits at the site of a proposed stadium.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced a preliminary $14.5 million agreement Friday under which officials would acquire the site of the historic Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority would pay $6.2 million. The Atlanta Falcons would provide an additional $8.3 million.

Mount Vernon is one of two churches that will have to be relocated if the $1 billion, retractable-roof NFL stadium is to be built on the Falcons' preferred site.

A lawyer for Mount Vernon Baptist Church says the congregation will likely hold a meeting next week to vote on the proposal.

Reed has already reached a preliminary agreement with the other church.