The Stadium faces an uncertain future after Major League Baseball team Atlanta Braves announced last month they planned to quit it to relocate to a new arena out of the city.

The Braves have now gained the necessary Government approval to move forward with their plans to construct a new $672 million (£420 million/€501 million) 42,000-capacity stadium and a surrounding mixed-use development in Cobb County before the start of the 2017 season.

Cobb County Commission have approved a Memorandum of Understanding that will use $300 million (£183 million/€221 million) in public funds to help build the complex that will include an entertainment area, restaurants, shops, a hotel and residential options.

A rendering of the proposed complex that the Atlanta Braves plan to move to in 2017 after quitting Turner Field ©Atlanta Braves

Braves executives have complained that Turner Field's downtown location restricts attendances because of traffic into the city and a shortage of on-site parking.

Talks with Atlanta Fulton County Recreational Authority, who own Turner Field, about improving facilities broke down earlier this year.

But Blackmun has insisted that although the Centennial Olympic Stadium will probably soon disappear from the Atlanta skyline it does not undermine the legacy of the 1996 Games. 

Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie was one of the stars of Atlanta 1996 when he won the gold medal in the 10,000 metres ©AFP/Getty Images

"I think the Atlanta Braves have put great use to that stadium for almost the last 20 years," said Blackmun.

"Useful lives of those stadiums is not much beyond that on many occasions.

"I completely understand the decision that the Braves have made.

"It's kind of a sad moment but that's what happens when you have public private partnerships.

"This one was extremely successful if you look at the incredible use that they got out of that venue over the last 20 years.

"They got more use out of that venue than any Olympic Stadium in history if you look at the number of times it was used after the Games."

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