Fan death raises questions
The death of a longtime Atlanta Braves season- ticket holder raises questions about the height of guard rails at the team’s new stadium that is to open in 2017. The Braves say they had safety in mind when planning SunTrust Park even before
Gregory Murrey’s death Saturday night. Team officials Monday would not release plans for railing heights at the new stadium. The railings at Turner Field meet industry requirements, but the team could exceed those heights at their new building. The International Building Code, the accepted industry standard, has a minimum height requirement of 42 inches for guard rails that act as protective barriers in open- sided areas such as walkways or smoking platforms. Railings in front of seated areas must be 26 inches. Braves President John Schuerholz didn’t address specifics Sunday about guard rails at the new stadium, though he said the weekend death wouldn’t influence construction plans. “We’re not going to tie that into how you design a facility,” Schuerholz said. “It was a sad, tragic event. We obviously abide by industry regulations and we’ll continue to do that.” The Braves released a statement Monday, mourning the loss of Murrey and also addressing safety at the new stadium. “Finally, as we look to the future, we are working with our architects to ensure that SunTrust Park has effective safety protocols in place at the time of opening,” the team said. “This process began during the design phase of SunTrust Park many months ago and will continue every day. “We are fortunate to have an architecture firm that has designed many ballparks — and other sports facilities — so we can draw upon their experience as industry leaders in creating the safest and best sports and entertainment experience. Ensuring the safety of our fans while in the ballpark has always been and will always be a priority for our organization.” Murrey, 60, of Alpharetta, Ga., was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital following his fall in the seventh inning of the Braves’ game against the New York Yankees. The Fulton County medical examiner Monday ruled the death an accident caused by blunt- force injuries to his head and torso. Toxicology results will not be available for several weeks.