The possibility that the Atlanta Falcons could punt to the suburbs if the team doesn’t get $300 million in public money to help build a downtown dream home has shadowed the issue since talk of a new stadium began.

But the chances of any metro Atlanta county ponying up big incentives to lure the franchise - or even paying for needed road and utility work to support a stadium complex - appear dim.

Instead, concern that Falcons owner Arthur Blank could fork out the cash on his own to build a less expensive open-air stadium in the suburbs is intensifying. State leaders fear a flashy new suburban facility would become a formidable competitor to the state-run Georgia Dome.

Without the Falcons - and the 70,000 or so fans they attract at their home games - the Dome wouldn’t turn a profit, leaving the public on the hook for the shortfall.

Check out the AJC’s print or tablet edition for the in-depth report on the team’s backup options if the deal for the $1 billion retractable-roof stadium falls apart.