Bobby Dodd Stadium

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

On October 5, 2016, Major League Soccer expansion team Atlanta United FC announced it would play its home matches at Bobby Dodd Stadium until Mercedes-Benz Stadium was ready in mid-2017. The soccer club paid the university and the athletic association over $1 million for this usage. This arrangement allowed the fledgling franchise to host fans in a venue steeped in history, having been home to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets since 1905. The stadium's identity has shifted over decades; originally named Grant Field after Hugh Inman Grant, it was renamed Bobby Dodd Stadium in 1988. The playing surface itself has seen significant changes, with the original natural grass replaced by Legion NXT synthetic turf by Shaw Sports in the summer of 2020. During Atlanta United's tenure, the stadium retained its classic bowl shape, defined by steep concrete grandstands that rose directly from the field level. Before this modern era, the facility had hosted a variety of events, including the inaugural Peach Bowl in 1968 and matches for the Atlanta Falcons in 1969 due to scheduling conflicts at Fulton County Stadium.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere within Bobby Dodd during the 2017 season was shaped by its unique geography. The terrain slopes upward from north to south, a natural grade that leaves much of the field below street level. This configuration, combined with the steep stands built over the slope in 1958 and subsequent decades, created an enclosed environment where sound reverberated intensely. While the source details historic college football moments like the 222-0 victory over Cumberland College in 1916 or the famous "$125,000 tackle" against Alabama in 1952, the stadium's role for Atlanta United was defined by its capacity to host a new professional soccer team amidst these historic walls. The venue had previously accommodated other non-college sports, such as serving as the home field for the Atlanta Apollos of the North American Soccer League in 1973 and hosting the Atlanta Beat of the Women's United Soccer Association in their inaugural 2001 season. These precedents demonstrated the stadium's versatility beyond gridiron football, providing a functional and atmospheric temporary home for Atlanta United as they awaited their permanent headquarters.

Reader's Guide

Bobby Dodd Stadium is located on the east side of the Georgia Tech campus, just off Interstate 75/85 (the "Downtown Connector") across from the famed Varsity restaurant. For visitors, North Avenue station on the Red and Gold lines of the MARTA subway system offers a short walk to the venue along North Avenue. The facility is situated in Midtown Atlanta, near freshman housing and fraternity/sorority row. The stadium's current capacity stands at 51,913 following the removal of sections 218, 219, and part of 217 to accommodate the new Fanning Center for the 2024 season. Prior to this reduction, the capacity was 55,000 after the 2003 rededication. The venue features modern amenities added during renovations in 2009, including a scoreboard twice as large as the original and improved sound systems. A major "Full Steam Ahead" expansion project, approved by the Board of Regents on May 15, 2025, plans further upgrades including new chairback seats and an additional video board.

Did You Know?

• Atlanta United FC paid the university and athletic association over $1 million to play home matches at Bobby Dodd Stadium during the first half of the 2017 MLS season.
• Bobby Dodd Stadium is the oldest continuously used on-campus site for college football in the Southern United States, with games played at the current site since 1905.
• The stadium hosted the inaugural Peach Bowl in 1968 and served as its venue from 1968 to 1970 before moving to other locations.
• On October 5, 2016, Atlanta United FC announced they would use Bobby Dodd Stadium until Mercedes-Benz Stadium was ready in mid-2017.
• The playing surface was replaced with Legion NXT synthetic turf by Shaw Sports in the summer of 2020.