Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The journey to this stadium began in May 2010 when the Falcons sought a new open-air venue, with early cost estimates from architect Populous at US$700 million. By April 2012, that figure rose to US$947.7 million, and site improvements pushed the total projected cost to US$1.2 billion before the final construction estimate settled at US$1.6 billion in 2016. The design drew inspiration from the Roman Pantheon for its circular roof opening. Upon completion, the stadium hosted significant events including the 2018 MLS Cup and Super Bowl LIII in 2019. It is scheduled to host the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship and Super Bowl LXII in 2028, alongside matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a semi-final.

In Their Own Story

The stadium officially welcomed its first events on August 26, 2017. Architect Bill Johnson noted that the roof's circular opening was inspired by the Pantheon, utilizing eight triangular panels that operate on parallel rails to open and close in minutes. Below this engineering marvel sits the Halo, a 58-by-1,100-foot ring-shaped video board covering 62,350 square feet—three times larger than any other single NFL display at EverBank Stadium. Inside, the venue features over 180 commissioned art pieces, including Gábor Miklós Szőke's stainless steel sculpture 'The Atlanta Falcon,' which stands 41 feet high with a 70-foot wingspan atop a 13-foot bronze football. The lower bowl seats retract to create a soccer-specific configuration for Atlanta United FC, reducing capacity to approximately 42,500 while widening the field.

Reader's Guide

Visitors enter through an upper concourse featuring the '100 Yard Club' and the 'AT&T Perch,' designed with televisions for fantasy football fans. The stadium enforces a strict cashless policy for concessions since March 2019, though cash is accepted for tickets and merchandise. Food options emphasize speed and value under a 'fan first pricing' policy, with all prices including tax; examples include a US$2 beverage cup with free refills and a $5 beer. Local culture is integrated through the 'Best of Atlanta' banner, featuring partners like Chick-fil-A (which closes on Sundays) and The Varsity. Outside, the former Georgia Dome site is now 'The Home Depot Backyard,' an 11-acre green space for tailgating with a shaded deck pavilion.

Did You Know?

• The stadium's roof features eight translucent trapezoidal (or petal-shaped) panels that operate on curved rails to create a pinwheel effect.
• Gábor Miklós Szőke's sculpture 'The Atlanta Falcon' stands 41 feet high with a wingspan of 70 feet and weighs over 73,000 pounds.
• The Halo video board covers approximately 63,800 square feet, making it nearly 6 times larger than the previous largest single display in the NFL.
• In March 2019, the stadium became one of the first major US professional sports venues to go fully cashless for concession purchases.
• The Chick-fil-A concession stand does not operate on Sundays due to corporate policy, replaced instead by an unbranded 'Fries Up' stand.