Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a large stadium with a roof that can be opened or closed, located in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. It opened in 2017 to replace the Georgia Dome and is home to the Atlanta Falcons, a team in the National Football League, as well as Atlanta United FC, a soccer team in Major League Soccer. The stadium also hosts an upcoming team in the National Women's Soccer League. It is owned by the state of Georgia and run by the group that also owns the Falcons and Atlanta United FC.

The stadium cost about US$1.6 billion to build. Since it opened in August 2017, it has hosted many important events, including college football games like the SEC football championship game, the Peach Bowl, and the College Football Playoff National Championship. It has also been the venue for the MLS Cup in 2018 when Atlanta United FC had home field advantage, and Super Bowl LIII in 2019. The stadium will host Super Bowl LXII in 2028 and will be used for several matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Design

Roof

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is famous for its special roof that can be opened or closed. This roof looks like eight big, clear triangles moving on tracks. When it opens, it looks like a bird spreading its wings. The roof was inspired by an old Roman building called the Pantheon.

Under the roof, there is a huge screen called the “Halo” that goes all around the stadium. It is very big and shows lots of exciting things during games.

Interior

The stadium has special features for different kinds of sports. It has big locker rooms and art pieces, including a very tall sculpture of a falcon bird in front of the stadium.

Amenities

Inside the stadium, there are fun places to eat and watch games. Fans can enjoy different foods from Atlanta restaurants at good prices. The stadium uses cashless payments for food, but cash is still accepted for tickets. There are also special areas to watch other games and relax.

History

Planning

In May 2010, news reported that the Atlanta Falcons wanted to replace the Georgia Dome with a new open-air stadium. The team wanted to play outdoors and hoped to host another Super Bowl. They also considered bidding for a FIFA World Cup. Plans for the new stadium were released in February 2011, estimating the cost at US$700 million. The stadium would hold 71,000 people, with space for more during special events like the Super Bowl. It would include special seating areas and exhibition space.

In April 2012, the cost rose to US$947.7 million. By April 2012, if a deal was made, construction would start in 2014, with the Falcons playing there in 2017. The stadium would be built on a large parking lot near the Georgia Dome. In December 2012, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority approved the plans, though details like the exact location were still being worked out. Team owner Arthur Blank said he preferred a new stadium over updating the Georgia Dome.

Construction delays, opening

The Falcons and the city of Atlanta agreed to build the new downtown stadium in March 2013. The city agreed to pay US$200 million using hotel taxes. The NFL also loaned the Falcons US$200 million for construction. The Falcons showed a design for the stadium in June 2013, planning to start building in March 2014. However, construction began on May 19, 2014, after some delays.

The stadium’s opening was delayed three times because of the complex retractable roof. It was first planned to open on March 1, 2017, but the date was pushed to June 1, then July 30, and finally August 26, 2017. Some Atlanta United FC games were moved to other stadiums while the roof was being fixed. The Georgia Dome’s demolition waited until the new stadium was ready, and it was torn down in November 2017.

Additional construction and renovations

To address crowding at entry and exit points, officials planned to add more doors. Fans had reported long waits to get in and out of the stadium, especially during big events like the College Football National Championship.

Pedestrian bridge

A pedestrian bridge was added in January 2019 for about $33 million. It connects parking lots and a train station to the stadium, helping fans avoid a busy road. The bridge was criticized for its high cost and for not including an elevator for people with disabilities.

Playing surface

In February 2019, the stadium announced plans to replace the artificial turf before the Falcons’ 2019 season. The turf would be replaced every two years because of the many events held there. For the 2024 Copa América, natural grass was placed on the field, but some players complained about its quality.

Retractable roof

The retractable roof had some problems in its first year. During the College Football National Championship Game in January 2018, water was reported near the field, though officials said it did not affect play. The roof was not fully automatic at first and could only be opened manually, which took much longer. It was only opened twice in 2017 — once for a Falcons game and once for an Atlanta United FC game. By July 2018, the roof was fully automated and could open and close in about eight minutes.

Costs and funding

In December 2014, leaders approved raising the cost of the stadium to US$1.2 billion. The city agreed to help pay for it, and the state of Georgia also helped.

The team sold special seat tickets for up to US$45,000 each. A big company, Mercedes-Benz, paid to have its name on the stadium for many years. The total amount of money from all these deals reached US$900 million. The stadium is owned by the state, but a group connected to the team runs it.

Major events

NFL

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium was chosen to host Super Bowl LIII in 2019, marking Atlanta's first time hosting the game since Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. Later, it was announced that the stadium will host Super Bowl LXII in 2028.

College basketball

The stadium was planned to host the 2020 NCAA Final Four, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been rescheduled to take place in 2031.

College and high school football

Several important football games, such as the Peach Bowl and the SEC Championship Game, moved to Mercedes-Benz Stadium from the Georgia Dome in 2017. The stadium also hosted the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, where the Georgia Bulldogs played against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Soccer

Atlanta United FC, a soccer team, played many exciting matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, often drawing large crowds. The stadium has also hosted major soccer events like the MLS All-Star Game and the MLS Cup final, where Atlanta United won their first championship.

2024 Copa América

The stadium hosted matches during the 2024 Copa América, including the opening match.

2025 FIFA Club World Cup

The stadium will host matches for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be one of the venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During the event, it will be called "Atlanta Stadium" as part of FIFA's rules. The stadium will host several matches, including group stage games and a semifinal.

2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups

Atlanta is being considered as a host city for matches during the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Concerts

The stadium is a popular venue for big concerts and music events.

Other major events

The stadium has hosted events like the AMA Supercross Championship and the Drum Corps International Southeastern Championship. It also held large Christian conferences called Passion Conferences, which attracted thousands of young people.

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In popular culture

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium was featured in the first episode of the show Building Giants on the Science Channel on January 4, 2018. The show used real footage and computer graphics to show how the stadium was built. It highlighted the use of a very large crane, one of the biggest ever made in North America, to lift heavy parts during construction.

The stadium has also been used for special events. After each win by the Atlanta Falcons or Atlanta United, a train horn sounds, remembering Atlanta's history with railroads. In 2021, the stadium hosted listening parties for Kanye West’s album Donda, with West staying there for two weeks while working on the album.

The stadium also hosted the 2023 World Series for Major League Wiffle Ball, with fans attending for the first time. Additionally, Bryce Young, the current quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, has had notable success playing against the Atlanta Falcons in this stadium. He has helped his teams win important games here, including the 2021 SEC Championship Game.