Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Photo: Atlanta Falcons · CC BY 3.0 · source
- Capacity
- 71,000
- Year opened
- 2017
- Country
- United States
- Sport
- Multi-purpose
Overview
About the stadium
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a state-of-the-art multipurpose arena in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, and one of the most technologically advanced venues in American sport. Opened in 2017, it is unusual in serving two very different codes at the highest level: it is the home of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL (American football) and of Atlanta United of Major League Soccer (association football).
A roof unlike any other
The stadium's defining feature is its retractable roof, built from eight translucent triangular panels that slide open and shut like a camera aperture or pinwheel, a form inspired by the Roman Pantheon. Above the field hangs the "Halo" board, a ring-shaped video display spanning roughly 62,350 square feet (about 5,800 m²), among the largest in the world.
Two sports, two configurations
For football the bowl seats about 71,000, expandable to roughly 75,000, while for soccer curtaining systems create a more intimate 42,500-seat setup that can open up to 71,000+ for marquee fixtures. The design, led by HOK, cost around $1.6 billion and replaced the adjacent Georgia Dome.
History
Journey through time
Mercedes-Benz Stadium officially opened on August 26, 2017, succeeding the Georgia Dome as Atlanta's premier indoor-outdoor venue. From the outset it was conceived as a showcase building, and within two years it had hosted some of the biggest events in American sport.
A magnet for marquee events
In February 2019 the stadium staged Super Bowl LIII, the NFL's championship game, cementing its status as a top-tier event venue. It has also hosted College Football Playoff National Championship games and major concerts, and is scheduled to host Super Bowl LXII in 2028.
Toward the 2026 World Cup
The stadium's profile will rise further as a host venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when North America stages the expanded tournament. Atlanta is set to host eight matches, putting the aperture roof and Halo board in front of a global audience and confirming Mercedes-Benz Stadium as one of the continent's flagship grounds.
Atmosphere
Matchday
Few venues in the United States have generated a soccer atmosphere as electric as Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Since Atlanta United began play, the club has turned the cavernous bowl into one of the loudest, most colourful matchday experiences in Major League Soccer.
Record-breaking soccer crowds
Atlanta United repeatedly shattered MLS attendance records here, drawing 72,035 against D.C. United in March 2018 and 73,019 for the 2018 MLS Cup, which the club won at home. Such numbers rival those of major European clubs and have made Atlanta a benchmark for American soccer.
Fan-first by design
The stadium is famous for its "fan-first" pricing, pioneering affordable concessions such as a $2 refillable drink and a $5 beer, with all prices inclusive of tax and partnerships with beloved Atlanta restaurants. Combined with the open aperture roof, the towering Halo board and a vibrant supporters' section, gameday here is a benchmark for the modern American stadium experience.
Practical info
Visiting the stadium
Mercedes-Benz Stadium sits in the heart of downtown Atlanta, within walking distance of Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia World Congress Center and many of the city's hotels, making it one of the most accessible major venues in the United States.
How to get there
- MARTA rail: Take the Blue or Green Line to Vine City or GWCC/CNN Center station, each a short walk from the gates; MARTA is the recommended, traffic-free option on event days.
- By car: Several parking decks surround the stadium, but downtown traffic and congestion are heavy around kickoff, so arrive early.
- On foot: From downtown hotels and Centennial Olympic Park the stadium is an easy walk.
- Tickets: Buy Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta United (MLS) tickets through the official club and stadium channels; demand for big games and World Cup fixtures is very high, so book well in advance.
Clubs & teams
Map
Where to find the stadium
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Plan your visit
Atlanta, United States
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