Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a major multipurpose sports and entertainment venue in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It opened in 2017 as the replacement for the Georgia Dome and is home to the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer's Atlanta United FC. The stadium is owned by the State of Georgia through the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and operated by AMB Group, the parent organization associated with both principal tenant teams. The venue was developed to provide Atlanta with a modern, flexible facility capable of hosting professional football, soccer, college football, concerts, international sporting events and major one-off spectacles. Its design was created by Populous and is centered on an eight-panel retractable roof arranged in a pinwheel configuration. The roof's circular opening was inspired by the Roman Pantheon, while the moving panels are intended to suggest the wings of a bird when open. A large continuous Halo video display encircles the roof opening and is supplemented by extensive LED signage throughout the building. Mercedes-Benz Stadium was conceived as a football and soccer venue rather than as a single-purpose NFL facility. Retractable lower-bowl seating allows the field to be widened for soccer, with curtains used to create a more intimate configuration. The building also includes large locker rooms suitable for college football, hospitality areas, club spaces, restaurants and gathering zones such as the 100 Yard Club, AT&T Perch and Budweiser Biergarten. The adjacent Home Depot Backyard provides an outdoor gathering and tailgating area on the former Georgia Dome site. The stadium became known for its fan-oriented concessions strategy. At launch, the venue promoted comparatively low prices, tax-inclusive whole-dollar pricing and a broad selection of local Atlanta food brands under the Best of Atlanta program. The policy was designed to distinguish the facility from venues where food and beverage prices are often heavily marked up. In 2019, after a trial period, the stadium moved to cashless concession transactions while retaining cash options for tickets and selected third-party sales through cash-to-card kiosks. The stadium has hosted important events including college football championship games, the Peach Bowl, the 2018 MLS Cup, Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and international soccer. It was selected for matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a semifinal, and is scheduled to host Super Bowl LXII in 2028. Its public art program includes more than 180 commissioned works, with Gábor Miklós Szőke's large-scale Atlanta Falcon sculpture serving as the most prominent exterior landmark. Although the stadium carries the Mercedes-Benz name through a naming-rights arrangement, it is not a Mercedes-Benz automotive product or corporate headquarters. It functions as a venue brand attached to Atlanta's sports, entertainment and civic-event infrastructure.

Plans for a new Atlanta football stadium emerged publicly around 2010, when the Falcons began exploring a replacement for the Georgia Dome. The team wanted a venue with a more open-air character, improved event capabilities and the potential to attract another Super Bowl. Early concepts by Populous contemplated a large stadium with expandable capacity, extensive club seating and suites, and the ability to support both football and other major events. The projected cost increased as the design became more sophisticated. In 2012, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority approved the broad framework for the project, while city and county hotel-motel tax revenues were identified as the principal public contribution. Atlanta City Council approved the use of up to $200 million in hotel-motel tax funding in March 2013, and the NFL approved a $200 million loan to the Falcons organization in May of that year. A conceptual design released in June 2013 proposed a capacity of approximately 70,000, with club seats and luxury suites. The stadium was planned for a site near the Georgia Dome in the Vine City area. Site preparation and community impacts became significant parts of the project. Historic religious institutions, including Mount Vernon Baptist Church and Friendship Baptist Church, were displaced or demolished as the site was assembled, prompting debate about redevelopment, neighborhood change and the distribution of public benefits and burdens. Legal issues involving bond issuance contributed to a delay in groundbreaking. Construction ultimately began on May 19, 2014. The building's most technically demanding element was its retractable roof. The eight triangular panels move along paired rails and meet around a circular opening. Because the system required extensive testing and synchronization, the scheduled opening moved several times from March 2017 to June, then July, and finally August 26, 2017. Officials also adjusted early plans for roof operation while contractors refined the mechanism. The stadium opened on schedule in late August, and the Georgia Dome was later imploded on November 20, 2017. Mercedes-Benz Stadium was designed as a shared home for the Falcons and Atlanta United FC. For soccer, retractable seating and curtains allow the building to assume a more suitable configuration and reduce the event capacity. The venue also supports college football and large civic and entertainment events. Its early calendar included college football fixtures, the Peach Bowl, the SEC Championship Game and Atlanta United matches. Atlanta United's 2018 MLS Cup victory was particularly significant because the club held home-field advantage for the final. The stadium quickly became a major-event venue. It hosted Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and was selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a semifinal. It is also scheduled to host Super Bowl LXII in 2028. Alongside its sporting role, the venue has developed a distinctive commercial and visitor experience based on local concessions, premium hospitality, large-format digital displays and outdoor public space. Architecturally, the stadium's identity rests on the pinwheel roof, the Halo video board and extensive use of glass and translucent materials. More than 180 commissioned artworks are incorporated into the building. The largest signature work is The Atlanta Falcon, a monumental stainless-steel sculpture positioned outside the stadium. The adjacent Home Depot Backyard, created on part of the former Georgia Dome site, adds an outdoor venue for tailgating, community gatherings and event programming.

• 2026

  FIFA World Cup host venue

  [3]Atlanta host city information for the 2026 FIFA World Cupfifa.com

  The stadium is scheduled to host multiple 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, including a semifinal.

• 2019

  Super Bowl LIII

  [6]Super Bowl LIIIen.wikipedia.org

  The venue hosted Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.

• 2018

  Atlanta United wins MLS Cup at home

  [5]Atlanta United wins MLS Cup at homeen.wikipedia.org

  The stadium hosted the MLS Cup final, which Atlanta United won with home-field advantage.

• 2017

  Stadium opens

  [1]Mercedes-Benz Stadiumen.wikipedia.org

  Mercedes-Benz Stadium officially opened on August 26 as the new home of the Falcons and Atlanta United FC.

• 2017

  Georgia Dome is imploded

  [1]Mercedes-Benz Stadiumen.wikipedia.org

  The former Georgia Dome was demolished on November 20 after the replacement venue became operational.

• 2014

  Construction begins

  [1]Mercedes-Benz Stadiumen.wikipedia.org

  Groundbreaking took place on May 19 after delays involving bond-related legal matters.

• 2013

  Atlanta approves the stadium project

  [1]Mercedes-Benz Stadiumen.wikipedia.org

  Atlanta City Council approved hotel-motel tax support for the project, and the NFL later approved a construction loan for the Falcons organization.

• 2010

  Replacement-stadium planning becomes public

  [1]Mercedes-Benz Stadiumen.wikipedia.org

  The Atlanta Falcons publicly explored replacing the Georgia Dome with a new stadium offering a more open-air experience and broader event potential.

• Scheduled to host Super Bowl LXII

  [7]Scheduled to host Super Bowl LXIIen.wikipedia.org

  The stadium is scheduled to host Super Bowl LXII.

A technologically advanced, highly flexible Atlanta sports and entertainment venue positioned around major-event capability, distinctive architecture, local food culture and fan-friendly concessions.

• Professional and college football · 2017

  Football event configuration

  The primary football configuration serves Atlanta Falcons NFL games and major college events including championship games and bowl games. The building includes oversized locker rooms designed to accommodate college football rosters, extensive video displays, premium seating and large concourses.

• Professional and international soccer · 2017

  Soccer event configuration

  Retractable lower-bowl seating and mechanized curtains allow the stadium to create a soccer-oriented field and a more intimate event environment. This configuration supports Atlanta United FC matches and major international competitions, including scheduled 2026 FIFA World Cup fixtures.

• Hospitality · 2017

  Premium hospitality

  The venue offers club areas, suites, premium seating and gathering spaces for sports, concerts and special events. Notable internal areas include the 100 Yard Club, AT&T Perch, Budweiser Biergarten and neighborhood-style bars.

• Food and beverage · 2017

  Best of Atlanta concessions

  The stadium's concessions program incorporates Atlanta restaurants, chains and chefs, including Chick-fil-A, The Varsity and chef Kevin Gillespie. The program was introduced as part of the venue's effort to reflect local food culture and maintain comparatively accessible event pricing.

• Outdoor event space · 2017

  The Home Depot Backyard

  The Home Depot Backyard is an approximately 11-acre green space beside the stadium on part of the former Georgia Dome site. It is used for tailgating, public gatherings, event programming and community-oriented activities.

• 2017Fan First Pricing

  Atlanta · United States

  At opening, the stadium promoted whole-dollar, tax-inclusive concession pricing and selected low-price items, including inexpensive beverages and beer. Local food partners were expected to avoid venue markups relative to their ordinary locations.

  Outcome. The venue reported that lower prices were offset by higher concession participation and spending volume.

  Source
• 2017Best of Atlanta

  Atlanta

  A concessions initiative brought Atlanta-based restaurants, chains and chefs into the stadium to connect the visitor experience with local food culture.

  Outcome. The program became a visible part of the stadium's hospitality and pricing proposition.

  Source

• 2019

  Adopt cashless concession paymentsStrategy

  Background

  The venue tested cashless transactions in 2018 to improve transaction speed and concession operations.

  Action taken

  Concessions moved to credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments, with kiosks available for converting cash to prepaid cards.

  Aftermath

  Cash remained accepted for tickets and certain third-party sales, while concession pricing was adjusted and the original tax-inclusive presentation changed.

  Source

• 2013

  Proceed with a new stadium rather than renovate the Georgia DomeStrategy

  Background

  The Falcons sought a facility with a more open-air character, modern hospitality infrastructure and the ability to host additional major events.

  Action taken

  Atlanta and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority approved a new downtown stadium project supported partly by hotel-motel tax revenues.

  Aftermath

  Construction began in 2014, and the Georgia Dome was retired and demolished after the new venue opened.

  Estimated construction cost. US$1.6 billion (2016 estimate)

  Source

1. 1Mercedes-Benz Stadiumen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mercedes-Benz Stadium official websitemercedesbenzstadium.com
3. 3Atlanta host city information for the 2026 FIFA World Cupfifa.com
4. 4Mercedes-Benz Stadium A-Z Guidemercedesbenzstadium.com
5. 5Atlanta United wins MLS Cup at homeen.wikipedia.org
6. 6Super Bowl LIIIen.wikipedia.org
7. 7Scheduled to host Super Bowl LXIIen.wikipedia.org