Mercedes-Benz Stadium
A retractable-roof stadium in Atlanta, home to the Falcons and Atlanta United, with a signature pinwheel roof and fan-first pricing.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a retractable roof stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Opened in 2017 as a replacement for the Georgia Dome, it is the home to the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) and Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). The stadium is owned by the state of Georgia through the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, and operated by AMB Group, the parent organization of the Falcons and Atlanta United FC. In 2016, the total cost of its construction was estimated at US$1.6 billion.
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- The Benz
- Address
- 1 AMB Drive Northwest
- Location
- Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
- Groundbreaking
- 19 May 2014
- Opened
- 26 August 2017
- Owner
- Georgia World Congress Center Authority
- Operator
- AMB Sports and Entertainment Group
- Surface
- FieldTurf CORE
Lore & Background
The stadium officially opened on August 26, 2017. Several events formerly held at the Georgia Dome moved to Mercedes-Benz Stadium following its completion, including multiple college football events, such as the SEC football championship game, the Peach Bowl, and the College Football Playoff National Championship (2018, and scheduled for 2025). Other professional events included the MLS Cup (as Atlanta United FC held home field advantage) in 2018, and Super Bowl LIII in 2019. It is also set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Reader's Guide
The stadium's signature feature is its retractable roof, which features a 'pinwheel' consisting of eight translucent, triangular panels. Each of the eight panels operates on two straight, parallel rails. Closing the roof takes slightly less time than opening the roof. When opened, the panels are designed to create the illusion of a bird's wings extended.
Architect Bill Johnson explained that the circular opening in the roof was inspired by the Roman Pantheon. Below the roof is the 'Halo', a 58-by-1,100-foot ring-shaped video board. The stadium also includes oversized locker rooms for college football use, a soccer-specific configuration with retractable lower bowl seats and mechanized curtains, and over 180 commissioned works of art. The upper concourse includes the '100 Yard Club'.
The stadium has a policy of 'fan first pricing' for all concessions, with lower menu prices. In March 2019, the stadium became one of the first major professional sports venues in the United States to only accept 'cashless' payment methods for concessions. The stadium also partnered with Atlanta-based restaurants under the 'Best of Atlanta' banner. In 2023, the stadium adopted the NFL's clear bag policy.
Did You Know?
- The 'Halo' video board covers approximately 58,000 square feet and was described as three times as large as the largest single display board in the NFL at the time.
- The stadium's art collection includes Gábor Miklós Szőke's stainless steel sculpture 'The Atlanta Falcon', which is 41 feet high with a 70-foot wingspan.
- The stadium's 'fan first pricing' includes a US$2 beverage cup with free refills and a $5 beer.
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