Video: is this the best sports stadium in the world right now?
The home of NFL and MLS in Atlanta cost $1.5bn to build and its roof has been described as an architectural icon
Since officially opening its doors on 26 August last year, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta has been turning the heads of sports fans across the globe.
The home of the Atlanta Falcons NFL franchise and Atlanta United Major League Soccer (MLS) side is operated by the AMB Sports and Entertainment Group. According to Forbes, it cost in the region of $1.5bn (£1.137bn) to build.
Forbes writer Keith Flamer describes the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the “best venue in the NFL” and says it “elevates the fan experience to euphoric levels”.
The stadium has re-energised fans, players and the Falcons franchise, Flamer says, and will host Super Bowl LIII on 3 February of next year. Can the Falcons lift the Lombardi Trophy on home turf? That’s the prediction of USA Today writer Nate Davis...
United draw the crowds
It’s not just the NFL side that has been boosted by the new stadium, but also the other tenants: Atlanta United of the MLS.
United are flying high at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference and the fans are enjoying the on-field success. The club holds the top-five single crowd attendance records ever in the MLS. The highest was on 15 July when 72,243 watched United draw 1-1 with the Seattle Sounders.
Iconic roof
Nine months after its opening, the final piece of the futuristic puzzle has been completed at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The impressive roof structure has been finished – complete with the auto giant’s emblem. The Curbed Atlanta website calls the roof an “architectural icon” with its eight giant “petals” that weigh 500 tons each. These close together in around eight minutes.
What they’re saying about the stadium
Brad Guzan, Atlanta United goalkeeper: “I don’t think there are any around the world that can compare to this.”
Sam Franco, SB Nation: “Mercedes-Benz Stadium is absolutely incredible – I was completely blown away.”
Architectural Digest: “One of the most beautifully designed stadiums on the planet.”
About the Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Where: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Opened: 26 August 2017
- Teams: Atlanta Falcons (NFL); Atlanta United (MLS)
- Record attendances: 74,141 Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers (NFL, December 2017); 72,243 United vs. Seattle Sounders (MLS, July 2018)
Video credit: Atlanta Falcons/YouTube
