Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened on August 26, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia, replacing the Georgia Dome as the home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United FC. The $1.6 billion venue was designed by HOK’s 360 Architecture subsidiary and immediately earned recognition as one of the most technologically advanced stadiums ever built.
The stadium’s retractable roof — eight translucent ETFE panels that open like a camera aperture in about eight minutes — and its record-breaking 360-degree ‘Halo’ video board set new benchmarks for professional sports arenas. It hosted Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and is scheduled to stage eight 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, including a semifinal.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Opened: August 26, 2017
- Team(s): Atlanta Falcons (NFL), Atlanta United FC (MLS)
- Capacity: 71,000 (football); 42,500–71,000 (soccer)
- Construction Cost: $1.6 billion
- Halo Video Board: About 63,000 sq ft — largest in professional sports
- Record Attendance: 79,330 (2022 Peach Bowl, December 31, 2022)
Engineering and Design
Designed by HOK’s 360 Architecture alongside tvsdesign, Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s most striking element is its retractable roof composed of eight triangular translucent panels. Inspired by the oculus of Rome’s Pantheon, the panels retract outward in approximately eight minutes, allowing the venue to shift between open-air and enclosed configurations for any event or weather condition.
Encircling the roof opening is the Halo Board — a continuous 4K LED ring measuring 58 feet tall and roughly 1,100 feet in circumference, covering about 63,000 square feet. Widely recognized as the largest video board in professional sports, it delivers an unobstructed panoramic view to every seat in the house.
Major Events and Legacy
Since opening, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has hosted some of sport’s most prestigious occasions. Super Bowl LIII was played here in February 2019, and the venue set an MLS single-game attendance record of 73,019 during the 2018 MLS Cup Final. College football’s Peach Bowl drew a house record of 79,330 fans on December 31, 2022.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the stadium operates temporarily as ‘Atlanta Stadium’ under FIFA’s naming rules. Atlanta is one of 16 host cities for the tournament, with eight matches scheduled at the venue — including a high-stakes semifinal — further cementing its place among the world’s elite sports destinations.
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Mercedes-Benz Stadium FAQs
What teams play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
The stadium is home to the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and Atlanta United FC of MLS. An Atlanta NWSL expansion team is also expected to begin playing there in 2028.
What is the capacity of Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
For NFL football the standard capacity is 71,000, expandable to around 75,000 for major events. For MLS soccer the standard configuration holds about 42,500, with the ability to expand up to 71,000.
Will Mercedes-Benz Stadium host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches?
Yes. Atlanta is one of 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The venue — temporarily renamed Atlanta Stadium per FIFA regulations — will host eight matches, including a semifinal.
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Photo: Atlanta Falcons / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.