Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (originally known simply as Atlanta Stadium) was a multipurpose sports venue located at 521 Capitol Avenue SE in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Built at a cost of $18 million and designed by the architectural firms Heery & Heery and FABRAP, the stadium opened in 1965 and became home to the relocated Milwaukee Braves beginning with the 1966 MLB season. It also served as the home field of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL from 1966 until 1991, when the Falcons moved to the newly built Georgia Dome.
The stadium earned the colorful nickname ‘The Launching Pad’ thanks to its elevation of roughly 1,050 feet above sea level, which made the thin air particularly favorable to home run hitters. That reputation reached its peak on April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron stepped to the plate and launched his 715th career home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing, surpassing Babe Ruth’s long-standing all-time record in front of a packed home crowd. The stadium later hosted the 1991 and 1992 World Series and the baseball competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics before closing its doors for good on October 24, 1996.
Stats at a Glance
- Teams: Atlanta Braves (MLB) 1966–1996; Atlanta Falcons (NFL) 1966–1991
- Location: 521 Capitol Avenue SE, Atlanta, Georgia
- Opened: 1965
- Closed: October 24, 1996
- Demolished: August 2, 1997
- Capacity (Baseball): 52,007
- Capacity (Football): 60,606
- Construction Cost: $18 million (1965)
- Notable Fact: Site of Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run (April 8, 1974)
The Launching Pad Legacy
Few nicknames in baseball history were as well-earned as ‘The Launching Pad.’ Sitting at an elevation of about 1,050 feet above sea level — unusually high for a major league ballpark — Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium produced a noticeably thinner atmosphere that allowed batted balls to travel farther than at sea-level parks. Home run totals at the venue consistently ranked among the highest in the National League, drawing sluggers and frustrating pitchers throughout its three-decade run.
The stadium’s most transcendent moment came on April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record with his 715th career blast. The swing took place before a national television audience and remains one of the most celebrated instants in American sports history. Beyond that milestone, the park hosted the 1972 MLB All-Star Game, two consecutive World Series (1991 and 1992), and an early Beatles concert on August 18, 1965, underscoring its versatility as an entertainment venue.
Final Years and Demolition
The stadium’s fate was sealed when Atlanta was awarded the 1996 Summer Olympics. A new facility — Centennial Olympic Stadium — was constructed adjacent to the old ballpark to host the Games’ track and field events, while Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium handled the Olympic baseball competition. After the Braves played their final game there on October 24, 1996, the club relocated to Centennial Olympic Stadium, which was converted into Turner Field.
With the Braves gone, Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium sat empty. On August 2, 1997, the 32-year-old structure was demolished by controlled implosion, taking less than a minute to fall. The site was later converted into a parking lot for Turner Field. Today, a home plate marker and a silhouette of the stadium’s outline are embedded in the parking surface, preserving the memory of the spot where one of baseball’s greatest records was broken.
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Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium FAQs
Why was Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium called ‘The Launching Pad’?
The nickname referred to the stadium’s elevation of roughly 1,050 feet above sea level in Atlanta. At that altitude, the thinner air reduced drag on batted balls, helping them carry farther and leading to consistently high home run totals compared with most other National League parks.
When was Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium demolished?
The stadium was demolished by controlled implosion on August 2, 1997, approximately ten months after the Atlanta Braves played their final game there on October 24, 1996. The site was subsequently converted into a parking lot for the adjacent Turner Field.
Did Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium host the 1996 Olympics?
Yes. While the newly constructed Centennial Olympic Stadium (later Turner Field) hosted track and field events for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium served as the venue for the Olympic baseball competition that same summer before the Braves vacated it at the end of the 1996 season.
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Photo: Don Ceppi/Scenic South Card Co. / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.