The Georgia Dome opened in downtown Atlanta on September 6, 1992, as one of the largest cable-supported domes in the world, instantly becoming the home of the Atlanta Falcons. Its teflon-coated fiberglass fabric roof gave the building a distinctive low, taut profile that stood out against the city skyline for 25 years.
Beyond football, the Dome built a résumé few American stadiums could match: two Super Bowls, three NCAA Men’s Final Fours, basketball and gymnastics venues for the 1996 Summer Olympics, and more than two decades of Peach Bowls and SEC Championship Games. When the Falcons moved into Mercedes-Benz Stadium next door in 2017, the Georgia Dome’s run ended, and the building was imploded that November.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Atlanta Falcons (NFL, 1992-2017)
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Opened: September 6, 1992
- Closed/Demolished: Closed June 9, 2017; imploded November 20, 2017
- Capacity: 71,228 (football)
- Roof: Cable-supported dome, teflon-coated fiberglass fabric
- Notable fact: Hosted Super Bowls XXVIII (1994) and XXXIV (2000)
A Workhorse Venue
In its 25 seasons, the Georgia Dome hosted the Falcons, Georgia State football, a two-year stint for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, and dozens of major college football games, including 25 Peach Bowls and 23 SEC Championship Games. Its cavernous interior also made it a go-to site for the NCAA Final Four, which it hosted in 2002, 2007, and 2013.
The building’s size and flexibility made it a natural choice for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where it hosted basketball, gymnastics, and handball competitions in front of international crowds, cementing its place as one of the city’s defining venues of the 1990s.
The End of an Era
By the 2010s, Falcons ownership wanted a modern, partially open-air stadium, and keeping two 70,000-seat venues standing side by side made little financial sense. Mercedes-Benz Stadium rose next door and opened in August 2017, sealing the Georgia Dome’s fate.
On November 20, 2017, demolition crews brought the Dome down in a single implosion lasting roughly 12 to 15 seconds, using nearly 5,000 pounds of explosives. The job required careful engineering since the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium sat only about 83 feet away.
Explore more: Explore more legendary stadiums.
Keeps chili hot from the tailgate to the fourth quarter.
Team-color face paint in a twist-up stick — no brushes, no mess in the car.
Sized to the NFL's 12x6x12 clear-bag rule. Fits snacks, a jacket and a rally towel.
Georgia Dome FAQs
Why was the Georgia Dome demolished?
The Atlanta Falcons moved into the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium next door, and operating two large stadiums side by side was not financially practical, so the Georgia Dome was imploded in November 2017.
What Super Bowls were played at the Georgia Dome?
The Georgia Dome hosted Super Bowl XXVIII in January 1994 and Super Bowl XXXIV in January 2000.
How big was the Georgia Dome?
It seated about 71,228 fans for football and roughly 80,000 for large concert configurations, with a cable-supported fabric roof that was among the largest of its kind when built.
Get More from Georgia Dome
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Georgia Dome, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: MSGT Joseph Pittelli, U.S. Air Force / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.