Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Mercedes-Benz Stadium had been on my list since it opened in 2017. I had already crossed the Georgia Dome off the list, so I wanted to see what Atlanta built right next door to replace it.

The game was the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on December 1, 2024. As you can tell from the hat in my pictures, I was pulling for the visitors. The Chargers won 17-13 in a game that came down to the defense. Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions, and Tarheeb Still had two of them, including a 61-yard pick-six late in the third quarter that put Los Angeles ahead for good. Derwin James sealed it with a final interception with 47 seconds left.

Atlanta actually won the stat sheet. The Falcons outgained the Chargers 350 to 187, and Bijan Robinson ran for 102 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers got three field goals from Cameron Dicker and enough from their defense to move to 8-4, while the Falcons dropped to 6-6. Two weeks later, Atlanta turned the offense over to rookie Michael Penix Jr.

Here are my thoughts on Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Pros

The building itself is the show. The roof is made of eight triangular panels that open and close like the aperture of a camera, and the design was inspired by the oculus in the Roman Pantheon. Even with the roof closed, the light that comes through the panels makes the place feel open. It looks different from every angle as you walk up to it.

Once you get inside, your eyes go straight up to the halo board. It is a 360-degree video board that wraps around the opening in the roof, and it is almost six stories tall. There is not a seat in the building where you cannot see a replay, and from the upper level it is as close to eye level as you are going to get.

The food prices are the best in the NFL, and it is not close. The Fan First Menu has whole-dollar pricing, $2 hot dogs, popcorn and pretzels, $2 refillable sodas, and $5 beer. You can eat a full meal here for less than a bottle of water costs at some stadiums. Every team should be required to come take notes.

The location works if you plan ahead. The stadium sits downtown next to the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park, and MARTA has three stations within walking distance: GWCC/CNN Center, Vine City and Five Points. If you are staying downtown, there is no reason to drive.

This building has also become the place for big events. It has hosted a Super Bowl, two College Football Playoff national championships and World Cup matches, and it is home to Atlanta United. Walking through the concourses, you can tell it was built with the biggest games in mind.

Cons

The bag policy is strict. The stadium follows a clear bag policy, so plan on leaving the duffel bag at the hotel or bringing a clear bag that meets the size limits.

Getting out after the game takes some patience. Between the crowd heading to MARTA and the traffic around downtown, the first 30 minutes after the final whistle are slow no matter how you leave. Grab one more $2 soda and let it clear out.

Overall Game Day Experience

I would give Mercedes-Benz Stadium a 10 out of 10. The roof and the halo board make it one of the most impressive buildings in sports, and the Fan First Menu is the best concession pricing in the league. MARTA makes it easy to get there without a car. The only knocks are the bag policy and the slow exit after the game but that’s almost every venue so it isn’t a negative takeaway at all.

If you are working your way through NFL stadiums, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a must-see venue. Take MARTA or an Uber/Lyft, get there early, look up at the roof and enjoy a $2 hot dogs.