FACTS, FIGURES
ATLANTA — Here are some things you really should know about Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the sparkling new home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC that opened Aug. 26, 2017 and served as site of Super Bowl LIII.
Beginning, of course, with the most important:
It has 1,262 beer taps, which places the system among the largest in professional sports venues. Belly up, folks.
Since the building opened, 4.3 million people have walked through the doors. Pretty sure that does not includes the (approximately) 75,000 who attended Sunday’s game and were able to sit in
21 inch wide seats, as opposed to the 19 inch seats that were at the Georgia Dome. (Nineteen inches? No wonder the Dome was demolished Nov. 20, 2017 at just 25 years old.)
Out of the aforementioned taps now comes $5 craft beer to go along with the $5 domestic brands that were already on the menu. On Sunday, that equalled $6.55 Cdn. Belly up again. And again.
Wait, it says on this page that 20 oz. Super Bowl beers are $9. Conflicting reports cry out for some investigative journalism.
The building weighs 1.6 million pounds. It was coated with 35,000 gallons of paint and contains 85,000 bolts. Indisputable facts.
The eight-piece retractable roof is 55 million pounds and spans 14.5 acres. Each piece weighs 500 tons. Math check, please.
The 360 degree halo board is the largest video board of it’s kind in the world.
At 41 1/2 feet tall and weighing 73,000 pounds, the “Falcon Sculpture” outside is the largest free standing bird sculpture in the world.
There is also a soccer ball sculpture that is 34.4 feet tall and 35 feet in diameter that is the largest of its kind in the world.
The “window to the city” is 16 stories high and encompasses 22,664 square feet.
With quick and easy access to over 10,000 hotel rooms (including 1,663 in ours), 10 major attractions (not sure if that’s counting the Waffle House) and a variety (but not enough) bars and restaurants, this was considered the “most walkable” Super Bowl in history.
There are 2,500 flat screen TVs throughout the stadium to “keep fans connected with the game at all times.”
First major sports facility to offer fans self-service, unlimited soda pops for two bucks. Same price for water and hotdogs. There are 650 points of sale for concessions to reduce time waiting in line.
Over 43 miles worth of weenies have been sold since opening day.
Food and beverage program ranked No. 1 in NFL and MLS “voice of the fan surveys” in 2017.
Also won 2018 Sports Business Journal “Breakthrough of the year” award. No wonder.
Rather than get thrown in the garbage, 67,302 pounds of un-purchased food has been collected and delivered to the homeless.
Walk 32.77 laps around the stadium’s perimeter and you’ve covered the distance of a marathon.
To date the stadium has housed 38 football games, 30 soccer matches, seven concerts and eight “other events”. It will host the 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four.
And in another 23 or 24 years, MercedesBenz Stadium will be outdated and demolished, making room for the next sparkling new home of the Falcons, Atlanta United FC and site for another Super Bowl game.