How Old Is Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta?

If you live in Atlanta or you’re planning a visit, you’ve probably heard a lot about Mercedes‑Benz Stadium—from Falcons games to United matches to concerts and college football championships. But how old is the stadium, and what does that mean for you as a fan or visitor today?

In simple terms:

• Mercedes‑Benz Stadium opened on August 26, 2017.
• As of 2025, the stadium is about 7–8 years old, depending on the exact date you’re reading this.

Below is a deeper look at the stadium’s age, its short history, and what that means for events, parking, and the overall experience in Atlanta, Georgia.

Quick Facts: Age and Key Dates

Mercedes‑Benz Stadium at a Glance

Because it opened in 2017, the stadium is still considered a relatively new major sports venue by NFL and MLS standards. For locals, that means modern design, updated seating and concourses, and an experience that feels contemporary rather than dated.

Why the Stadium’s Age Matters for Atlanta Fans and Visitors

Modern design and amenities

Being less than a decade old, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium was built with:

• Wide concourses that ease crowd flow.
• Large video boards, including the signature circular “halo” board.
• Modern seating layouts, suite levels, and club areas.
• Better accessibility features, like elevators, ramps, and accessible seating options.

For Atlantans heading to a game or show, this usually means shorter lines, better sightlines, and a more comfortable experience than in many older stadiums.

Food, concessions, and fan-friendly pricing

From early on, the stadium became known for its fan-friendly food and drink pricing and broad concession options. While exact prices and offerings can change over time, the modern infrastructure—kitchens, walk-up stands, and point-of-sale systems—reflects the fact that the building is newer and designed for high volume.

Because the stadium isn’t that old, many visitors find that concessions, restrooms, and common areas still feel up-to-date and well maintained.

A Short Timeline: From Opening to Today

For anyone in Atlanta trying to place the stadium in context, here’s how its age lines up with local sports history.

2017: Opening year

• August 26, 2017: Mercedes‑Benz Stadium officially opens in Downtown Atlanta.
• It becomes the new home of the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta United FC (MLS).
• The Georgia Dome, which sat next door and had opened in 1992, is decommissioned and later demolished.

If you grew up going to games at the Georgia Dome, the shift to Mercedes‑Benz Stadium marked a significant generational change in Atlanta sports venues.

2018–2019: Big events come to Atlanta

Within just a couple of years of opening, the “new” stadium hosted:

• Major college football games (including national-level matchups).
• MLS and NFL playoff games.
• High-profile concerts and special events.

Despite being only a few years old at that time, it quickly became one of the central venues in Atlanta’s sports and entertainment calendar.

2020 and beyond: Regular upgrades and improvements

As with most newer stadiums, ongoing upgrades—to technology, video boards, Wi‑Fi, and game presentation—have helped keep the building current even as it ages into its late single digits.

Because it opened recently, visitors in Atlanta today are still experiencing what many consider a state-of-the-art facility, rather than an aging stadium that needs major renovation.

Where Mercedes‑Benz Stadium Sits in Atlanta’s Stadium History

Understanding how old Mercedes‑Benz Stadium is also means understanding what came before it in Atlanta.

Compared with the Georgia Dome

• Georgia Dome opened: 1992
• Georgia Dome closed: 2017
• Mercedes‑Benz Stadium opened: 2017, right next door

The Georgia Dome served Atlanta for about 25 years. In contrast, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium is still in its first decade, so it’s in the early phase of what’s expected to be a long life as a central Atlanta venue.

Part of the Downtown sports district

The stadium is located near:

• State Farm Arena (home of the Atlanta Hawks)
• Centennial Olympic Park
• Georgia World Congress Center

As a relatively new addition to this cluster, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium helped solidify Downtown Atlanta as a multi-venue sports and entertainment hub. Its age means its design works well with newer transit and pedestrian planning in the area.

What the Stadium’s Age Means for Getting There and Getting In

Because Mercedes‑Benz Stadium opened in 2017, it was planned with modern transportation options and crowd management in mind—important for anyone navigating Atlanta traffic.

Transit options

The stadium’s age coincides with a strong focus on public transit and walkability:

• MARTA rail:
  • GWCC/CNN Center Station (Blue/Green Line)
  • Vine City Station (Blue/Green Line)
• Walking paths: Clearly marked routes from nearby MARTA stations and parking decks.

The designers built the stadium with MARTA access in mind from the beginning, unlike older stadiums that later had to adapt to transit patterns.

Parking and rideshare

Newer stadium planning in Atlanta also means:

• Multiple surface lots and decks arranged around the stadium.
• Designated rideshare pickup and drop-off areas (locations can vary by event).
• Clear signage and wayfinding designed into the original layout.

If you’re an Atlanta resident or visitor, the fact that Mercedes‑Benz Stadium is relatively new makes wayfinding and traffic flow more streamlined than at some older venues around the country.

Inside Experience: How “New” Does It Feel?

Even though the stadium is now several years old, many Atlanta fans still feel like it has a “new stadium” atmosphere.

Technology and screens

From day one, the building has been known for:

• The 360‑degree halo video board at the top of the stadium bowl.
• Large LED boards and ribbons throughout concourses.
• A retractable roof with a distinctive “pinwheel” design.

Because the stadium is only about 7–8 years old, these tech features still feel modern compared with older venues that rely on much smaller or lower‑resolution screens.

Comfort and accessibility

The relatively young age of the stadium also shows in:

• Seat design and spacing
• Accessible seating locations distributed around the bowl
• Family-friendly areas and standing-room zones

For families in Atlanta, or visitors bringing kids or older relatives, the stadium’s youth often translates into better accessibility and comfort than older buildings designed to older standards.

Practical Info for Visiting Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta

Even though the main question is about age, it helps to know the basics if you’re planning a visit in Atlanta.

Address and general location

Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
1 AMB Dr NW
Atlanta, GA 30313

The stadium sits in Downtown Atlanta, close to the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park.

Typical uses today

As a still-newer facility, the stadium regularly hosts:

• Atlanta Falcons home games (NFL)
• Atlanta United FC home matches (MLS)
• College football games (including high-profile season openers and bowls)
• Concerts, festivals, and special events
• Occasional large-scale community events

For local residents, this means the stadium is active year-round, not just during football season.

How Long Will Mercedes‑Benz Stadium Stay “New”?

In stadium terms, a building that opened in 2017 is generally considered early in its lifespan. Many NFL stadiums stay in use for 25–30 years or more before major replacement is discussed.

That means:

• Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, at roughly 7–8 years old, is likely to remain a central part of Atlanta’s sports and entertainment scene for decades.
• Ongoing upgrades will help keep it feeling modern, even as the calendar moves further away from 2017.

For Atlantans, this is the stadium that will define an entire generation of local sports memories, much like the Georgia Dome did for the 1990s and 2000s.

Bottom line:
Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta opened on August 26, 2017, making it about 7–8 years old in 2025. It’s still a relatively young, state-of-the-art venue, and its age shows in the modern design, technology, and fan experience that both locals and visitors enjoy in the heart of Downtown Atlanta.