Atlanta Falcons Background: How the Team Became Part of Atlanta’s Identity

The Atlanta Falcons are more than just a football team in Atlanta, Georgia—they’re woven into the city’s culture, neighborhoods, and weekends from August through January. Whether you live in Atlanta, are visiting for a game, or just want to understand how the Falcons fit into the city’s story, knowing their background helps you see why they matter here.

How the Atlanta Falcons Got Their Start

An Expansion Team for a Growing Southern City

The Falcons joined the National Football League (NFL) as an expansion franchise in 1965, at a time when Atlanta was quickly growing and positioning itself as the major city of the Southeast.

Key early milestones:

• 1965 – Atlanta is awarded an NFL franchise.
• 1966 – The Falcons play their first season.
• 1966–1991 – Home games are played at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium downtown.

From the beginning, the franchise was closely tied to Atlanta’s ambitions: having an NFL team helped the city attract business, tourism, and national attention. For locals, it created a new shared identity—Sundays meant Falcons football, often right in the heart of the city.

Stadium History: Where the Falcons Have Called Home in Atlanta

If you spend time in Atlanta, you’ll notice how much the Falcons’ story mirrors the city’s development and architecture.

Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1991)

• Location: Just south of the center of downtown Atlanta.
• Role in the city: Shared with the Atlanta Braves, it was one of the city’s main sports hubs for decades.
• Era feel: Old-school, outdoor football with a strong local crowd and a “blue-collar” game-day vibe.

This stadium helped anchor a growing sports culture downtown, but as the city modernized, leaders began planning a new facility.

Georgia Dome (1992–2016)

• Location: Downtown Atlanta, near what is now the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
• Type: Fully enclosed dome, which was a big step up in comfort for fans.
• Local impact: Turned the area into a major event district, hosting Falcons games, college football, and major national events.

Many long-time Atlanta fans remember the Dome era as the time the team went from regional presence to frequent national spotlight.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (2017–Present)

• Address:1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• Neighborhood: Just west of central downtown, near the Vine City and Castleberry Hill areas.

This stadium is now a major Atlanta landmark. For anyone living in or visiting the city, it’s worth knowing:

• It features the retractable roof and a distinctive “window to the city” design.
• It’s connected to MARTA’s GWCC/CNN Center and Vine City stations, making transit access straightforward on game days.
• The stadium is shared with Atlanta United FC, adding to the area’s year-round sports energy.

For many residents, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium anchors a whole entertainment corridor that includes Centennial Olympic Park, State Farm Arena, and the Georgia World Congress Center.

Important Moments in Falcons History

While the full year-by-year history is long, a few key periods shaped how people in Atlanta think about the Falcons today.

Early Struggles and Growing a Fanbase

In their first decades, the Falcons had more losing seasons than winning ones. But for Atlantans, the value wasn’t only in championships—it was in having a home team to root for.

Fans in neighborhoods from Decatur to College Park built traditions around tailgating, watching games at local restaurants, and wearing Falcons gear to work or school on Fridays.

The 1998 Season and the First Super Bowl Appearance

• The Falcons reached their first Super Bowl after the 1998 season.
• This run energized the entire metro area and introduced many newer residents to the idea of Atlanta as a serious football city.

Even fans who weren’t around back then still hear about that season as one of the team’s foundational high points.

The 2016 Season and a New Era in Downtown Atlanta

• After the 2016 regular season, the Falcons reached the Super Bowl again.
• This period overlapped with the transition to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and major redevelopment around downtown.

In Atlanta, that run is often associated with the city’s newer, more modern image—growing skyline, booming film and tech sectors, and major events happening every month downtown.

The Falcons and Atlanta’s Identity

A Reflection of the City’s Diversity

Atlanta is known for its diverse neighborhoods and cultures, and Falcons fandom reflects that. On game days, you’ll see:

• Families from south Atlanta, East Point, and South Fulton who have followed the team for decades.
• Young professionals from Midtown, Inman Park, and Old Fourth Ward wearing Falcons jerseys to brunch before the game.
• Visitors staying in Downtown or Buckhead hotels planning their trip around a Sunday at the stadium.

The fan base cuts across age, background, and neighborhood, giving the team a unique role as a unifying topic of conversation in the city.

Economic and Community Presence

The Falcons’ presence in Atlanta goes beyond the field:

• Jobs and local business: Game days support employment across security, hospitality, food service, and transportation. Nearby restaurants, bars, and parking lots often see a jump in activity when the Falcons play at home.
• Community initiatives: Team-led outreach, youth football programs, and appearances at city events help keep the Falcons visible year-round.

For Atlanta residents, it’s common to see the team associated with local causes, youth sports, and civic events that highlight pride in the city.

Where the Falcons Train and Work in the Atlanta Area

Team Headquarters and Training Facilities

While home games are downtown, much of the day-to-day football work happens to the north of the city:

• Atlanta Falcons Headquarters & Training Facility
  Address: Approx. area of Flowery Branch, GA (northeast of Atlanta, in the greater metro region).

This is where the team practices, reviews film, and handles much of its football operations. For most Atlanta residents, this matters mainly in the preseason, when training camp events sometimes become a draw for dedicated fans willing to drive out of the city.

Game-Day Operations in the City

On game day, activity is centered in and around:

• Mercedes-Benz Stadium – ticketing, security, concessions, and fan services.
• Nearby streets and parking areas – tailgating zones, ride-share drop-offs, and walking paths between MARTA stations and the stadium.

If you live or work downtown, you’ll notice how the rhythm of traffic and public transit changes on home game weekends.

What Game Day Means in Atlanta

Getting to the Stadium

For Atlanta residents and visitors, understanding transportation helps you enjoy the team without unnecessary stress.

Common ways locals get to Falcons games:

• MARTA rail:
  • GWCC/CNN Center Station – a main access point for the stadium.
  • Vine City Station – west side option, often less crowded leaving the game.
• Rideshare or taxi: Popular from Midtown, Buckhead, West Midtown, and East Atlanta.
• Walking: If you’re staying in a downtown hotel, you can typically walk to the stadium using clearly marked routes.

Many Atlantans plan their pre- and post-game plans around MARTA schedules and traffic patterns on the Downtown Connector (I-75/85).

Tailgating and Local Traditions

Tailgating is a big part of Falcons culture. Fans often gather in organized parking lots around the stadium area to:

• Grill and share food
• Play music and games
• Show off team gear and flags

Bars and restaurants in Castleberry Hill, Downtown, and along the Atlanta Streetcar route often lean into the game-day atmosphere with team colors and themed menus, drawing both locals and out-of-town fans.

How the Falcons Fit into Atlanta’s Sports Landscape

Atlanta is a multi-sport city, and the Falcons share attention with:

• Atlanta Braves (MLB)
• Atlanta Hawks (NBA)
• Atlanta United FC (MLS)

But the Falcons have a special place because NFL games:

• Are typically once a week, usually on Sunday, creating a distinct weekly ritual.
• Draw large TV audiences, influencing how people plan errands, family gatherings, and nightlife.

In many Atlanta households, the fall and winter calendar revolves around Falcons game times, especially in neighborhoods where extended families live close together.

Quick Reference: Falcons & Atlanta at a Glance

What This Background Means If You’re in Atlanta

If you live in Atlanta, the Falcons are part of the city’s weekly rhythm—affecting traffic, transit use, downtown crowds, and local business activity, especially in fall and early winter.

If you’re visiting:

• You can plan a full day around a Falcons game, combining it with nearby attractions like the Georgia Aquarium or the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
• Understanding the team’s background helps you appreciate why fans are so invested, and why the stadium area feels like such a focal point for the city.

And if you’re just trying to understand Atlanta better, the Falcons’ history traces the city’s growth—from a rising Southern center in the 1960s to a major national hub today—with football serving as a constant thread connecting generations of Atlantans.