Atlanta Falcons in London: What Atlanta Fans Need to Know

When the Atlanta Falcons play in London, it’s more than just an away game—it affects local fans, the schedule at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and even how Atlanta businesses plan game-day events. Whether you’re staying in Atlanta to watch from home, thinking about flying to London, or just trying to understand how these international games work, this guide walks you through everything from tickets and travel to local viewing options and season-ticket impacts.

Why the Falcons Play in London

The Atlanta Falcons are part of the NFL’s ongoing effort to grow American football internationally, and London is one of the league’s main hubs for overseas games.

A Falcons “home” game in London typically means:

• The team is designated as the home team, but the game is played at a London stadium instead of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
• The game still counts in the regular-season standings like any other.
• Atlanta usually loses one true home game in the season, since that date is moved overseas.

For Atlanta residents, this changes:

• How many home games are played in downtown Atlanta
• Game times (London games are usually early morning or early afternoon Eastern Time)
• Local watch party schedules and downtown traffic patterns

Where the Falcons Play in London

Recent and future NFL games in London have been hosted at major stadiums such as:

• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London
• Wembley Stadium in northwest London

The Falcons may be assigned to either of these, depending on the NFL schedule.

Home vs. Away Designation

Even though the game is played in London:

• The Falcons are often the “home” team on paper.
• That matters for:
  • Uniform colors
  • Ticket allocation for season-ticket holders
  • How many games remain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

How a London Game Affects Atlanta Season-Ticket Holders

If you’re a Falcons season-ticket holder in Atlanta, a London game can change what your package includes.

Typical impacts

• Fewer home games in Atlanta:
  Instead of the usual number of home games, one may be relocated to London.
• Credits or adjustments:
  Season-ticket holders are often given account credits, adjusted pricing, or priority options tied to the relocated game.
• No automatic ticket to London:
  A London game does not automatically include travel or tickets abroad in a standard season-ticket package.

For the most accurate and current details, season-ticket holders usually work through:

Atlanta Falcons Ticket Office
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
1 AMB Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
Phone: Typically available through the main team or stadium ticketing line

If you live in Atlanta and already attend home games, it’s wise to:

• Check your Falcons season-ticket account online.
• Watch your email for any London-game-specific communication about credits, experiences, or priority access.

Watching the Falcons London Game From Atlanta

You don’t have to fly across the Atlantic to enjoy the experience. For most Atlanta fans, the London game is an early kick-off watch-party opportunity.

Broadcast timing

London is typically 5 hours ahead of Atlanta (Eastern Time), so:

• A 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff in Atlanta might be a 2:30 p.m. local time game in London.
• For Atlanta fans, that means:
  • Earlier-than-usual pregame coverage
  • Morning or brunch-style game-watching instead of the usual afternoon setup

Where you can watch in Atlanta

Fans often choose:

• Home viewing:
  • Cable or satellite packages that carry NFL games
  • NFL-focused streaming services or apps, depending on broadcast rights
• Sports bars and restaurants in and around:
  • Downtown (near Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
  • Midtown
  • Buckhead
  • Popular neighborhoods like Inman Park, West Midtown, and Old Fourth Ward

Many Atlanta venues arrange:

• Special London-game brunch menus
• Early opening hours for a morning kickoff
• Group viewing sections for fans in Falcons gear

If you’re planning to join a public watch party:

• Call ahead to confirm opening time and game audio plans.
• Ask if they’re doing Falcons-specific specials that day.

Traveling From Atlanta to London for the Game

If you live in metro Atlanta and want to follow the Falcons to London, you’ll be starting at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Flight basics from Atlanta

• Departure airport:
  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  6000 N Terminal Pkwy
  Atlanta, GA 30320
• Flight type:
  Nonstop and one-stop flights from Atlanta (ATL) to London (often Heathrow or Gatwick), depending on the airline and season.

Typical considerations:

• Travel time: Direct flights usually run around 8–9 hours.
• Time change: London is generally 5 hours ahead of Atlanta, so you’ll “lose” time on the way there.
• Arrival airport: Most major carriers fly into London Heathrow (LHR), some into London Gatwick (LGW).

Planning around the game

When planning from Atlanta:

• Fly in at least 1–2 days before the game to adjust to the time zone.
• Build in time for:
  • Stadium travel within London (public transportation or rideshare)
  • Security and entry lines on game day
• Check the exact stadium (Tottenham Hotspur or Wembley) before booking lodging—each area connects differently to central London.

Tickets for the London game

Game tickets are generally not sold through Atlanta local outlets in person; instead, fans in Atlanta usually:

• Purchase directly through the NFL’s official ticketing partners
• Use their Falcons season-ticket account, if any priority window or special code is provided
• Avoid unofficial resale sources that do not clearly guarantee entry

Plan early: London games attract both UK fans and traveling U.S. fans, and lower-level tickets can sell out quickly.

How London Games Change the Falcons’ Schedule for Atlanta Fans

A London game affects the full-season rhythm that Atlanta fans are used to.

Schedule changes to expect

1. Early start time in Atlanta
   The London kickoff shifts game-day habits—think coffee and jerseys instead of evening tailgates.

2. Bye week considerations
   Teams that travel internationally often have a bye week scheduled soon after the London game.
   For Atlanta fans, this can mean:

   • Two weeks in a row with no Falcons game in Atlanta
   • A mid-season break in watch parties and downtown stadium activity

3. Fewer in-person opportunities at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
   Because one “home” game is abroad, fans who only attend games in Atlanta have one less date to see the team live at home that season.

Local Atlanta Game-Day Options When the Falcons Are in London

Even when the team is overseas, Atlanta keeps a strong local football culture around the Falcons.

Downtown and stadium-area experiences

On London game day, Mercedes-Benz Stadium usually does not host a simultaneous home-game event, but the surrounding area may still be active with:

• Fans gathering at bars and restaurants in:
  • The Gulch / Home Depot Backyard corridor
  • Centennial Olympic Park area
• Falcons fans wearing jerseys and creating a mini tailgate atmosphere without a stadium entry

Nearby attractions if you’re making a day of it:

• College Football Hall of Fame
• Centennial Olympic Park
• State Farm Arena area (if there are other events that day)

Neighborhood bar and restaurant scenes

In neighborhoods like Midtown, Buckhead, Old Fourth Ward, and Virginia-Highland, you’ll often find:

• Bars that brand themselves around NFL Sundays
• Brunch service synced with the early London kickoff
• Groups of Falcons fans organizing unofficial meetups

Tip: If you prefer a less crowded space to actually hear the commentary, look for smaller neighborhood spots rather than the largest sports bars, which can be packed for novelty games like London matchups.

Tips for Atlanta Fans Planning Around a London Game

Here’s a quick reference for how to handle the Falcons in London, whether you’re staying local or traveling:

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Residents and Visitors

• A Falcons London game is still an official regular-season game, but it changes how and when Atlanta fans engage.
• If you live in or are visiting Atlanta:
  • Expect a morning kickoff and a brunch-style game day.
  • You’ll have one fewer in-person home game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that season.
• The core decisions for Atlanta fans are:
  • Watch locally at home or at an Atlanta sports bar, or
  • Travel from ATL to London and experience an overseas NFL event.

By understanding how Atlanta Falcons games in London affect tickets, schedules, and local game-day traditions, you can plan your season—whether you’re cheering in a London stadium, on your couch in Atlanta, or at a busy brunch table somewhere along Peachtree.