City: Atlanta, GA

Category: Spectator Sports

Telephone: (404) 223-9200

Description: The $214 million Georgia Dome is topped by the world’s largest cable-supported dome. At its highest point, the roof is 275 feet—or 27 stories—above the playing field. The Teflon-coated fiberglass roof weighs 68 tons and covers 8.6 acres. When configured as an arena, the Dome’s capacity expands to 80,000. Planning for the Dome began in June 1984. After considerable negotiations, it was decided in October 1988 that the state would build the Dome with help from the city and county. In May 1990, the still-unbuilt Dome was selected to host Super Bowl XXVIII in 1994. Construction began the next month. The dome also hosted Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. In September 1990 Atlanta was awarded the 1996 Olympic Games, and the Dome was proposed as a venue for basketball and gymnastics. By February 1992, the fabric roof was installed and made watertight. The 71,500 seats were in by June; the Astroturf rolled out in July; in August the Falcons kicked off the action in the brand-new Georgia Dome. Total construction time was 31 months. On August 23, 1992, 66,834 fans watched the Falcons play and win the first football game in the new dome. Enormous TV monitors hang in each end zone; dozens of smaller monitors are suspended from the ceiling throughout the complex. The four 1,250-ton air conditioners may work too well: Reports are that Dome-goers complain more about being too cold than being too hot. The electricity used to power the Dome could light up a city of 13,000. The Dome offers 183 executive suites and 5,600 executive club seats that are leased on a 10-year basis. Suite and club-seat members receive Falcons season tickets, one parking pass for every four seats, and access to the private Executive Concourse and the private En-Zone restaurant. Club seats (extra-wide cushioned armchairs with high backs) may be leased by the year; the club section includes waiter service. Executive suites are $20,000 to $120,000 a year and come complete with custom furnishings (although leasees may bring in a decorator of their choice), cable-ready TVs, a wet bar, and a private restroom. A sliding glass door divides the interior of the suite from the open box, whose seats overlook the field. Suite and club-seat holders get first option to buy tickets to any public Dome event. Tickets Only season tickets are available for Falcons games, with the exception of a very limited number of individual game tickets that become available in the summertime. Check the website for information or call the ticket office at (404) 223-8000. Falcons games are broadcast over a 27-station radio network. The local flagship is WGST-AM (640). NOTE: The Falcons’ training camp and team headquarters is at Flowery Branch near Lake Lanier and Gainesville in north Georgia. Preseason training begins about the middle of July and is completed near the end of August. Some training sessions are open to the public without charge. Dome Amenities Eight Dome service centers are near the main entrance gates. These provide guests with various services such as a check stand for items not allowed inside, lost child location, and a designated-driver program. For the hearing impaired, amplification devices are offered with the deposit of a picture ID. (The Dome also features hearing-aid compatible phones with volume control, TDD phones, flashing exit signs, and visual fire alarms.) A variety of food and drink is available at the Dome. There are two food courts on the upper and lower levels. Cocktails are also sold in the Dome, and you’re allowed to take drinks to your seats. In fact, every seat comes with its own cup holder. Dome Rules Here are some policies to keep in mind when planning your day at the Dome. Fans are not allowed to bring in the following: food, beverages (including alcoholic beverages), coolers, cans, bottles, and mechanical or compressed-air noisemakers. Smoking is not allowed, except where designated. No audio or video recording is allowed at Falcons games. Fans may use portable TVs and radios (with earphones only) providing they fit on one’s lap and do not annoy other guests. Backpacks, purses, and other such containers larger than 8.5 inches wide, 13 inches long, and 5 inches deep are not permitted inside the stadium. All persons, smaller bags, purses, and containers are subject to search or inspection by security personnel. During major events (such as the Super Bowl) or during heightened security alerts, further inspections and accompanying delays should be expected. Tickets are required for all children except infants occupying the same seat as their parent. Parking and MARTA Mass transit is a key component in the Dome’s Downtown location. Unlike stadiums built in the middle of acres and acres of parking lots, the Dome is closely surrounded by business and residential areas and the Georgia World Congress Center. There are several thousand parking spaces at the Georgia Dome and the adjacent Georgia World Congress Center, and some of these are reserved for executive members and media. Within walking distance are an additional 17,000 parking spaces in Downtown lots, but all these together can only accommodate a fraction of the 71,500 fans at a sold-out Falcons game. Don’t get any ideas about parking in the nearby Vine City neighborhood: Only residents with city-issued permits may park on Vine City streets during Dome events. Parking Downtown can be a hassle at best; during Dome events it can be downright impossible. Again, MARTA is the easy answer. The Dome is so huge that it’s actually served by two MARTA stations on the east-west line: Vine City on the west side and Dome/Georgia World Congress Center on the east side. If you’re returning to a station on the north-south line after the game, you can avoid changing trains at Five Points by taking the special express shuttle bus to the Garnett station. These buses board on the Dome’s south side. Or, just walk. It’s only two blocks from Five Points to the Dome.During Dome events, MARTA runs a shuttle on a Downtown loop route; it picks up passengers at Downtown parking lots and takes them to the Dome. This shuttle runs every 5 minutes before and after events and every 25 minutes during events. However, since you’ll have to pay the full MARTA fare to ride the shuttle, it’s clearly smarter to park for free at a MARTA rail station and take the train to the game.