Mammoth Mercedes-Benz Stadium set for August opening
US National Football League (NFL) franchise the Atlanta Falcons has released a new video showing the final stages of construction work on their US$1.5bn (€1.3bn, £1.1bn) stadium.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium, designed by sports architects HOK, is scheduled to officially open on 26 August for a Falcons preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.
The video, filmed in May, shows construction workers adding the finishing touches to the structure’s unique eight-petal plastic polymer retractable roof and the huge interior bowl.
It also offers a new look at the 13m (43ft) steel Falcon sculpture by Hungarian artist Gabor Miklos Szoke; the biggest bird representation in the world.
With a capacity of 83,000 people and a size of 2 million sq ft, the venue will be the largest in the NFL, surpassing the MetLife Stadium (82,500), which is shared by the New York Giants and New York Jets.
It will also be the home for new Major League Soccer side Atlanta United FC and host the 2019 Super Bowl. Country star Garth Brooks will inaugurate it as a concert venue with a performance in October.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium has been billed as “a new standard in stadium design and fan experience” by HOK, who were inspired by the design of the Roman Pantheon.
In addition to the roof, innovative features include the world’s largest 360 degree HD video screen, which is 1,100ft long; a 110,000sq ft fan plaza; 4,000 solar panels that can power up to ten Falcons’ games; and an edible garden created by Atlanta-based urban designers HGOR.
The Falcons wants to obtain the highest level of LEED certification from the US Green Buildings Council, and recycled building materials are being used extensively in the construction. It claims that 47 per cent less water and 29 per cent energy have been used than for a typical stadium build.
As a result, HOK’s sport and recreation division has been recognised for its sustainability credentials, being nominated for a Sports Humanitarian of the Year award.
You can watch the video of the new stadium and a timelapse of the project below:
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