Atlanta, GA – History was made tonight when the Atlanta Falcons together with representatives from the NFL, Major League Soccer, the City and State broke ground on the new Atlanta stadium set to open in 2017. The new $1.2 billion multi-purpose stadium will be a state-of-the-art, iconic sports and entertainment complex designed to attract world-class sports, civic, cultural, and commercial events and serve as a landmark for the city of Atlanta.
Reflecting the cutting-edge, progressive vision behind the new stadium project, the groundbreaking ceremony was a high-tech, dynamic celebration. Falcons and MLS Atlanta Owner Arthur Blank, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and Georgia World Congress Center Authority Executive Director Frank Poe drove shovels into the ground as a pyrotechnic display erupted and laser lights lit the sky from the new stadium site. To conclude the evening, guests were given 3-D glasses and took a bird’s eye, multi-dimensional video journey through the new stadium.
“Today is truly a celebration not only for the Falcons and the new Major League Soccer team that will call this stadium home, but for the City of Atlanta, the State of Georgia and all of our partners who have worked so hard to make this project a reality,” said Arthur Blank. “We are committed to providing our fans and event guests with an unparalleled experience in the new facility, and we’re equally committed to the long-term economic growth and success of this great city and state.”
To accommodate Atlanta’s newly awarded Major League Soccer franchise, the stadium will reconfigure to soccer requirements, a feature that will make it a significant draw for major soccer tournaments including the FIFA World Cup.
“We believe the new Atlanta stadium will be one of the most spectacular venues in the world,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “It will provide an incredibly innovative approach that will customize the stadium for Atlanta’s new Major League Soccer team, and it will also be an iconic host for major international matches and future international tournaments.”
To bring fans closer to the stadium experience as construction gets underway, live streaming video of the new stadium is now available through a webcam mounted on the roof of the Georgia Dome. By visitingnewatlantastadium.com/webcam, fans can view live, time-lapse and archived video from five different perspectives, including a panoramic view of the entire stadium site.
