Mercedes-Benz Stadium is destined to become one of the best and most visually striking stadiums in sports when it finally opens. When the stadium will open, however, is starting to become a talking point, as the date has been pushed back again to Aug. 26.
The $1.6 billion-stadium, designed by HOK, was originally planned to open on March 1, 2017. Since that time the opening has been delayed three times to June 1, 2017, then to July 30, 2017, and more recently (and hopefully finally) to Aug. 26, 2017.
Originally, it was thought the delays were related to issues with getting the unique retractable roof to work correctly. While retractable roofs aren’t new to sports stadiums, most slide open like a large garage door. The roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium takes a more complicated approach and opens in a circular motion, more closely resembling a blooming flower than a garage door.
Steve Cannon, CEO of AMB Group, the stadium’s owner, addressed concerns about the roof in a statement after the most recent delay. “No concerns about the operability of the roof have ever been expressed to us by the design or construction teams,” Cannon said in the statement.
Cannon went on to explain the reason for the delays. “Normal surveying and analysis of the roof structure, as well as steelwork in the roof, have both taken longer than planned. Those two things have had a cascading effect on overall workflows related to the roof, and that is the reason for the new timeline.”
The 71,000-seat stadium will be home to the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta United. It will also host the NCAA Peach Bowl and the Celebration Bowl. The stadium will host Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019.
HOK collaborated on the design with tvsdesign, Goode Van Slyke Architecture, and Stanley Beaman & Sears. BuroHappold Engineering and Hoberman Associates handled structural engineer duties for the project.
Related Stories
| Nov 29, 2011
SB Architects completes Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa in China
Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa is home to the largest natural springs reserve in the region, and measures 950,000 sf.
| Nov 11, 2011
Streamline Design-build with BIM
How construction manager Barton Malow utilized BIM and design-build to deliver a quick turnaround for Georgia Tech’s new practice facility.
| Nov 9, 2011
Sika Sarnafil Roof Recycling Program recognized by Society of Plastics Engineers
Program leads the industry in recovering and recycling roofing membrane into new roofing products.
| Nov 1, 2011
Sasaki expands national sports design studio
Sasaki has also added Stephen Sefton to the sports design studio as senior associate.
| Oct 20, 2011
UNT receives nation’s first LEED Platinum designation for collegiate stadium
Apogee Stadium will achieve another first in December with the completion of three wind turbines that will feed the electrical grid that powers the stadium.
| Sep 30, 2011
Design your own floor program
Program allows users to choose from a variety of flooring and line accent colors to create unique floor designs to complement any athletic facility.
| Sep 16, 2011
Largest solar installation completed at Redskins' football stadium
On game days, solar power can provide up to 20% of FedExField’s power.
| Sep 12, 2011
First phase of plan to revitalize Florida's Hialeah Park announced
This is the first project of a master plan developed to revive the historic racetrack.
