Atlanta United

The Exterior
If there is one thing you can say about the Mercedes Benz stadium without triggering debate it’s that the exterior design draws your attention away from absolutely anything. The silver metal and glass triangles that tessellate around to create a jagged and sharp looking shell is visually striking. Throw in the fact that the triangles contrast against one another means that when you get a night game you’ll have soft light penetrating the fierce outer layer. It’s not all about being ‘showy’ though. The triangles are mechanically operated to form a retractable roof making the stadium an all-weather arena; the architectural design used means the roof closing and opening is intended to replicate the shutter of a camera.

Another eye-catching area on the outside of the stadium is the controversial pedestrian bridge that connects the car parks to the main stadium. The $33m build went well beyond the intended budget hence the controversy but there is no denying that the translucent tunnel shaped bridge is an impressive feature as it wraps around itself as well as lighting up. Finally, you have the presence of the gigantic Falcon outside the ground. To be fair, it’s a nod to the NFL team United share the stadium with but, even so, it’s hard to turn a blind eye to.

The Interior
Inside the stadium the seating wraps around the pitch in almost a circular shape with the first thing you notice the sky high electronic boards that run all the way around near the roofing – they’re quite impressive and make a change from the traditional flat screens. In respect of how the seating is laid out, you’ve got one section that is single tiered with a glass section behind it allowing lots of natural light to flow in; from there on out, it’s a three-tiered monster of an area with a steep gradient putting the field in a cauldron of noise. Of the 71,000 capacity, over 10% of the seating is allocated considered premium seating with club seats and VIP suites accounting for most of it.

When it comes to food and drink, the Mercedes-Benz stadium is regarded as one of the best in the United States for their depth of concessions. Not only do they offer a tremendous range of food and drink with everything from snacks, vegan options, American, Italian, Mexican and more on offer they do so with partnerships with some of the world’s biggest brands. Finally, you have the huge perks of their seriously affordable pricing and the fact you can pre-order on your mobile to ensure you can keep your eyes firmly on the action from the pitch.

Of course, eating and drinking in the stadium isn’t for everyone. A lot of the time, when you find a stadium with such a strong concession offering it can mean the external options are lacking. That’s not the case with the Mercedes-Benz stadium. If you’re looking for something family friendly and nearby the Restaurant 10, which offers burgers and ribs, is located on Northside Drive and is just a five minute walk.

If you’re after more choice then we suggest taking a stroll down Centennial Olympic Park Drive North West. If you spend 10 to 20 minutes walking down here you’ll pass an abundance of different places for your pre-game fill. You’ve got the likes of Elliott Street Pub for a drink, No Mas! Cantina offering Mexican, The Spinning Pie who specialise in Italian and Dat Fire Jerk Chicken, which is a Jamaican restaurant or, even if you’re really pushing the boat out then you can even opt for fine dining at the Fellaship. All of the eateries are within walking distance of the stadium and are either on or directly off Centennial Olympic Park Drive.

The main thing to note for away fans visiting the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is that you’ll be warmly received by the Atlanta fans whilst you’ll be able to enjoy everything we’ve touched on already both in and outside of the stadium. The all round atmosphere is positive whilst every seat in the house offers strong views of the action.

If you’re after an easy access to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium then your best bet is jumping on the MARTA; this will drop you slap bang outside the stadium if you opt for the GWCC station whilst Vine City is also within easy reach. If, however, you’re someone that wants to drive to the stadium then you can depart for your journey safe in the knowledge that there is a ridiculous amount of car parking around the stadium. If you find parking in the immediate vicinity of the Mercedes-Benz stadium is flooded then you’ll still have the likes of Mitchell Street across Northside Drive, which means you should never encounter issues.

Given everything you’ve read about the stadium and surrounding area, it’s highly plausible you’ll be wanting to spend more than just a few hours close to the Mercedes-Benz stadium. If so, you’ll be pleased to know there are options for every budget. Your nearest hotel is the 4-star Reverb by Hard Rock. It’s a literal stones throw from the stadium and at $220 a night it’s not cripplingly expensive.

If you’re wanting to go for a more modest budget then the Barclay Hotelon Luckie Street is still under 1 mile from the stadium. With per night prices at less than $100 it’s likely as cheap as you’ll get. The fact it’s a 3-star hotel means it’s far from being a dive too. Equally, if you want to step in the other direction, the luxury 5-star Ritz Carlton is a 17 minute walk from the ground. It will set you back over $320 per night though.

Orlando City

The below link will take you to the team website.

Schedule | Atlanta United FC (atlutd.com)