Georgia Dome facts for kids
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The Georgia Dome during the 1996 Summer Olympics
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| Address | 1 Georgia Dome Drive Northwest Atlanta, Georgia United States |
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| Coordinates | 33°45′29″N 84°24′04″W / 33.758°N 84.401°W |
| Public transit | Dome / GWCC / Philips Arena / CNN Center (MARTA station) Vine City (MARTA station) |
| Owner | Georgia World Congress Center Authority |
| Operator | Georgia World Congress Center Authority |
| Capacity | Football: 71,228 Georgia State football: 28,155 Basketball: 71,000 Total Capacity: 80,000 |
| Surface | FieldTurf (2003–2017) AstroTurf (1992–2002) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 22, 1989 |
| Opened | September 6, 1992 |
| Closed | June 9, 2017 |
| Demolished | November 20, 2017 |
| Construction cost | $214 million ($446 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Heery International; Rosser FABRAP International; and tvsdesign |
| Project manager | Barton-Malow |
| Structural engineer | Weidlinger Associates |
| General contractor | Beers/Georgia Dome Team |
| Tenants | |
Peach Bowl (NCAA) (1993–2016)
Atlanta Falcons (NFL) (1992–2016)
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The Georgia Dome was a huge indoor stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. It opened in 1992 and was one of the biggest covered stadiums in the world at the time. The stadium was home to the Atlanta Falcons football team and the Georgia State University Panthers football team.
Over its 25 years, the Georgia Dome hosted many exciting events. These included two Super Bowls, 25 Peach Bowl games, and 23 SEC Championship Games. It was also the only stadium in the United States to host the Summer Olympics, a Super Bowl, and the NCAA men's basketball Final Four. More than 37 million people visited the Dome for over 1,400 events!
Even though the Georgia Dome was a great place, the Falcons wanted a new, more modern stadium. So, a new stadium called Mercedes-Benz Stadium was built right next to it. The Georgia Dome closed in June 2017 and was taken down in November 2017.
The Georgia Dome: A Look Back
Building a Giant Stadium
The Georgia Dome was finished in 1992. It cost $214 million to build, which was a lot of money for a state project back then. The stadium could hold over 71,000 people for football games. For concerts, it could fit about 80,000 fans. For basketball, it could hold 71,000 people, or 40,000 if part of the stadium was closed off. The most people ever in the Dome for a college football game was 80,892 in 2008.
The Dome had special club seats and 171 luxury boxes for groups. It also had four restaurants and bars. The building was huge, standing 271 feet tall. Its roof was made of a special fabric and was the largest cable-supported dome roof in the world.
The Playing Field
When it first opened, the Georgia Dome used AstroTurf for its football games. This was a type of artificial grass. In 2003, the Falcons' owner, Arthur Blank, paid to install a newer type of artificial grass called FieldTurf.
Making It Better
In 2006, the Falcons and the stadium owners decided to spend $300 million to update the Georgia Dome. They added new 'super-suites' and an owners' club with plasma TVs. In 2008, the outside of the stadium was repainted to match the Falcons' team colors: red, black, and silver. The old teal seats were replaced with new red and black ones. The entrances and hallways were also updated.
New, wider HD video screens were added in 2009. These screens made replays and digital shows look much better. A new sound system was also installed that year. The Georgia Dome even showed funny safety videos before games, featuring a flight attendant character called Deltalina.
Stormy Weather!
The Dome faced some challenges with its roof. In 1995, a big thunderstorm caused water to collect on the roof. This made part of the fabric tear and fall into the stadium. Luckily, fans had already left, so no one was hurt. The roof was fixed to prevent this from happening again.
In 2008, a tornado hit Atlanta during a college basketball tournament. The tornado ripped holes in the Dome's roof and damaged its sides. This caused a game to be delayed for over an hour. The rest of the tournament had to be moved to another location.
Taking Down the Dome
In 2010, plans were made for a new stadium next to the Georgia Dome. Even though the Dome was still in good shape, the Falcons wanted a more modern stadium. They also wanted to control their own stadium and have the option to play outdoors. The new stadium, called Mercedes-Benz Stadium, was approved in 2013.
The Falcons played their last game in the Dome on January 22, 2017. They won the NFC Championship game, which sent them to the Super Bowl! The very last public event at the Dome was a Monster Jam show in March 2017.
Some people wanted to save the Georgia Dome, but it was decided that keeping two large stadiums wasn't possible. The Dome was scheduled to be taken down by implosion. This means using explosives to make the building collapse quickly.
On November 20, 2017, the Georgia Dome was imploded. Workers used 4,800 pounds of explosives to bring the huge building down in just 12 seconds! Special care was taken to protect the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was only 83 feet away. Fences and special coverings were used.
Most of the Dome came down as planned, but a part of the eastern wall and a gate were left standing. These parts were later taken down in a second, smaller implosion. The concrete from the Dome was crushed and used to fill the site. The steel and other materials were recycled.
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The area where the Georgia Dome once stood became a park called "The Home Depot Backyard." This park is used for tailgating before games and other community events. A new hotel was also built on part of the site. In 2018, a special marker was put up to remember the Georgia Dome's history.
Fun Events at the Dome
Football Games
The Georgia Dome was famous for football! It was the home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. It hosted Super Bowl XXVIII in 1994 and Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. The last NFL game there was the 2016 NFC Championship, which the Falcons won!
The Dome also hosted many college football games. These included the annual Peach Bowl and the Southeastern Conference Football Championship Game. From 2010 to 2016, it was home to the NCAA Division I Georgia State Panthers football team. High school football championships were also held there.
Basketball Action
Basketball fans loved the Georgia Dome too. It hosted the NCAA Final Four three times (2002, 2007, 2013). It also hosted regional tournaments and the NCAA Women's Final Four in 2003.
The Atlanta Hawks of the NBA played some games there from 1997 to 1999. This was while their new arena was being built. On March 27, 1998, a record 62,046 fans watched the Hawks play Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls!
Olympic Moments
The Georgia Dome played a big part in the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta. One half of the stadium hosted the basketball competitions. The other half hosted artistic gymnastics and team handball events.
Soccer Showdowns
The Dome also hosted several international soccer matches. In 2009, Mexico played Venezuela in front of over 51,000 fans. The stadium even laid down real grass over its artificial turf for these games! It also hosted quarter-final matches for the 2013 Gold Cup.
Music and More
Many famous music artists performed at the Georgia Dome. These included Alabama, Guns N' Roses, U2, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and One Direction. It was also home to the video game convention E3 for two years.
Drum Corps Competitions
From 2006 to 2016, the Georgia Dome hosted the Drum Corps International (DCI) Southeastern Championship. This event featured many talented drum corps competing. The Cavaliers won the first event in 2006. The Blue Devils won eight times in a row! The Bluecoats won the very last competition held in the Dome in 2016.
Wrestling Spectacles
The Georgia Dome was also a big venue for professional wrestling. It hosted WrestleMania XXVII on April 3, 2011. This was a huge event for WWE. It also hosted several WCW Monday Nitro and WWE Monday Night Raw shows.
Images for kids
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The interior of the Georgia Dome prior to the 2008 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
See also
In Spanish: Georgia Dome para niños
