Atlanta Sports & Outdoors

The Georgia Dome is home to the Atlanta Falcons and is used for concerts, festivals and other events. It is a massive structure with a total of 8,300 tons of reinforced steel which is more than the weight of iron and steel used in the Eiffel Tower.

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I attended my first Atlanta Falcons game on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006 in a NFL game between the Falcons and my hometeam of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons won the game 14-3 and it was a hard-hitting, exciting game.

I was fortunate and grateful to get a ticket from Matt Schaub, the backup quarterback (#8) of the Atlanta Falcons, and my seat was right next to the Falcons locker room tunnel on the field. Thank you Matt!

I was surrounded by family and friends of players and coaches so there was so shortage of enthusiasm and good times. Plus, the seat had an awesome view and it was on an aisle no less! I did not mention that I was from the Tampa Bay area however and I did cheer for Falcons when they made a good play.

Seeing the game from my perspective and near ground level, I could hear the groans, grunts and collisions between players and I could feel the energy from the stands to the field to the players.

The Stadium itself is wonderful and easy to navigate. There are four main entrances and there is a mezzanine walkway that offers everything from souvenirs to sodas and pizza to beer.

Some interesting facts about the Georgia Dome which is the largest cable-supported domed stadium in the world:
Capacity: 71,149 with 4,604 club seats, 203 suites with 16 & 24 seat capacity
Construction: took 859 days to build, covers 8.6 acres, 275 feet tall (27 stories)
Cost: $210 million and financed by hotel/motel tax, no taxpayer money
Groundbreaking: 11/22/89
Owned by the State of Georgia and managed by Georgia World Congress Center
The Georgia Dome has been host to many of the largest sporting events in the world including:
Super Bowl XXXIV , Super Bowl XXVIII , 1996 Centennial Olympic Games , NCAA Final Four (2002)
The ACC Basketball Tournament (2001) , The SEC Football Championship Game , & The Peach Bowl

Equipment: Do not plan to bring any food or liquids into the Georgia Dome. Just like many other sporting facilities, there are now restrictions on all carried items and entry policies should be checked otherwise you might have a long walk back to your car or if you arrived via public transportation, you may have to sacrifice your items.

There are separate entry lines for men & women at each entrance. Plan to be searched

Backpacks and large bags over 8.5" wide x 13" long x 5: deep are not permitted

Still and film cameras are allowed & Video cameras are prohibited unless specified by the event

Lap-sized portable televisions and radios are welcome into the Dome, provided they are equipped with earphones & laser pointers and similar light-emitting devices are not allowed inside the Dome

Tickets are bar-scanned for entry, searches or purses and your person are conducted, and alcoholic beverages may not be taken out of the Georgia Dome. Also, can, bottles, or food may not be brought into the Georgia Dome.

if you plan to exit the building for any reason, you will need to obtain a wristband at one of the kiosks inside the Dome before exiting--otherwise, re-entry, even with a ticket will be restricted.

Check out a game at the Georgia Dome home of the Atlanta Falcons. Located in Atlanta it was openned in 1992 and has been host to many events other than football. The 1996 Olympic games, 2 Super Bowls, Concerts and much more. This is the largest cable supported dome in the world and has a seating capacity of a little over 71K. For more informtion and ticket please visit the website below.

For those of you that are sports fans, the place to watch professional baseball in Atlanta is at Turner Field. Turner Field is the replacement for the old Fulton County Stadium, and was one of the original "new" ballparks which started a trend in Major League Baseball to change the experience from just a game to an entertainment package. If you are traveling with kids, it will be a requirement to stop in and see the Fun Zone, which is free, as well as some of the CocaCola amusement activities.

For those looking for a good baseball game, there really is not a bad seat in the place, but you really will feel right at home if you get down in the lower level. The Braves have really also been a perennial power since the early 90's, so you are likely going to see a good game.

The place does need to be paid for though, so if you plan to eat or drink in the stadium, bring your pocketbook. It will be a big bill.

Equipment: A baseball mitt in case your hands are not strong enough to catch a foul ball, a sharpie pen if you get there early for an autograph, and plenty of money if you want to eat.

The Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Games was built just south of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and was retrofitted into a baseball ground 1996 and 1997. Grand Entry Plaza, the main entrance to Turner Field, was built after 35,000 seats and part of the track-and-field complex of the Olympic Stadium were removed. Turner Field, the "Home of the Braves" has now become an Atlanta landmark.

What struck me most was the mix of technology and entertainment. At all times, fans are entertained via the BravesVision video board in center field, the PlazaVision board in the Fan Plaza and over 500 television monitors situated throughout the stadium.

Although I didn’t fully understand all the rules, I did enjoy the game, shame the home fans didn’t get the result they wanted.

Atlanta Braves 2 St. Louie Cardinals 3

Tours to the Museum and Hall of Fame last approximately 60 minutes and start on the hour between 9.00 am to 3.00 pm during the Baseball season and 10.00 am to 2.00 out of season.

Capacity 50,096

April 2009

There are a few things you can do that will really help to make the game a very fun experience.

1. Remember that for the most part, baseball is a game with a good bit of waiting and then a lot of action. There isn't something happening on the field all of the time.

2. Baseball is a social event as much as it is a sporting event. Have fun and enjoy your time at the stadium as that is an important part of the game as well.

3. There are quite a few things that go on at the stadium before the game. Make sure you show up early so you can enjoy some of the pre-game events. Also, it is quite normal for there to be a batting practice several hours before the official start of the game. During this time you can normally get down to the very first rows of the stands and watch the players up close.

4. If it is supposed to be sunny, make sure you have put on sunscreen and have a ball cap (or buy one at the stadium. A souvenir that is also useful!)to keep the sun out of your eyes.

5. Bring a camera with a telephoto lens if possible. Much of the action will be on the field and you will be a distance from it. A regular camera is good for showing off the stadium, not the game.

6. If you have them, bring some binoculars along so you can watch the players up close! It isn't a requirement to have them, so id you don't have/need binoculars at home, don't worry about it for the game. (But without mine, I wouldn't have known that former President Jimmy Carter was at the ball game I went to a couple of weeks ago.)

7. And while we take our baseball seriously, a trip to the stadium is as much about our getting together with friends for a fun day in the sun as it is about watching our favorite team beat our biggest rivals!

Equipment: 1. Sunscreen
2. Camera
3. Ball Cap
4. Binoculars
5. Radio to listen to the game.

(photo nicked from the Braves web site)

I went to my first baseball game in Atlanta in 1999. It was game two of the NLCS. Braves Mets. At the time a decent rivalry.

And I got walk up tickets. It wasnt sold out. WHATS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?

The Georgia Dome is home to the Atlanta Falcons and to the Peach Bowl. The indoor dome seats more than 70,000 people and is located in downtown, within walking distance from Peachtree Street. There's also a MARTA stop nearby, which makes this an easy place to get to from just about anywhere in Atlanta.