Alabama Football: Flashy new video of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football fans will love this recent video of current construction and simulations of a finished Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Last month we published a big thanks to Atlanta for building Alabama football a second home. It was the least we could do considering the Crimson Tide has a good chance to play in the new stadium three times next season.
Only one of those future games is currently on the Alabama football schedule, the season opener with FSU. The other two would be the SEC Championship game and the CFP National Championship game.
In a continuing effort to keep Alabama football fans up-to-date of our new second home, check out this recent video.
You may have noticed the video title heading has the stadium cost at $1.5 billion. A recent news story stated the cost at $1.6 billion and growing. Considering the past and projected costs of three other NFL venues, $1.6 billion is a bargain.
The New York Met Life Stadium was built for a similar amount, but that was in 2010 dollars. The next two NFL stadiums in Los Angeles and Las Vegas are projected to cost around $2.5 billion. Perhaps those two future venues will become the finest stadiums ever constructed but it is hard to see any venue surpassing Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz.
A pressing concern for Falcons and Alabama football fans is whether the new stadium will be completed in time for scheduled opening games.
Alabama Crimson Tide Football
The new MLS team Atlanta United was to open its inaugural season in Mercedes-Benz two months ago. Instead Atlanta United is playing at the nearby Georgia Tech Stadium, Bobby Dodd Field. Arthur Blank’s new sport and team has been filling the venerable college football stadium.
The Falcons have announced four opening dates for the new stadium; March 31, June 1, July 30, and most recently, August 26. The new August opening date is for a Falcons exhibition game against the Arizona Cardinals.
The main culprit in the delays has been the unique roof structure that folds and unfolds as needed. Falcons GM Rich McKay spoke with NBS Sports Radio, as reported ajc.com.
"“We’ll be ready to go Aug. 26th, the building is in a good place. We’re in the final stretches. With the roof steel complete, now we know we’ll be ready to go. When we open on the 26th, if it’s a good weather day, it’ll be open, if not, it’ll be closed. We’ll be able to operate the roof.”"
The Falcons have a good backup plan. It is more that sending a work crew to the nearest Home Depot for duct tape if the quirky roof is not weather-tight. The Georgia Dome sits next door, able to accommodate any late date rescheduling.
Next: Tide Football Post-Spring Depth Chart
The Falcons open the 2017 home season on September 17. We suspect Arthur Blank is willing to add a bunch of millions to the cost to not miss that date. Hopefully, he will do the same instead of missing a much-ballyhooed opening weekend, college football game.