Arthur Blank's investment in the new 1.5 billion dollar Mercedes-Benz Stadium will eventually pay off. I mean, have you seen the thing? It's going to be the newest wonder of the sports world.
Although a lot of the excitement comes from the cool, futuristic design, there are many features of the stadium that make the overall experience one-of-a-kind. Here is a list of the best features of the stadium:
1. The Roof.
Just look at it.
It closes too – making it completely ridiculous. Each panel of the roof is retractable, providing the futuristic look.
2. The Lights.
The front will light up.
3. It's a Big one.
Look at it compared to the Georgia Dome.
They needed the world's largest crane (in red) to put the whole thing together.
4. The Jumbotron.
This is probably my favorite feature. The Jumbotron is located directly under the circular section of roof that opens. The Jumbotron itself is a ring, allowing everyone in the stadium to easily see the action.
To show you how big this Jumbotron really is, look at the hole they made for it.
5. Solar Panels.
Fans will actually enter the stadium under Solar Panels. The power generated using these panels will be enough to power 9 Falcons games during the season.
The solar panels are pictured above, and pointed at by the red arrows.
6. The stadium collects rain water.
To increase sustainability, the stadium will have two 680,000 gallon tanks used to collect rain water. This water will then be used on-site for cooling towers, irrigation and landscaping.
7. Tesla's are welcome.
There will be 48 electronic car charging stations. Thats pretty cool.
8. You can bike.
They will have bike racks. You know...to work off the hops.
9. This patio looking thing.
Im honestly not sure what this is going to be, but it's live.
10. It will be LEED Platinum.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is the green building certification that is mostly used. The Green Certification Inc. determines facility's certification level according to a facilities ability to sustain energy and resources.
There are four levels of certification, the highest being platinum. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will reach LEED Platinum, being the first stadium to do so in the NFL and MLS.
11. You can eat the landscape.
There will be apple and blueberry trees on-site, ready for you to eat. Not a lot of specifics, so it may cost some.
12. It's a beauty.
Despite all the extras, the stadium is just beautiful. The design brings a unique and innovative look, not seen anywhere else in the NFL. It will definitely be the coolest stadium in America.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is expected to open on July 30, 2017 with Atlanta United FC home game. Until then, we can only watch as the final pieces of this masterpiece are complete.