Mercedes-Benz Stadium Game Day Guide
Atlanta Falcons · Atlanta, GA
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- Bag policy
Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches and one-gallon clear freezer bags are permitted, plus a non-clear bag no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
Applies to: Atlanta Falcons games
- Diaper bags must be clear and compliant, and medical exceptions require inspection at the gate.
- Bag storage
The Mobile Locker Company stores non-compliant bags for a fee outside Gate 1 and Gate 2.
Applies to: Mercedes-Benz Stadium events
- For most major events, service begins two hours before the event and closes 90 minutes after it ends; items must be retrieved the same day.
- Gate opening
Mercedes-Benz Stadium gates currently open 90 minutes before Falcons kickoff.
Applies to: Atlanta Falcons games
- Check the game-specific Know Before You Go message because timing can change.
- Mobile tickets
A mobile ticket is required for entry to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Applies to: Atlanta Falcons games
- Falcons tickets can be managed through the team app; open or save the ticket before reaching the gate.
- Re-entry
Guests may not exit and re-enter Mercedes-Benz Stadium using the same ticket.
Applies to: Atlanta Falcons games
- Prohibited items
Mercedes-Benz Stadium prohibits weapons, outside food and most drinks, non-compliant bags, hard containers, large camera equipment, chairs, drones, noisemakers, lasers, fireworks, and other listed items.
Applies to: Mercedes-Benz Stadium events
- All guests and carry-in items are screened; review the complete official list before leaving home.
- First aid
First Aid locations are near Sections 133, 243, and 345.
Applies to: Mercedes-Benz Stadium events
- For medical assistance, call 470-341-5020, text the issue and location to 470-444-0234, or contact stadium staff.
- Nursing and lactation
Breastfeeding or pumping rooms are near Sections 116 and 219, with Mamava suites near Sections 132 and 333.
Applies to: Mercedes-Benz Stadium events
- Family restrooms
All-inclusive single-user restrooms are near Sections 102, 117, 121, 133, 203, 215, 246, 310, and 313.
Applies to: Mercedes-Benz Stadium events
- All public restrooms are accessible, and nearly every restroom has a baby-changing station.
- Tickets for children
Children shorter than 33 inches may enter Falcons games free if they sit on a guardian's lap.
Applies to: Atlanta Falcons games
- Guest services
Guest Service Centers are at Gates 1 and 2 and near Sections 116, 201, 244, and 301.
Applies to: Mercedes-Benz Stadium events
- For event-day assistance, text a description and location to 470-444-0234.
- Service animals
Task-trained service dogs and miniature horses are permitted; comfort, emotional-support, and therapy animals are not.
Applies to: Mercedes-Benz Stadium events
- Contact Guest Experience in advance if a seating relocation may be needed.
- Smoking and vaping
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a smoke-free, vape-free, and tobacco-free campus, including the immediate gate plazas.
Applies to: Mercedes-Benz Stadium events
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, hour by hour.
Lots and Decks Open
Stadium parking decks and Marshalling Yard surface lots open. Tailgaters claim their spots in The Gulch and surrounding areas.
Tailgate Scene Builds
Southern tailgating culture in full effect, smokers, grills, and cornhole games across the Marshalling Yard lots. Downtown Atlanta bars and restaurants fill with Falcons fans.
Gates Open
Stadium gates open. Head inside early to explore the fan-first concessions, $2 hot dogs and $5 beers with no long waits. The halo video board warmup is worth arriving early.
Player Warmups
Players take the field for warmups. Lower bowl end zone sections offer the best views. Check if the retractable roof is open, staff announce roof status before gates open.
Find Your Seats
Grab your Chick-fil-A sandwich and settle in. The pregame light show on the halo video board builds energy as kickoff approaches.
Game Time
The crowd erupts as 71,000 fans Rise Up under the retractable roof. The halo board replays are unlike anything in the NFL, immersive and massive.
Exit Strategy
MARTA handles post-game crowds efficiently, Vine City station is steps away. Rideshare pickup zones are on Northside Drive. Downtown restaurants and bars are walkable for post-game celebration.
Tips & Fan Reports
Get there when the gates open so you can walk around the stadium, get food, and enjoy the vibe. You're paying too much money to arrive right before kickoff.
The retractable roof keeps the stadium climate-controlled when closed, but dress for outdoor tailgating in Atlanta heat for early-season games.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has the best concession prices in the NFL. $2 hot dogs, $5 beers, $3 nachos. It is not a gimmick - they actually did it.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has the NFL's most fan-friendly prices: $2 hot dogs, $5 beers, $2 refillable sodas. Bring cash or card.
Take MARTA to Vine City station. 5 minute walk to the gates and you skip downtown Atlanta traffic entirely. $2.50 each way.
The giant oculus roof opening is one of the coolest features in any stadium. Check if it will be open for your game.
Weather
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a retractable roof, so these are the conditions for the walk in and the pregame, and the roof decides the rest.
Across the NFL season the warmest month is September, with an average high of 84°F, and the coldest is January, when the average low is 34°F. January is the wettest month at 4.3 inches and September the driest at 3.4 inches.
That January low ranks 20th coldest of the 32 NFL venues, and January here ranks 14th wettest.
September
3.4 inchesOctober
3.6 inchesNovember
3.8 inchesDecember
4.2 inchesJanuary
4.3 inchesAtlanta Falcons Clear Bag Policy
Most venues require a clear bag. Get an approved one before you travel.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Game day timeline
Gate opening time checked against the venue's own gate-opening policy: Mercedes-Benz Stadium gates currently open 90 minutes before Falcons kickoff.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Current Mercedes-Benz Stadium A-Z, accessibility, concessions, and Falcons event guidance reviewed for all structured venue-policy topics.