Atlanta Falcons fan guide: Best Mercedes-Benz Stadium seats, food and more game tips

Red and black starts showing up around Mercedes-Benz Stadium long before kickoff. Music carries across The Home Depot Backyard, the Falcons drumline gets going and fans gather beneath the giant Falcon sculpture outside the stadium.

Then you get inside and look up.

The retractable roof opens above the field, the Halo Board wraps around the top of the stadium and downtown Atlanta is still visible through the glass on the east side. Mercedes-Benz Stadium does not feel much like an old-school football stadium, but on a Falcons Sunday, it gets loud like one.

Come for the Falcons. Give yourself enough time to see the place, too. Here is how to do Mercedes-Benz Stadium right.

Ultimate guide to experiencing an Atlanta Falcons game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Mercedes-Benz Stadium sits just west of downtown Atlanta, surrounded by some of the city’s busiest streets and biggest attractions. On Falcons Sundays, the area fills up quickly, so knowing the layout before you arrive makes the whole day easier.

From getting there to choosing where to sit, here’s what to know before a Falcons game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Getting to Mercedes-Benz Stadium

MARTA is usually the easiest way to get to a Falcons game. SEC District Station, formerly GWCC/CNN Center, serves the Blue and Green lines and puts you right by the stadium. Vine City Station also works well, especially if you are coming from the west.

If you use Vine City or park west of Northside Drive, follow signs toward the pedestrian bridge near Gate 1. The street-level crossing over Northside Drive is typically closed during major events.

Driving is manageable if you plan ahead. There are more than 20,000 parking spaces within about a 20-minute walk, but the closer lots can fill up quickly. Buy parking in advance and use the exact address on your pass instead of navigating straight to the stadium.

For rideshare, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has two main pickup areas. Fans leaving Gate 1 can use GWCC Bus Lane C on Northside Drive, while fans exiting Gates 2 through 4 can head to the South Downtown zone on Broad Street between Trinity Avenue and Mitchell Street.

Both are about a 10-minute walk from the stadium, which is easier than trying to meet a driver in the traffic right outside the gates.

What first-timers need to see before a Falcons game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a few things you absolutely should not miss on a first visit.

Start with the giant Falcon outside. The stainless-steel sculpture has a wingspan of about 70 feet and looks even bigger in person. It towers over a bronze football and is one of the best pregame photo spots anywhere around the stadium.

Then look up when you get inside. The roof is one of those things that makes you stop for a second. Eight enormous panels open around the center of the stadium almost like a giant pinwheel, with the sky opening up right over the field. Even when it is closed, you still notice how different the place looks from a typical dome.

The Halo Board is just as wild. Instead of hanging over one end zone, the 360-degree video board wraps around the opening beneath the roof. It is 58 feet tall, stretches roughly 1,100 feet around the stadium and seems to follow you no matter where you sit.

Check out the Window to the City too. One side of the stadium opens toward downtown Atlanta through a huge wall of glass, giving parts of the concourse and seating bowl a skyline view you do not get at many NFL stadiums.

Those are the big ones. If you have extra time, wander the skybridges and keep an eye out for the stadium’s large collection of murals, photography and sculpture.

Atlanta Falcons game-day traditions

“Rise Up” is the phrase you will hear all day. It shows up on signs, video boards and around the stadium, but it really hits once the team is getting ready to come out and the crowd starts feeding off it.

The Home Depot Backyard is where the day gets going. Starting 4.5 hours before kickoff, the space outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium fills with tailgates, music, the Falcons drumline, cheerleaders, Freddie Falcon and breakdancers. Even if you are not setting up your own tailgate, it is worth walking through before heading inside.

The Dirty Birds Nest is where some of the loudest fans gather. The general-admission section, formerly Section 134, is built around standing, chanting and making noise for four quarters. Expect to stand and make noise for most of the game.

And if you hear fans talking about the Dirty Bird, that goes back to the Falcons’ 1998 Super Bowl team, when the touchdown dance became part of the team’s identity. The nickname stuck, and it is still part of Falcons culture today.

Best seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a Falcons game

Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a seat for just about every kind of Falcons fan. You can go big with a field-level club, sit right behind the Atlanta bench, join the noise in the Dirty Birds Nest or head upstairs and save some money.

Best premium seats

For the highest-end Falcons experience, look at the Truist Club. The ultra-premium club sits at field level near midfield and gives you access to a private lounge with all-inclusive food and drinks, plus VIP parking.

There are only about 300 members, so it feels much more exclusive than the stadium’s larger club spaces. You are also right near the field, with a close look at players moving between the locker room and the sideline before and during the game.

Other premium options include the Delta Club behind the Falcons sideline, the Mercedes-Benz Club on the opposite side of the field and the Harrah’s Clubs on the 200 Level near midfield. Benefits vary, so check the individual listing to see what is included.

Best seats for atmosphere

For the loudest Falcons experience, look at the Dirty Birds Nest, the general-admission fan section formerly known as Section 134. It sits in the lower bowl behind the end zone, so you are close to goal-line action with the Halo Board overhead.

Visiting team fans are relocated out of the section to standing-room-only tickets, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know about how die-hard this section is.

Best seats to be closest to the Falcons

If you want to be as close to the team as possible, look at Sections 127 through 129 along the Falcons sideline. They are right near midfield and put you directly behind the Atlanta bench.

A few rows up is usually better than sitting right on the field. You are still close enough to see the players up close and hear the chatter, but the extra height gives you a cleaner view over coaches and equipment on the sideline.

Best upper-level value

For a cheaper seat near midfield, start with Sections 337 through 341 on the Falcons side or 310 through 314 across the field. They give you a clean look at both ends of the field, and the steep upper deck keeps you from feeling completely removed from the action.

The first few rows of the 300 Level are especially good bets. You avoid the long climb to the top, and the Halo Board feels huge from up there.

If midfield prices climb, move a few sections toward the corners. The angle changes a little, but not enough to ruin the view.

Best seats for opposing fans

Mercedes-Benz Stadium does not reserve one general section exclusively for opposing supporters. Visiting fans who want to sit near their team should begin with Sections 108 through 112 behind the visitor sideline. Sections 109 through 111 are closest to midfield.

Sections 209 through 214 on the 200 Level and Sections 310 through 314 on the 300 Level provide elevated options from the same general side of the stadium.

Best food at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

You can eat surprisingly well at Mercedes-Benz Stadium without spending a ton. But if you want the most Atlanta order in the building, go straight for the lemon pepper wings at J.R. Crickets.

The other thing Mercedes-Benz Stadium does unusually well is the cheap stuff. ATL Fan Fare still has $2 hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and regular sodas, along with $3 cheese nachos, bottled water and frozen peach shakes. A vegan smokehouse sausage is $5, and a quinoa bowl is $10. The main ATL Fan Fare stands are spread across all three levels, so you usually do not have to cross the stadium just to find one.

There are also $2 hot dogs and other Fan First items at additional stands around the building, including Fan Fare Express and Molly B’s. That makes it possible to grab a hot dog, popcorn and soda for $6 total, which is wild for an NFL stadium.

Tailgating near Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The Home Depot Backyard is the center of Falcons tailgating. The 11-acre space sits right beside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with parking spaces and grass areas set up for full tailgates. Backyard parking is mainly reserved for season pass holders and Super Tailgaters, though some other official stadium lots may allow tailgating depending on the game.

Parking opens 4.5 hours before kickoff, and that is when the area starts filling with tents, grills, music and red-and-black jerseys. Tailgating can continue until 30 minutes after kickoff, but most fans will want to head inside well before then.

If you are setting up your own tailgate, keep everything directly in front of or behind your vehicle. Each space can have one tent up to 10 by 10 feet. Propane and natural-gas grills are allowed, while charcoal grills, wood fires and fryers are not. Groups that want to park together need to arrive together because spaces cannot be saved.

Even without a Backyard parking pass, you can still walk into the area for the official pregame party. The DJ, drumline, cheerleaders, Freddie Falcon and giveaways make it easy to get the tailgate experience without bringing your own setup.

What to do before and after a Falcons game

For a real Atlanta meal before the game, Paschal’s is the standout. The Castleberry Hill restaurant is an Atlanta institution with deep ties to the Civil Rights era, and fried chicken and other Southern staples still anchor the menu. It is close enough to the stadium to walk, but give yourself plenty of time on a Falcons Sunday because it gets busy.

If beer and a louder pregame crowd sound better, Wild Leap Atlanta is a great stop in South Downtown. The huge brewery has multiple levels, an outdoor patio and a long list of beer and cocktails. It also sits along an easy walking route toward Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For a more traditional sports-bar setup, Brewhouse Cafe Downtown has TVs in just about every direction.

After the game, RT60 Rooftop Bar at Reverb is hard to beat for location. The hotel is right by Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the rooftop looks back toward the stadium and downtown skyline. Grab a drink, let the first wave of traffic disappear and enjoy the view for a while.

If you have more time before kickoff, No Mas! Cantina in Castleberry Hill has margaritas and Mexican food about four blocks from the stadium. For barbecue, Twin Smokers BBQ near the College Football Hall of Fame is another strong choice, especially for brisket and its huge beef rib.

Out-of-town fans can also work the College Football Hall of Fame, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park into the weekend without straying far from the stadium.

How to buy Atlanta Falcons tickets on SeatGeek

Finding the right Falcons ticket is part of the fun. Pull up the interactive Mercedes-Benz Stadium map, bounce around the bowl and see what catches your eye.

Here's how to find your next Falcons tickets on SeatGeek:

1. Search for the Atlanta Falcons on SeatGeek and choose the home game you want to attend.

2. Use the Mercedes-Benz Stadium map to compare lower-level, 200-level and 300-level sections.

3. Open each listing to confirm the section, row and available seat view.

4. Compare seats behind the Falcons bench with visitor-side and upper-level options.

5. Browse the Premium tab for Delta Club, Truist Club, Mercedes-Benz Club or Harrah’s Club tickets.

6. Read the full listing to confirm whether food, drinks, field access, parking or other hospitality benefits are included.

7. Complete your order knowing every eligible SeatGeek purchase is backed by the Buyer Guarantee, then add your mobile tickets to your phone before heading to the stadium.

Once the tickets are set, the rest is easy. Get downtown early, spend some time in The Home Depot Backyard, grab lemon pepper wings and make sure you are inside before the Falcons come out.