Georgia Dome From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Georgia Dome Location 1 Georgia Dome Drive, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30313-1591 Opened 1992 Owner State of Georgia Operator Georgia World Congress Center Authority Surface FieldTurf Construction cost $214 million Architect Heery International; Rosser FABRAP International; and Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates (TVS) Capacity 71,228 (football) 26,000 (basketball)[1] Tenants Atlanta Falcons (NFL) (1992-present) Atlanta Hawks (NBA) (1997-1999) Sugar Bowl (NCAA) (2006) Chick-fil-A Bowl (NCAA) (1992-present) SEC Championship Game (1994-present) Final Four (2002, 2007), 2013 FIRST Robotics World Championship (2004-Present) Georgia State University (Scheduled for 2010) The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia. It has been the home stadium for the Atlanta Falcons since 1992, and is owned and operated by the State of Georgia. Until 1999 up upon the opening of the Millennium Dome in London, the Georgia Dome was the largest domed structure in the world. Contents [hide] 1 Construction 1.1 Surface 1.2 Renovations 1.3 Major weather-related issues 1.3.1 1995 1.3.2 2008 1.4 New Stadium Proposal 2 Events hosted 3 References 4 See also 5 External links [edit] Construction The Georgia Dome was completed in 1992 at a cost of $214 million (US), which came from the Georgia General Assembly, making it one of the largest state-funded construction projects in state history. It seats 71,228 for football, and can hold approximately: 75,000 for concerts, 53,000 for basketball when the dome is fully open and 40,000 for basketball and gymnastics when the dome is sectioned off (one half closed off by a large curtain). The record for overall attendance at the Georgia Dome is 75,892 for the 2008 SEC Championship Game in football.[2] The structure is located on 9.19 acres (37,200 m²) of land; the dome has a height of 270.67 feet (82.5 meters), a structure length of 744.75 feet (227 meters), a structure width of 606.96 feet (185 meters), and a total floor area of 102,149.51 ft² (9,490 m²). The dome is the largest cable-supported dome in the world. Its roof is made of teflon-coated fiberglass fabric (which is strong and lightweight) and has an area of 374,584.08 ft² (34,800 m²). From its completion until the December 31, 1999 opening of the 20-acre Millennium Dome in London, it was the largest domed structure of any type in the world, but still remains the largest indoor sporting facility in the United States. [edit] Surface The Georgia Dome originally had AstroTurf artificial surface for its football events. In 2003, Arthur Blank, the new owner of the Atlanta Falcons, funded the new state-of-the-art FieldTurf artificial surface system.[3] FieldTurf has been favorably compared to real grass. [edit] Renovations In 2006, the Atlanta Falcons and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority announced a $30 million renovation to the Georgia Dome. The project was separated into two stages. The first stage, which took place before the 2007 NFL season, focused on updating the premium seating areas, including the creation of eight "super-suites."[4] In 2008, the exterior of the stadium was repainted from its original color scheme to match the Falcons' team colors, and the stadium's original teal seats were replaced with red seats in the 100 and 300 levels and black seats in the Verizon Wireless Club Level (200 Level). The entrance gates and concourses were also renovated and updated before the 2008 football season.[5] [6] [edit] Major weather-related issues [edit] 1995 Three years after completion of the dome, pooling of water became an issue during a Falcons pre-season game when a severe rain storm led to tearing of the roof and a section of the roof falling into the stadium. No one was injured during the incident as the part of the roof that fell happened after the fans had left the stadium. The water and roof material smashed seats in the upper decks and knocked holes in concrete floors. The storm was intense though that the roof panels could be seen moving during the game. The roof was repaired at that time in such a way to prevent this from occurring in the future.[7] [8] [edit] 2008 Main article: 2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak On March 14, 2008, during the 2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament, a tornado ripped two holes in the dome during the Alabama–Mississippi State quarterfinal game, which delayed the game for 1 hour and 3 minutes. The quarterfinal game to follow between Kentucky Wildcats and Georgia Bulldogs was postponed to the following day.[8] The resulting damage

forced the rest of the tournament to be moved to the Alexander Memorial Coliseum at Georgia Tech.[9] [edit] New Stadium Proposal On December 25, 2008, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a developer, The Sembler Company, is in preliminary talks and negoitations to buy the former General Motors plant in Doraville to build a new stadium for the Falcons.[10][11] [edit] Events hosted The Georgia Dome prior to the 2006 Chick-fil-A BowlThe Dome is home to the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and the annual host to the Southeastern Conference Football Championship Game, Chick-fil-A Bowl (formerly known as The Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl and The Peach Bowl) post-season college football games, and since 2004 the FIRST World Championships. Since 1998, the Dome also hosts the Atlanta Football Classic by Bank of America and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. This is an annual HBCU football game between Tennessee State University and Florida A&M University. It was also home to the NBA's Atlanta Hawks during the construction of Philips Arena from 1997 to 1999, as well as hosting basketball[12], team handball and gymnastics during the 1996 Summer Olympics. Since 1994, the Dome has hosted two Super Bowls and has also been host to both the Men's and Women's NCAA Final Four Basketball National Championships and several SEC and ACC basketball championships. It hosted Super Bowl XXVIII in 1994 and Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000, as well as the prestigious NCAA Final Four Men's Basketball National Championship in 2002 and 2007 along with regional semi-finals and finals in 2001 and 2006 and NCAA Women's Final Four in 2003. The Dome has been host to many WCW Monday Nitro and WWE RAW live events, including the now-infamous "Fingerpoke of Doom" in 1999 as well as the memorable championship bout between Bill Goldberg and Hulk Hogan. It was also the host to WWR Showdown XV. Since 2004, the Georgia Dome has annually hosted the FIRST Robotics Championship Event. Also, Drum Corps International held its first event at the Georgia Dome in July 2006 when the Dome hosted DCI Atlanta – The Southeastern Championship. As a result of damage done to the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina, the Sugar Bowl game was played at the Georgia Dome on January 2, 2006 which was the first time "the South's Biggest Bowl Game" was ever played outside the state of Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl finished a string of three football games in four days that started with the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl between LSU and Miami (Florida) and an NFL game between the Falcons and the Carolina Panthers two days later. While playing at the Georgia Dome on March 27, 1998, the Atlanta Hawks broke the NBA single-game attendance record with 62,046 fans. The Georgia Dome also hosted the Georgia High School Association football semi-finals until 2007. The GHSA hosted the football finals for all classifications at the Dome in 2008.[13] The Georgia Dome has also hosted many sold out concerts from many prominent music artists. These include Backstreet Boys, Metallica, Kid Rock, Korn, N' Sync, and many others. The Georgia Dome will also host the inaugural football season for Georgia State University when the school fields its first gridiron team in 2010. Also, The Georgia Dome will also host the 2010 General Conference Sessions of Seventh-day Adventists. The Georgia Dome has hosted the world FIRST Robotics Championship since 2004. Over 300 teams from around the world qualify annually, to compete in the championship held in late March, as Well as the FIRST LEGO League World Festival at the same time. The interior of the Georgia Dome prior to the 2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff [edit] References ^ 2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament ^ http://secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=2&url_article_id=11911&change_well_id=2 ^ Chick-fil-A Bowl Event Guide: Georgia Dome Information ^ AlantaFalcons.com: Striking changes usher in new era for Dome ^ AlantaFalcons.com: Dome, Falcons announce new renovations ^ AlantaFalcons.com: Dome Renovations Photo Album ^ Georgia Dome Is Damaged (1995) ^ a b Storm hits Georgia Dome, interrupts SEC play ^ Tornado Kills, 2 Pummels Downtown by Tim Eberly and Paul Shea for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, March 15, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008. ^ Sembler might build Falcons stadium in Doraville ^ GM site touted as Falcons’ new nest ^ The Palm Beach Post, Gators view Georgia Dome as someplace like home ^ Georgia High School Association Constitution and By-

Laws 2008-2009, pg. 70 [edit] See also Tensile architecture Tensile and membrane structures [edit] External links The Georgia Dome's Official Website Georgia Dome in the Structurae database Coordinates: 33°45′27.41″N 84°24′03.50″W / 33.7576139°N 84.400972°W / 33.7576139; -84.400972 Preceded by Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Home of the Atlanta Falcons 1992 – present Succeeded by current Preceded by Omni Coliseum Home of the Atlanta Hawks 1997–1999 Succeeded by Philips Arena Preceded by Legion Field Home of the SEC Championship Game 1994 – present Succeeded by current Preceded by Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Home of the Chick-fil-A Bowl 1992 – present Succeeded by current Preceded by Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona Badalona Olympic Basketball tournament Final Venue 1996 Succeeded by Sydney SuperDome Sydney Preceded by Louisiana Superdome Home of the Sugar Bowl 2006 Succeeded by Louisiana Superdome Preceded by H.H.H. Metrodome RCA Dome NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Finals Venue 2002 2007 Succeeded by Louisiana Superdome Alamodome Preceded by Rose Bowl Pro Player Stadium Host of the Super Bowl XXVIII 1994 XXXIV 2000 Succeeded by Joe Robbie Stadium Raymond James Stadium [show] Georgia Dome - Navigation templates [show]v • d • eAtlanta Falcons Founded in 1966 • Based in Atlanta, Georgia The Franchise Franchise • History • Players • Draft history • First-round draft picks Stadiums Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium • Georgia Dome Culture Arthur Blank • Fight Song • Freddie Falcon • Michael Vick dog fighting investigation Starting Quarterbacks Johnson • Berry • Lee • Bartkowski • Archer • Campbell • Miller • Hebert • George • Chandler • Vick • Harrington • Redman • Ryan Head Coaches Hecker • Van Brocklin • Campbell • Peppler • Bennett • Henning • Campbell • Hanifan • Glanville • Jones • Reeves • W. Phillips • J.L. Mora • Petrino • Thomas • Smith Division Championships (3) 1980 • 1998 • 2004 Super Bowl Appearances (1) XXXIII Retired Numbers 10 • 31 • 57 • 58 • 60 • 78 Seasons 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 Current League Affiliations League: National Football League • Conference: National Football Conference • Division: South Division [show]v • d • eAtlanta landmarks Current Atlanta Botanical Garden • Atlanta City Hall • Atlanta Civic Center • Atlanta Cyclorama • Atlanta History Center • Atlanta Symphony Hall • Atlanta University Center • Atlantic Station • Bobby Dodd Stadium • Centennial Olympic Park • Center for Puppetry Arts • Chattahoochee River • Clermont Lounge • CNN Center • Fernbank Museum of Natural History • Fernbank Science Center • Fox Theatre • Georgia Aquarium • Georgia Dome • Georgia Governor's Mansion • Georgia International Convention Center • Georgia State Capitol • Georgia World Congress Center • Grant Park • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport • High Museum of Art • Jimmy Carter Library and Museum • Joel Chandler Harris Home (Wren's Nest) • Lenox Square • Margaret Mitchell House & Museum • Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site • Mary Mac's Tea Room • Oakland Cemetery • Philips Arena • Phipps Plaza • Piedmont Park • Stone Mountain • Tech Tower • The Varsity • Turner Field • Underground Atlanta • Winecoff Hotel • Woodruff Arts Center • Woodruff Park • World of Coca-Cola • Zoo Atlanta Former Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium • Coca-Cola Olympic City • Loew's Grand Theatre • Omni Coliseum • Ponce de Leon Park • Rich's • SciTrek • Terminal Station • Union Station [show]v • d • eSEC Championship Game venues Legion Field (1992–93) • Georgia Dome (1994–present) [show]v • d • eAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) men's basketball tournament venues Reynolds Coliseum (1954–66) • Greensboro Coliseum (1967, 1971–75, 1977–80, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1995-98, 2003–04, 2006, 2010–11, 2013–15) • Charlotte Coliseum (Bojangles' Coliseum) (1968–70) • Capital Centre (1976, 1981, 1987) • The Omni (1983, 1985, 1989) • Charlotte Coliseum (1990–94, 1999–2000, 2002) • Georgia Dome (2001, 2009, 2012) • MCI Center (2005) • St. Pete Times Forum (2007) • Charlotte Bobcats Arena (2008) [show]v • d • eCurrent stadiums of the National Football League American Football Conference Arrowhead Stadium • Cleveland Browns Stadium • Dolphin Stadium • Giants Stadium • Gillette Stadium • Heinz Field • Invesco Field at Mile High • Jacksonville Municipal Stadium • LP Field • Lucas Oil Stadium • M&T Bank Stadium • Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum • Paul Brown Stadium • Qualcomm Stadium • Ralph Wilson Stadium • Reliant Stadium National Football Conference Bank of America Stadium • Candlestick Park • Dallas Cowboys New Stadium • Edward Jones Dome • FedExField • Ford Field • Georgia Dome • Giants Stadium • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Lambeau Field • Lincoln Financial Field • Louisiana Superdome • Qwest Field • Raymond James Stadium • Soldier Field • University of Phoenix Stadium Pro Bowl Aloha Stadium Hall of Fame Game Fawcett Stadium International Series Wembley Stadium Other venues Rogers Centre [show]v • d • eCurrent NCAA Division I FBS college football bowl game stadiums Alamodome (Alamo) • Aloha Stadium (Hawaiʻi, Hula) • Amon G. Carter Stadium (Armed Forces) • AT&T Park (Emerald) • Bank of America Stadium (Meineke) • Bronco Stadium (Humanitarian Bowl) • Dallas Cowboys New Stadium (Cotton) • Dolphin Stadium (Orange, BCS Nat'l Champ.) • Florida Citrus Bowl (Champs Sports, Capital One) • Ford Field (Motor City) • Galena Park ISD Stadium (North-South Classic) • Georgia Dome (Chick-fil-A) • Independence Stadium (Independence) • Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (Gator) • LP Field (Music City) • Ladd Peebles Stadium (GMAC, Senior) • Legion Field (Papajohns.com) • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (Liberty) • Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, Sugar) • Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (EagleBank) • Qualcomm Stadium (Poinsettia, Holiday) • Raymond James Stadium (Outback) • Reliant Stadium (Texas, East-West Shrine) • Rogers Centre (International) • Rose Bowl (Rose) • Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, All-American) • Sun Bowl Stadium (Sun, Texas v. Nation) • Sun Devil Stadium (Insight) • Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg) • University Stadium (New Mexico) • University of Phoenix Stadium (Fiesta) [show]v • d • eCollege football venues in Georgia Division I FBS ACC Bobby Dodd Stadium (Georgia Tech) SEC Sanford Stadium (Georgia) Division I FCS Southern Paulson Stadium (Georgia Southern) Independent Ted Wright Stadium (Savannah State) Division II Gulf South Bazemore-Hyder Stadium (Valdosta State) • Grisham Stadium (West Georgia) SIAC Albany Municipal Coliseum (Albany State) • Panther Stadium (Clark Atlanta) • Wildcat Stadium (Fort Valley St.) • B.T. Harvey Stadium (Morehouse) Division III SLIAC Callaway Stadium (LaGrange) NAIA Mid-South Barron Stadium (Shorter) A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium • Georgia Dome • Memorial Stadium [show]v • d • eSuper Bowl host venues Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (I, VII) · Miami Orange Bowl (II, III, V, X, XIII) · Tulane Stadium (IV, VI, IX) · Rice Stadium (VIII) · Rose Bowl (XI, XIV, XVII, XXI, XXVII) · Louisiana Superdome (XII, XV, XX, XXIV, XXXI, XXXVI) · Pontiac Silverdome (XVI) · Tampa Stadium (XVIII, XXV) · Stanford Stadium (XIX) · Qualcomm Stadium (XXII, XXXII, XXXVII) · Dolphin Stadium (XXIII, XXIX, XXXIII, XLI, XLIV) · Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (XXVI) · Georgia Dome (XXVIII, XXXIV) · Sun Devil Stadium (XXX) · Raymond James Stadium (XXXV, XLIII) · Reliant Stadium (XXXVIII) · Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (XXXIX) · Ford Field (XL) · University of Phoenix Stadium (XLII) · Dallas Cowboys New Stadium (XLV) · Lucas Oil Stadium (XLVI) [show]v • d • eSugar Bowl History | Tulane Stadium | Georgia Dome | Louisiana Superdome | BCS | Broadcasters Games 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 1970 | 1971 | 1972 (Jan) | 1972 (Dec) | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 (Jan) | 1995 (Dec) | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006ATL | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Bold indicates BCS National Championship Game ATL denotes game was played in Atlanta because of Hurricane Katrina. 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