Atlanta 1996 Venue to be Imploded

(ATR) An Atlanta 1996 Olympic venue is now scheduled for demolition in November.

The Georgia Dome was originally supposed to be imploded around August 1 but those plans were put on hold in April amid continued construction delays for the city’s new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Dome was considered a backup should the new stadium not be ready in time for the start of the Atlanta Falcons’ NFL season in September.

But enough progress has been made on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium since April that officials feel confident in resuming work on the demolition of the Georgia Dome, which currently sits next to the new stadium.

Issues tied to the new stadium’s unique retractable roof forced the original March 1 deadline to be pushed back to June 1, then July 30 and finally to August 26, when the Falcons will open the venue with a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Falcons will share the stadium with Atlanta United, the city’s new Major League Soccer team.

Stripping and preparing the Dome for implosion will begin in earnest within the next two weeks, according to a statement from the Falcons parent company AMB Group. The venue will be imploded on November 20.

The Georgia Dome has been home to the Falcons since it opened in 1992. Olympic basketball and gymnastics were held at the venue during the Atlanta 1996 Games. The last event at the Dome was in March.

After the Dome is demolished, the 13-acre site will be developed as green space. It will be used for parking and tailgating during game days and as a "community space" on non-game days.

Written by Gerard Farek

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