Mercedes-Benz Stadium suddenly looks a lot closer to ready for game action, now that artificial turf covers the playing field.

Installation of the FieldTurf surface was completed over the weekend, transforming what until recently had been an area covered with cranes and other construction equipment into an expanse of green on which games will be played beginning late next month.

As Steve Cannon, CEO of Falcons parent company AMB Group, had said early last week: “By the end of the week, it’s going to start really looking like a football arena.”

According to FieldTurf, the company's top-of-the-line "Revolution 360" playing surface was installed atop its "VersaTile" pad system that "not only provides exceptional performance for the athlete with respect to shock attenuation and player comfort, but also provides unmatched drainage properties."

Some 340 feet above the playing field, Mercedes-Benz Stadium's retractable roof is currently in the closed position. It was announced last week that the roof will be closed when the stadium debuts and for a significant period of time beyond that, because the roof isn't yet automated.

The $1.5 billion, 2-million-square-foot stadium is scheduled to open Aug. 26 with a Falcons-Arizona Cardinals exhibition game. Eleven sports events are scheduled in the stadium’s first month of operation, including two Falcons exhibition games, one Falcons regular-season game, six Atlanta United matches and two college football games.

Other recent news on Mercedes-Benz Stadium:

About the Author

Keep Reading

In his first season at the helm, Karl Smesko has guided the Atlanta Dream to 29 wins, setting a WNBA record for the most victories ever by a first-year head coach. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Featured

This image from video provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via DVIDS shows manufacturing plant employees waiting to have their legs shackled at the Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicle plant, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Ellabell, Ga. (Corey Bullard/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP)

Credit: Corey Bullard/AP