BY MELISSA RUGGIERI
The Georgia Dome is getting good at this concert thing.
On Saturday, the cavernous building will host its second concert this year — a sold-out Taylor Swift show that will bring more than 50,000 people to the site.
The concert was announced last November , which gave the Dome staff time to check out other Swift tour stops and modify logistics accordingly.
“Every concert, you learn something different,” said Jason Kirksey, senior communications specialist at the Georgia Dome. “Every artist is different. All of the fans are different. A lot of people coming to see Taylor might not have been to a concert at the Dome before.”
With that in mind, here are some tips to help you navigate.
Drop-offs: As with last year's One Direction concert , a portion of the Yellow Lot will be a dedicated drop-off spot. Parents/chaperones/drivers can pull in, park for up to an hour if they want to walk their little fan to the doors of the Dome and then return to pick them up.
The primary goal of the lot is to prevent drivers from dropping off concertgoers in the middle of the street because, well, it’s dangerous and guess what? You’re not the only one on the road, so no need to clog up traffic. The Yellow Lot drop-off area opens at 2 p.m.
Getting in: Doors to the Dome will open at 5 p.m. Fans may not line up outside before 2 p.m. The concert kicks off at 7 p.m. with Shawn Mendes, followed by Vance Joy and then Swift. It's expected to end around 11 p.m.
Floor seats: If you're a floor seat ticketholder, you are urged to enter at Gates A or B to pick up wristbands that will allow access to your seats.
Parking and traffic and MARTA, oh my!: Some things to keep in mind when heading downtown Saturday night: Georgia Tech has a home game at 7 p.m. There are two conventions taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center. The "Comedy Get Down Tour" with Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, George Lopez and Charlie Murphy will draw a crowd to Philips Arena. And alt-countryman Sturgill Simpson has the second of two sold-out shows at the Tabernacle.
So, if you don't plan to hop on MARTA — although the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center and Peachtree Center stops are convenient options if you do — it's a smart idea to pre-purchase parking at www.gadome.com for $30-$35 (depending upon the lot). Any extra spaces will be available day-of show on a first come, first-served basis. Parking lots open at noon.
MARTA, meanwhile, will add extra cars to its trains on Saturday, but doesn’t plan to change its usual weekend schedule. But the MARTA crew will monitor the scenario throughout the day and add more cars as needed.
Costumes: Yes, at a Taylor Swift show, they get their own category. They are allowed. However, they must fit within the confines of a seat, they cannot include any sharp objects or items that look like weapons (or anything offensive) and, most importantly, no masks are allowed.
Also not allowed: Cameras with detachable lenses, Go-Pros, selfie sticks, any gifts for the performers (sorry, folks, gotta leave that handmade quilt at home).
But you can …: Bring signs that are the standard poster size of 3 feet by 3 feet. Lights on signs are also permitted, but cannot be powered by more than two AA batteries. Oh, and no poles for said signs. Kirksey also issued the reminder for fans "to be respectful and not hold their signs up the whole show and block people's views."
Any questions?: Ask the Dome team. Actually, first check the website ( www.gadome.com ). If you can't find an answer, email info@gadome.com or submit your question on Twitter ( @georgiadome ).
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