Atlanta Falcons fans have waited almost two decades for their team to have another shot at the Super Bowl.
Now that it’s here, they aren’t holding back.
With more than a week to go before the team's showdown with the oddsmakers' favorite New England Patriots, fans came out in droves to Atlanta City Hall on Friday to rejoice in the team's accomplishments at a pep rally.
The city provided the music and the food. The team brought the players. And the fans, well, they brought the thunder.
“We blew the roof off the Dome, and now we blew the roof off of City Hall,” said Atlantan LaShunda Bell moments after the morning event ended.
It would be hard to argue with her. Inside the usually staid marble and stone building, thunderous bass pumped up a crowd that seemed convinced this is Atlanta’s year.
While the city didn’t give an official crowd estimate, many guessed at more than 1,000 fans turned out, many of whom were forced to show their love outside the building after it reached capacity. At one point, police cleared the area in front of the city council chambers at the fire marshal’s urging.
If the music, featuring songs such as Usher’s “Yeah,” Shop Boyz “Party Like A Rock Star” and Lil Wayne’s “Turn Down for What,” didn’t get them, the reverberating call-and-response of “When I say super, you say bowl,” did.
Fans giddily took selfies with friends, munched on hot dogs provided by The Varsity and ate popcorn in a place usually reserved for paying bills or city council meetings.
“Everything about today was about camaraderie,” said Lakeisha Wilcox, another Atlantan. “It was about brotherhood, sisterhood. We have been waiting for this day for a very long time.”
Indeed. The Falcons fought their way into their first and only Super Bowl appearance in 1999 and walked away with a disappointing 34-19 loss.
Mayor Kasim Reed on Friday seemed to want to put that in the past. Like a preacher firing up his flock, he urged the crowd to "rise up, rise up," before introducing a list of special guests, including former Falcons Jerious Norwood, Michael Haynes and Roddy White and Usher. He also announced another rally at Atlantic Station at noon Sunday.
Falcons President Rich McKay said he appreciated the support from fans, adding that their backing was important in last week’s win over the Green Bay Packers.
“Atlanta is a great place to live in, but an even better city to have a sports team,” McKay boomed into the microphone before the crowd broke into chorus of “A-T-L, A-T-L” loud enough to shatter windows.
Falcons fan Cynthia Pope said the event was heart warming and convinced her more than ever that Atlanta is going all the way. She said the team wasn't ready for the Super Bowl the first time around, but she could feel the energy is right for this year's appearance.
“Look how orderly we are. And let me remind you, this is the 5th district,” the Atlanta native said, referring to a comment made earlier this month by then President-elect Donald Trump disparaging the city.
Though he wasn’t able to get in during the height of the festivities, Lamarcus Collins said he still wanted to attend to show his support.
“I think this is very appropriate for the city,” he said of the rally. “I predict we’re going to win, but it’s going to be a tight game, say 35-27.”
