The roof at Mercedes-Benz Stadium should be “fully operational” next season, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Falcons president and CEO Rich McKay told the AP Wednesday, he expects fixes to the roof will allow for more open-air home games in 2018.

"The roof is being worked on as we speak and yes we expect the roof to be fully operational by football season, if not well before," McKay told the AP. "Fully operational means you will see us go to much more of an open configuration as we designed at the beginning. When it's ready to go, we'll be open depending on weather."

Problems with the new $1.5 billion stadium's roof kept it closed for most of the 2017 season. The roof leaked for a third-time about 90 minutes prior to kickoff of the 2018 National Championship earlier this month.

The roof was only open for the Falcons’ home-opener against the Green Bay Pakers on Sept. 17, and one Atlanta United match. It was closed for all other sporting events including college football games and concerts.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host the 2019 Super Bowl.

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South Carolina State University head football coach Chennis Berry joined the team in 2023 after coaching at Benedict College, a historically Black college in Columbia, South Carolina. Last year, Berry's team saw its season end in heartbreak in the Celebration Bowl and this time, it ended in triumph with a 40-38 win. (Courtesy of South Carolina State Athletics)

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