It’s five days and counting until the official opening of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the $1.5 billion state-of-the-art facility that’s been under construction for 3 ½ years and the focus of a decade-long project.

"It's really hard to imagine that you get to the finish line," said Falcons president and CEO Rich McKay, who has been immersed in the project since 2007.

As the Saturday opening date approaches, the AJC will provide daily stories on everything from stadium art and technology, parking, concessions and other news you can use. And there will be daily updates as the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons christen the new building by hosting the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL exhibition game Saturday at 7 p.m.

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. catches a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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