ATLANTA — Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened for season ticket holders Saturday ahead of the first Falcons game next week.
Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United season ticket holders got their first look inside.
Team owner Arthur Blank, Gov. Nathan Deal and Mayor Kasim Reed held a news conference to mark the opening of the new stadium.
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"We think we built the finest sports entertainment complex in the United States," Blank said.
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Channel 2's Matt Johnson spoke to fans who said the new stadium did not disappoint.
"You don't have a bad seat. All the seats are good," Priscilla Jones said.
Officials said they are expect a million people to walk through the doors over the next two months.
As for the state-of-the-art retractable roof, it is not yet ready to open and close during a game.
"We picked out the most complicated roof design that's been built in the United States, if not the world," Blank said.
Reed said what he hoped would happen to the neighborhoods around the stadium is already becoming a reality.
"Vine City and English Avenue crime is down 35 percent. We've opened an at choice promise center for young people that I don't think would have been opened before," he said.
The Falcons will host the Arizona Cardinals Aug. 26 for the first public event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.