Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium lands top 10 in NFL ranking by USA TODAY
· Yahoo Sports
Georgia football fans have another reason to brag about Atlanta.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has landed at No. 7 in a new USA TODAY ranking of the NFL's stadiums, putting the home of the Atlanta Falcons among the league's top 10 venues.
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The ranking, published as the 2026 NFL season gets underway, evaluated the 29 regularly used NFL stadiums other than the Buffalo Bills' new Highmark Stadium, which was given time to settle in before being ranked.
How Mercedes-Benz Stadium ranked
USA TODAY placed Mercedes-Benz Stadium seventh overall, ahead of stadiums including Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium, Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium and Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
The Atlanta stadium opened in 2017 and has a listed capacity of 72,000, with the ability to expand to 75,000.
The stadium also has hosted a Super Bowl, with Atlanta serving as the site of Super Bowl LIII in 2019. USA TODAY also noted that Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled to host another Super Bowl in 2028.
It's also home to the Atlanta United of Major League Soccer.
What makes Atlanta's stadium stand out
USA TODAY's ranking highlighted several features of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including its retractable roof and the large glass "Window to the City" that provides a view toward downtown Atlanta.
The stadium's 360-degree HD Halo Screen also earned a mention in the ranking.
"Architecturally, it does feel like you're entering a giant, metallic birds nest," USA TODAY wrote. "You’re not going to find more affordable food anywhere in the NFL, though Chick-fil-A isn't open on Sunday here, either."
The stadium has also become a major venue beyond Falcons games. Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosted multiple matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the tournament's semifinal.
Which stadium ranked No. 1?
Seattle's Lumen Field took the top spot in USA TODAY's ranking.
Green Bay's Lambeau Field ranked No. 2, followed by SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
At the other end of the list, Northwest Stadium, home of the Washington Commanders, ranked No. 29.
USA TODAY did not include Buffalo's new Highmark Stadium in the numbered rankings. The stadium opened in September 2026 and has a listed seating capacity of 60,108, making it the NFL's smallest stadium by fixed seating capacity.
Atlanta has plenty coming up at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The ranking comes after a massive year for Atlanta's stadium.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium was one of the host venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing international soccer to downtown Atlanta throughout the summer.
The venue is also scheduled to host Georgia and Florida's annual college football rivalry game in October, according to the 2026 schedule.
For Falcons fans, the stadium remains home throughout the 2026 NFL season, with Atlanta scheduled to host nine regular-season games.
So according to USA TODAY's latest stadium ranking, Atlanta isn't just home to an NFL team, it has one of the league's highest-ranked stadiums, too.
For the full report, visit usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2026/08/26/ranking-nfl-stadiums-best-worst-lumen-field-lambeau/91361768007.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at [email protected]m.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium lands top 10 in NFL ranking by USA TODAY