The Georgia Dome, Atlanta Falcons

Official Review by John McCurdy, Stadium Journey Correspondent

For me, the Georgia Dome is home. But here I'm being asked to step away from my biases, put down the homerism, and give a real objective opinion about the Atlanta Falcons' stadium.

In that case, I'll start with the facts. Built in 1992, this is the largest cable-supported domed stadium in the world. The amount of concrete that went into this puppy could reportedly be used to build a sidewalk from Atlanta to Cincinnati, and 8,300 tons of steel hold this sucker up.

Just in case you're curious, it's also the yearly host of the SEC Championship game and the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Besides that, it's got all the amenities you'd expect (suites with catering, 660 televisions throughout, and complete climate control). Of course, it's not always been so posh; it wasn't until the 2006 renovations, which were completed in '08, that some of the most important features were added.

More on that below"?¦

Food & Beverage    3

Some of the most significant of the aforementioned improvements have occurred in this field. There was a time when Papa John's individual pan pizzas were the culinary highlight, but thankfully, no more.

Just be prepared to go searching if you want variety. The standbys (pretzels, nachos, hot dogs) can be found at the top of any portal, but you'll be hiking to the top floor for the Taco Mac location or a Moe's-style burrito.

It's the same with beer; not much beyond the regular domestics (Bud, Miller, Michelob, and Coors all go for about $7) are readily available, but if you have time to make the trek, you can come back with a Heineken, Newcastle, Corona, or Guinness (closer to $9).

Atmosphere    2

Well, it's a dome, so you're indoors. It's not so bad as trying to play a football game in a gym, but the experience is slightly reminiscent of that. The lighting is just too unnatural, giving off that sterile, fluorescent feel that really shouldn't be associated with pigskin.

Missing out on the weather can be a good or a bad thing, depending on your preference. I myself am glad that I can enjoy the Falcons at 72 degrees, whether it's in September (still very much a part of summer down here) or December, but there are plenty of folks who would get in my face to let me know that the wind, rain and snow are part of the game.

Until recently, the maroon-and-teal color scheme that felt so mid-'90s still haunted the place, but since then red and black have come to dominate. The new widescreen jumbotrons are truly awesome even if ads take up part of the picture at all times.

In terms of history, there isn't much yet. Sure, the Dirty Bird team of '98 beat the 49ers here in the Divisional Round, and this is also where Michael Vick played his best years, but the Falcons have yet to string together multiple seasons of significance since they moved in back in 1992.

Neighborhood    4

Just outside the Dome, there's an awful lot of bland, grey concrete. You're always just a stone's throw from the CNN Center, though, which has a food court and a few horridly overpriced souvenir stands. The proximity to Centennial Olympic Park is a huge plus on days when the weather's nice.

The effort to promote the new "Falcons Landing" in the plaza just outside the main gates is going well enough, though the activities (passing and kicking stations, face painting) are obviously geared towards kids. At least there's some activity, including live music and broadcasts by the radio and TV affiliates, where there could be just scalpers and people hoping to find the rest of their party.

In terms of restaurants in the area, my first recommendation would be Ted's Montana Grill (133 Luckie St.; about 0.5 miles away). Sure, it's a chain, but this is the location - as in, Ted Turner himself actually lives in this same building. And yes, the fare is typical continental stuff like steaks, burgers, chicken, and salads, but it's all of a quality that's a cut above the typical.

For a more unique experience, there's the Sundial (210 Peachtree St. NW; about 0.6 miles away), a fancier dive perched atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel. The gimmick is that the circular restaurant slowly rotates, providing guests a 360-degree view of the downtown area. Beyond that, the menu has a nice injection of Southern creativity, and the bar's got more or less anything you'd want, though the price will probably be a little steep.

Fans    3

Let's put it this way: There are an awful lot of red-and-black jerseys in the stands, week in and week out. But a lot of those are Michael Vick (or Keith Brooking, or Warrick Dunn) jerseys, and some are even Georgia Bulldog uniforms. So the people know the team's colors, at least, but they're not necessarily so devoted that they need to rep the players that are on the field at this moment.

Considering how up-and-down the Falcons are, attendance and interest is pretty consistent. As in every other season, when we're doing poorly, people are sarcastic and bitter, but still show up. And every other season, when we're doing well, people are enthusiastic and excited to follow Falcons news minutiae, but they still don't go out and by season tickets.

Knowledge of the game is about average; we don't go hacking away at the coaches every time something goes wrong, but we generally just want to see more of what's working rather than any innovation. And one can't criticize a Dirty Bird faithful for not knowing much of the team's history; what's there to know, after all?

Access    3

To be fair, this is coming from a lifetime ATLien who could not possibly be more jaded by the traffic situation from which my city suffers. I can readily admit, though, that navigation and parking around the Dome is much easier than many of our downtown locales.

Surface lots can be found on the back side of the stadium (approach from Northside Dr. after getting off 75-85 at the Spring St./Ivan Allen Dr. exit), and are my personal preference when the weather isn't bad and I feel like walking a block or two. The decks (found on streets all around, though the closest are right there on Georgia Dome Dr., and there are some other good choices on Centennial Olympic Dr.) are expectedly a nightmare to get out of, especially after a big game, but are safe options for those who prefer cover.

Once inside, getting around isn't bad at all. Hallways are big and accommodating (if a bit bland) and the signs and attendants will get you where you need to go. The ramps to ascend levels were a weird design choice back in the construction stages, as they necessitate a lot more steps than a simple set of stairs.

Return on Investment    3

Those people who like to tour the country visiting stadiums don't set out because they like spending at least $55 for a fairly generic experience and potentially terrible nosebleed. For that reason, the Dome might be one of the last places crossed off such intrepid trekkers' lists.

But like I said at the outset, this is home for us Atlantans, and seeing the team win in comfortable, if not exceptional, confines can be worth the majority of a C-note. The aforementioned renovations make the place feel a lot more like a football-specific stadium, and that helps tremendously in terms of the overall flavor of a Sunday afternoon.

Extras    1

You're going to laugh, but you know what? This point goes for our artificial turf.

We don't have to worry about playing in sand (Miami), mud (New England, et al), or slush (Green Bay). We don't have to pay a bunch of folks to mow, water, seed, or any of those other silly gardening activities.

So what if a guy occasionally twists an ankle? More often than not, he's from the visiting team. And while I'm not going to cheer when a dude's hurt, I'm not going to cry either.

The Falcons can use all the lucky breaks (pun intended) they can get; with enough, maybe someday the Georgia Dome will have a bit more mystique to it. Until then, it's just what you'd expect as the home of an unexceptional but occasionally solid team.