SportsQuest
All games

Week 17, Sun, Jan 3, 1:00 PM local

New Orleans Saintsat Atlanta Falcons

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Fly into ATL.

Build the quest

Kickoff slot

Early

Lots open before breakfast.

Lots open

8.5:00 AM

Local time on game day.

Where to stay

In the city

Tailgate from 8.5:00 AM, then the game.

The matchup

Form, ESPN's model and the stat leaders
Form

The Saints are 1-2 after 3 games, 2nd in the NFC South.

They are 1-1 on the road.

The Falcons are 1-2 after 3 games, 3rd in the NFC South.

They are 0-1 at home.

What we know about Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

From a specialist guide
  • Downtown Atlanta / Centennial Olympic Park. 10 min by walk. This is the rare NFL stadium where staying near the stadium and staying in the city are the same thing. Reverb by Hard Rock is 0.2 miles from the stadium, the Omni at CNN Center is 0.5 miles away, and the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park are all inside that walk too. You can leave your hotel 25 minutes before kickoff and still make the anthem.
  • Midtown Atlanta. 20 min. MARTA Red/Gold Line to Five Points, transfer to Blue/Green Line to SEC District Station. The restaurant and bar scene here beats the convention-hotel core downtown, and it is still just one MARTA Red or Gold Line ride to Five Points, then one stop over to SEC District. It is worth staying here if you are in town for three nights and do not want to eat in the convention district every evening.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Centennial Olympic Park district and the edge of Castleberry Hill have real walkable amenities, not just a plaza. Elliott Street Deli & Pub is 0.2 miles from the stadium and Smoke Ring barbecue is 0.3 miles away. The Omni, Reverb by Hard Rock and Clarion Inn & Suites are all inside half a mile too. Unlike most NFL stadiums, a hotel booked next to the stadium here also puts you next to the city's main attractions.

Getting in from the airport

From a specialist guide
Fly into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International. Take MARTA Red or Gold Line from the Airport station, which is inside the terminal so there's no transfer needed, to Five Points. That ride takes 15 to 20 minutes and costs $2.50. For the stadium, change at Five Points to a Blue/Green Line train and ride one stop west to SEC District Station.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
MARTA Blue/Green Line, SEC District Station (renamed from GWCC/CNN Center in December 2025). It drops you right outside the stadium. MARTA Blue/Green Line, Vine City Station. It's just west of the stadium, and you cross over by a pedestrian bridge. The standard advice is to use Vine City on the way out to avoid the crush at SEC District. MARTA Rapid A-Line. Get off at South Downtown, then it's a short walk to the stadium. Fetii Gameday Shuttle, for Falcons games only. It drops you at GWCC Bus Lane C.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
This is one of the best tailgates in the NFL if you don't have a car. The Home Depot Backyard runs a free public tailgate on every Falcons game day, starting 4.5 hours before kickoff. You don't need a parking pass, a car, or even a game ticket for the outdoor activities. There's a separate paid option called the Terrapin Tailgate, a ticketed hospitality tent inside the same space that starts 3 hours before kickoff, so don't mix the two up. Activities are free and open to the public, and you can still walk up and hang out in the Backyard even if you parked in a different lot. The Home Depot Backyard game day tailgate is free, and you don't need a car or a parking pass. It opens 4.5 hours before kickoff. The Terrapin Tailgate is the paid hospitality option for comparison. It's ticketed, and the package includes a game ticket plus pre-party access and four drink tokens. It opens 3 hours before kickoff, and last call is 45 minutes before kickoff.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Bags have to be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no bigger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag. You can also bring one small non-clear bag under 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. No buckles, grommets, hardware or decorations can cover any part of the bag, and logos are limited to one side. Diaper bags must be clear and follow the same rules, there's no exception for them here. Medical bags are allowed but go through a security check. If your bag doesn't meet the rules, you can check it at a Mobile Locker Company location for a fee, which is a good backup if you're an international fan showing up with a day bag.
  • Re-entry: You cannot leave and come back in on the same ticket. Mercedes-Benz Stadium security does not allow guests to exit and re-enter using the same ticket.
  • Prohibited items: You can't bring outside food, bottles, cans, glass or thermoses. Umbrellas over 33 inches are not allowed, and neither are cameras with lenses over 6 inches or tripods. Chairs, inflated balls, loose batteries, noisemakers, hoverboards, drones, laser pointers, oversized signs and flags, and masks that hide your identity are all banned too.

Touring the stadium

Checked at the source
Mercedes-Benz Stadium runs public tours of the locker rooms, field, Window to the City, Skybridges and clubs, but only as individually dated Eventbrite slots on non-event days. One listing we checked was a Friday slot from 12:00 to 1:30pm. The stadium notes that tour routes and locations are subject to change and availability depends on the event, and confirmed directly that tours never run on game day. Limited Saturday tour slots run during the season. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children.

After the final whistle

From a specialist guide
MARTA is the official way out, and the stadium lists SEC District Station as the best option for both arrival and departure. The real trick is to walk the extra few minutes to Vine City instead, since it's on the same Blue/Green Line but sees a lot less of the crowd. There is no official clearance time published.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Do not book at Atlantic Station or the airport corridor hotels expecting to walk to the stadium. Atlantic Station is far enough away that the stadium runs a paid shuttle there, Fetii, picking up from the Atlantic Station parking garage at the State Street entrance. Also ignore any advice that mentions GWCC or CNN Center MARTA as if it's a different stop from SEC District Station, it was just renamed in December 2025.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • No Mas! Cantina

    180 Walker Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30313 (Castleberry Hill)

    No Mas! anchors Castleberry Hill, the loft and gallery district just south of the stadium, and it looks like a design project as much as a cantina.

  • Wild Leap Atlanta

    125 Ted Turner Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30313

    Wild Leap started as a craft brewery in LaGrange, Georgia, and its Atlanta spot is a 15,340 square foot taproom spread over multiple levels in downtown's redevelopment corridor, the biggest and closest craft beer room to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The size is what matters: with several floors, you can usually find a table even on a packed gameday instead of fighting for space at the rail, which isn't the case at the smaller Castleberry Hill bars.

  • STATS Brewpub

    300 Marietta Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

    STATS is one of the few places with official Falcons Bar Partner status as a year-round viewing spot, which sets it apart from the generic sports bars downtown, since the club sends its own fans here. It's on Marietta Street, in the cluster of downtown bars that catch the crowd heading east after the game, between the stadium and Centennial Olympic Park.

  • Hudson Grille Downtown

    120 Marietta Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

    Hudson Grille is the Falcons' biggest bar partner, with five metro locations that are all year-round official viewing spots, and the downtown branch is the one that matters on game day. The group calls itself 'Atlanta's Game Day Home Base' and runs 50 draft beers on tap with every game on screen.

What to eat

The local food this city is known for: lemon pepper wings.

Inside the stadium, 2026 season

  • Lemon pepper wings at the J.R. Crickets stand, the most Atlanta order in the building. Reported, not confirmed by the stadium. Source

Stand line-ups change every season.

Sidequests in Atlanta

Listed in the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Tour100 points

    Mercedes-Benz Stadium tour

    This 90-minute walk goes through locker rooms, the field, Window to the City, skybridge and clubs, entering at Gate 2. Dates follow the stadium calendar, locker rooms close 72 hours before games, and you should book the day before.

    $$. The day before. Bookable

  2. Landmark65 points

    College Football Hall of Fame

    This museum on Marietta Street sits a few blocks from the stadium, open Wednesday to Monday 10am to 5pm with last tickets at 4:30pm. It has inductee galleries and interactive exhibits, a good Saturday stop for football visitors.

    $$. The day before

  3. Eat65 points

    The Varsity chili dogs

    This drive-in has been open since 1928 at North Avenue, spanning two city blocks with seating for 800. Order chili dogs, onion rings and a Frosted Orange; it's open 10:30am to 8pm, and to 9pm Friday and Saturday.

    $. The day before

  4. Outing40 points

    Georgia Aquarium

    This nonprofit aquarium on Baker Street has whale sharks and is open 365 days a year, 9am to 8pm on the day checked. Tickets cost less booked online in advance, making it a good Saturday plan for kids.

    $$$. The day before

  5. Eat65 points

    Mary Mac's Tea Room

    This Southern dining room has been open since 1945 and is the last of Atlanta's tea rooms. Get fried chicken, greens, and a cup of pot likker with cornbread, daily from 11am to 9pm, good for a dinner the night before.

    $$. 19 hours before kickoff

  6. Tailgate65 points

    The Home Depot Backyard

    It's walk-up and free, right beside the stadium, and it opens 4.5 hours before kickoff. You don't need a car to get in on this one.

    Free. 4 hours 30 minutes before kickoff

  7. Landmark65 points

    Centennial Olympic Park and the Fountain of Rings

    This park from the 1996 Olympics sits between downtown and the stadium. The Fountain of Rings runs shows at 12:00, 2:30, 6:30 and 9:00pm, so walk through it on the way to the gates.

    Free. 3 hours 30 minutes before kickoff

  8. Drink25 points

    STATS Brewpub

    This three-story sports bar has over 70 TVs and a 10-barrel brewery on Marietta Street, a short walk from the stadium and Centennial Olympic Park. It's open Saturday 11am to 11pm and Sunday 11am to 10pm.

    $$. 3 hours before kickoff

  9. Drink25 points

    Park Bar

    This dive pub next to Centennial Olympic Park mixes office workers, out-of-towners and pre-gaming locals. It runs three-for-two shots and a spinning drink wheel, with burgers and fried chicken sandwiches on the menu.

    $. 2 hours 30 minutes before kickoff

  10. Photo25 points

    The Falcon sculpture at Gate 2

    Gabor Miklos Szoke's stainless steel and bronze falcon has a 70-foot wingspan and stands at Gate 2, billed as the largest bird sculpture in the world. Everyone coming from downtown passes it.

    Free. 1 hour 30 minutes before kickoff

  11. Ritual25 points

    Walk in over the Northside Drive pedestrian bridge

    Ride MARTA Blue or Green Line to Vine City, then cross the pedestrian bridge over Northside Drive to Gate 1. The street crosswalk closes for most major events, so the bridge is the way in.

    Free. 1 hour 15 minutes before kickoff

  12. Eat65 points

    Busy Bee Cafe

    This soul food counter has been open since 1947 on Martin Luther King Jr Drive, a short walk west of the stadium. It serves fried chicken and sides from 11am to 7pm and is closed Saturdays, so go after a Sunday game.

    $$. 3 hours 30 minutes after kickoff

Seats and views

Where each part of Mercedes-Benz Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

What kind of game day do you want?

Pick one and Scout shows you where to sit.

100 Level, end zone100 Level, corner, west side100 Level, west sideline100 Level, corner, west side100 Level, end zone100 Level, corner, east side100 Level, east sideline100 Level, corner, east side200 Level, end zone200 Level, corner, west side200 Level, west sideline200 Level, corner, west side200 Level, end zone200 Level, corner, east side200 Level, east sideline200 Level, corner, east side300 Level, end zone300 Level, corner, west side300 Level, west sideline300 Level, corner, west side300 Level, end zone300 Level, corner, east side300 Level, east sideline300 Level, corner, east sideWest sideEast side
100 Level101 to 136200 Level201 to 247300 Level301 to 350Tap any part of the stadium to see its view.