Upcoming Atlanta Falcons dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Your Falcons seat decision, made quickly
For most buyers, the right Atlanta Falcons ticket is a 200-level sideline seat between the 20-yard lines at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That middle tier is high enough to read the whole formation and close enough to feel the hits. If you want to save money, go up to the 300-level sideline rather than down to a low end zone row. If you want noise above all else, buy into the standing section behind the end zone described below.
The stadium's retractable roof changes the usual football math. In an open-air NFL building, the sun side and the shade side are a real price factor. Here, with the roof usually closed, your decision comes down to three things: how high you sit, how close to midfield you are, and whether you want to sit or stand for four quarters.
- Best all-around: 200-level sideline, between the 20s.
- Best on a budget: 300-level sideline, close to the 50.
- Best for atmosphere: the Dirty Birds Nest, section 134.
- Best for comfort: the club sections marked with a "C".
Mercedes-Benz Stadium tier by tier
The bowl has three main tiers. Knowing what each one does well is most of the work of choosing a Falcons seat.
100 level: the lower bowl
The 100 level (the sections closest to the field) is where you hear pads and play calls. The catch is height. In the first handful of rows on the sideline, players, coaches and staff standing along the bench block much of the far side. Rows 10 to 25 fix most of that problem while keeping you close. Club seats on this level carry a "C" after the number, such as 108C–112C and 126C–130C along the sidelines.
200 level: the middle tier
The 200 level holds most of the stadium's club seating and offers the cleanest angle on the game. You can watch routes open up and a pass rush collapse a pocket, which is hard to see from the field level. This tier usually commands a premium on the sideline for exactly that reason.
300 level: the upper deck
The 300 level sits under the roof and is steep, so the climb is real. The payoff is an unobstructed, top-down view and a close look at the Halo board, the ring-shaped video screen that circles the roof opening. From the upper sideline, replays are easy to follow, which makes it a sound value pick.
Seats that fit the kind of fan you are
The same stadium can deliver very different afternoons. Match the section to what you want out of the day.
- You want to stand and yell: the Dirty Birds Nest in section 134, in the lower end zone, is a chanting, standing section from kickoff on. It is a poor choice if anyone in your group needs to sit.
- You are bringing kids: a 200-level or 300-level sideline seat keeps the whole field in view and spares children from craning past standing adults in the lower rows.
- You want scoring plays up close: the lower end zones cost less than the sidelines and put touchdowns at that end directly in front of you. Accept that action at the far end will be a screen experience.
- You want food, space and shorter lines: the club sections (a club seat is a ticket that includes access to an indoor lounge area with its own concessions) trade cost for comfort.
One caution on bench sides: published seating guides disagree about which sideline the Falcons use. Before paying extra to sit behind the home bench, confirm it on the seat map attached to your listing.
Seats worth skipping
A few locations look better on a map than they feel in person.
- Front rows of the lower sideline: close, but the bench crowd blocks the far hash marks for long stretches.
- The highest 300-level corners: you are far from the field in two directions at once, and the angle flattens depth.
- Section 134 if you want to sit: the Nest is a standing section by design.
On the rare day the roof is open for an afternoon game, low sunlight can fall through the opening. If glare bothers you, choose a seat sheltered by an upper overhang.
Which home dates are hardest to get
NFL seasons follow a fixed shape: preseason games in August, a 17-game regular season from September into early January, and playoffs starting in mid-January. The Falcons host about half of their regular-season games, so expect eight or nine home dates a year.
Demand ranks roughly like this:
- New Orleans Saints: the oldest rivalry in the division, with a large Saints contingent making the drive. This is the home date most likely to fill every seat.
- Carolina and Tampa Bay: the Panthers (the I-85 rivalry) and the Buccaneers are short trips for their fans, which adds visiting buyers.
- Night games: Thursday, Sunday and Monday night kickoffs bring national attention and draw more interest than an early Sunday start.
- Teams with national followings: clubs whose fans live everywhere tend to buy across the bowl and firm up resale.
- Preseason: the least competitive dates and the cheapest way to try out a section.
Resale listings usually move most in the final week before kickoff, as injuries and playoff stakes come into focus. A December game with the NFC South title in play can climb fast; a game with nothing riding on it often softens.
For road trips, New Orleans and Charlotte are drivable and Tampa is a short flight. In a rival stadium, upper-deck and end zone sections tend to hold most visiting fans.
Getting downtown and through the gates
Take MARTA if you can. The stadium points fans to the SEC District station (formerly GWCC/CNN Center), with Vine City on the Blue and Green lines as the second close stop. After the final whistle, the platforms jam; walking to the other station or lingering 20 minutes usually beats the crush.
The pregame scene centers on The Home Depot Backyard, an 11-acre lot beside the stadium that opens hours before kickoff. Gas grills are permitted; charcoal and wood fires are not. A shuttle from Atlantic Station has served Falcons games from two hours before kickoff until 90 minutes after the game.
As of the 2026 season, the stadium enforces a clear-bag policy: bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, and small clutches of roughly 4.5 by 6.5 inches are allowed. Gates have opened 90 minutes before Falcons kickoffs. Tickets are mobile only, purchases inside are card or mobile only, and there is no re-entry. Review the stadium's A-to-Z guide before you leave home, since these rules can change.
Concessions are a pleasant surprise. The "Fan First" menu prices basics such as hot dogs, pretzels and refillable soft drinks well under typical NFL levels. Every order on Reserved Seat is backed by a 100% guarantee.
The franchise behind the ticket
The Falcons were founded on June 30, 1965, and played their first season in 1966. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle moved fast to claim Atlanta before the rival AFL could. The name came from a fan contest won by Julia Elliott, a schoolteacher from Griffin, Georgia, who described the falcon as a bird with "great courage and fight." Arthur Blank has owned the club since 2002, and the mascot is Freddie Falcon.
Atlanta plays in the NFC South alongside the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The franchise has two NFC championships, six division titles and 14 playoff appearances. Both conference titles ended in Super Bowl defeats.
- 1998 season: the "Dirty Bird" team, named for its end zone dance, went 14–2 and lost Super Bowl XXXIII to Denver.
- 2001: Atlanta traded up to the first overall pick and took quarterback Michael Vick.
- 2016 season: the Falcons built a 28–3 lead over New England late in the third quarter of Super Bowl LI and lost 34–28 in overtime, the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Home games moved from Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1991) to the Georgia Dome (1992 through 2016) and then to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017. The current building has since hosted Super Bowl LIII and College Football Playoff championship games. Hall of Famers with Falcons ties include Deion Sanders, Tony Gonzalez and Claude Humphrey.
Frequently asked questions
Which section at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is best for a first Falcons game?
A 200-level sideline seat between the 20-yard lines gives the best mix of height and closeness. It shows the whole field without feeling remote.
Do I need to worry about sun at a Falcons game?
Usually not. The roof is typically closed, so sun is rarely a factor. On an open-roof day game, seats under an upper overhang avoid glare.
Where is the loudest section for Falcons fans?
The Dirty Birds Nest in section 134, in the lower end zone, is a standing and chanting section. Pick something else if you plan to sit.
Which Falcons game is hardest to get into?
The home game against the New Orleans Saints usually draws the most demand because of the long rivalry and the many visiting fans who make the trip. Night games also sell well.
What bags can I bring to a Falcons game?
As of the 2026 season, clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches or a small clutch are allowed. Confirm the current rules on the stadium's website before you go.
Is there a place to tailgate before Falcons games?
Yes. The Home Depot Backyard, an 11-acre lot next to the stadium, is the main tailgating area. Gas grills are allowed there, but charcoal and wood fires are not.