Fans can get fired up for Atlanta-Houston showdown with free pre-game festivities at Falcons Landing
Atlanta – (October 1, 2015)The revamped Falcons Landing was a big hit with fans (including flocks of Philadelphia Eagles faithful) prior to the Atlanta Falcons’ Sept. 14 home opener at the Georgia Dome and organizers are gearing up for more interactive, family-friendly pre-game festivities for Sunday’s showdown against the Houston Texas.
Falcons Landing, a free tailgate party open to the public staged on International Plaza between the Dome, Philips Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center, will open at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The 2015 version of Falcons Landing includes a newly expanded food and beverage hospitality area, with an abundance of tables and chairs under a large hospitality tent and more open-air high-top tables and low-tops with ample seating. The hospitality tent is also outfitted with large-screen hi-def TVs set up so fans can watch pre-game coverage and the NFL Network.
In addition to the usual pep-rally-like atmosphere featuring Falcons cheerleaders, the Falcons Drumline and Freddie Falcon, face-painting, interactive games and other activities, there’s a new dedicated space for the popular bag-toss game corn-hole, and there are some new food and beverage options this season at Falcons Landing. New offerings include fare from Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q and Deep Eddy Vodka bars featuring Karma Tequila. Other food, snack and beverage options, including beer, soda and water, will also be available for purchase.
Portable restrooms will also be available for fans, located on the Philips Arena side of International Plaza/Falcons Landing.
Also, there’s live entertainment lined up as soul/R&B/jazz/reggae band Gritz & Jelly Butter will perform sets from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Sunday and 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Falcons Landing main stage.
The Falcons will conduct a March to the Dome, featuring Freddie Falcon and the Falcons Drumline, starting at the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Building on Andrew Young International Boulevard at noon Sunday and culminating at Falcons Landing at 12:10 p.m. The march will also feature the Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Marching Band and breast cancer survivors.
Inside the Dome, there’s a new dining option for hungry fans as Atlanta-based Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q has set up shop in the Main Concourse and Mezzanine Level. The upper level Fox Bros. outlet will specialize in smoked chicken wings, while the lower level spot will serve a full array of barbecue items, including pulled pork sandwiches and beef brisket sandwiches.
A couple of other new food options available at Dome concession stands include Philly steak nachos and Buffalo chicken waffle fries.
As with last season, 1,500 parking spaces are no longer available due to Mercedes-Benz Stadium construction next to the Dome, but some relief is on the horizon as a new 600-space parking garage, the Mangum Street Deck, is nearing completion adjacent to the Red Deck and International Plaza. It is expected to be fully operational by mid-season.
For information about parking and/or taking MARTA
Kent Kimes
Sr. Staff Writer
Georgia World Congress Center Authority
