If you haven’t visited the GWCCA campus since the Georgia Dome implosion in November, you’re in for quite a surprise.
Gone are the concrete, metals, fabrics and equipment of all types that served as the foundation for a venue that forever altered Atlanta’s and Georgia’s cultural, architectural, and economic landscape as well as created millions of memories. In its place now sits a voluminous crater bustling with activity as large machines move mounds of dirt and infill and construction workers ready the site for not one, but three new structures that will reside in the Dome’s former footprint.
First up is The Home Depot Backyard, a 13-acre greenspace designed for game day tailgating experiences just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS). On non-game days, the Backyard will feature arts, entertainment and cultural experiences for locals and visitors, alike. Approximately 200,000 tons of Georgia Dome concrete is being used as infill for the site, which is scheduled to open in the fall.
Visitors to the GWCCA campus will also have another parking option with the addition of the Orange Deck. Featuring 600-plus parking spaces, the deck will sit adjacent to The Home Depot Backyard and provide easy access to the stadium and the Georgia World Congress Center just steps away. Work on the deck is slated to begin in May and be completed in time for Super Bowl LIII, which will be played at MBS on Feb. 3, 2019.
Finally, and arguably most exciting, is the new 1,010-room luxury convention center hotel that will serve the adjacent Georgia World Congress Center. Ground breaking is scheduled for early 2019 and additional information is expected to be announced this spring.
As you can see, there’s plenty to be excited about if you’re planning a visit, or a meeting, in Atlanta.