Announcement: Mercedes-Benz Stadium Is Going Back to Full-Capacity Events for 2021
On Wednesday, AMB Sports and Entertainment announced that beginning on May 15, the entertainment company will increase capacity to 100 percent.
This will begin for Atlanta's local Major League Soccer team, Atlanta United. The Atlanta Falcons have not made any official announcement as of their plans for 2021, but according to the press release on Wednesday, Atlanta expects to be at full capacity for their games.
"We are excited to bring fans back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium," says Steve Cannon, CEO, AMB Sports and Entertainment. "We feel that now is the right time to re-open the stadium in full capacity allowing our season ticket members a chance to enjoy watching their teams in person."
The Alabama Crimson Tide football team will play the first game of the 2021-2022 season inside of Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 4 against Miami. Given this announcement, this indicates that a full-capacity home opener is looking like an even bigger possibility.
The last time Alabama played inside of Mercedes-Benz Stadium was a win against the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship game. Attendance that night was only 16,520 due to restrictions.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium isn't the only Atlanta team that announced its full capacity opening. On Tuesday, the Atlanta Braves formally announced it will be open Truist Stadium to full capacity beginning on May 7 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Atlanta would be the first team in the MLB to open at full capacity full-time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Locally in Tuscaloosa, no announcement has been made regarding Bryant-Denny Stadium, but it seems with major league stadiums beginning to open to full capacity and the success of a half-capacity A-Day, Alabama may have full capacity sooner rather than later.
Regardless, this is a welcomed sign for Crimson Tide fans who want to see Alabama on Sept. 4 against Miami.