High hopes for new high-tech Atlanta stadium

Delays not expected to cause significant problems

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons NFL football team, sits under construction at left next to the team's current stadium, the Georgia Dome, in Atlanta, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Several high-profile failures have plagued Atlanta's reputation on a national stage over the years: transportation woes during the 1996 Olympics, unpreparedness for ice and snow storms, a recent highway collapse and subsequent shutdown from a fire. Now, the city's new $1.5 billion stadium, touted as a state-of-the-art facility that can help transform downtown, is facing construction setbacks with its key feature, a retractable roof that will open and close like a camera lens. - photo by Associated Press

W stadium — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons NFL football team, sits under construction at left next to the team's current stadium, the Georgia Dome, in Atlanta, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Several high-profile failures have plagued Atlanta's reputation on a national stage over the years: transportation woes during the 1996 Olympics, unpreparedness for ice and snow storms, a recent highway collapse and subsequent shutdown from a fire. Now, the city's new $1.5 billion stadium, touted as a state-of-the-art facility that can help transform downtown, is facing construction setbacks with its key feature, a retractable roof that will open and close like a camera lens. - photo by Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Several high-profile failures have plagued Atlanta's reputation on a national stage over the years: unpreparedness for ice and snow storms, a recent highway collapse and subsequent shutdown from a fire, and chronic traffic and public transportation woes.Now, the city's new $1.5 billion stadium — touted as a state-of-the-art facility that can help transform downtown — is facing construction setbacks with its key feature, a retractable roof that will open and close like a camera lens.Stadium officials gave The Associated Press a recent tour for an exclusive story on Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Even though it's behind schedule, officials and some residents hope the stadium can turn around Atlanta's history of public misfortunes in infrastructure and projects. It will be home to the Atlanta Falcons and United, the city's professional football and soccer teams.

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