
It's an arena like no other; a $1.5billion, multi-purpose, state-of-the-art venue complete with a roof that opens and closes like a flower in bloom, blending 21st-century technology with Roman architecture.

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is a thing of monstrous beauty and extraordinary design - an LED-clad coliseum that will house 71,000 fans of both the city's MLS and NFL franchises.

On Sunday, soccer will be the order of the day as Atlanta United play their first match inside the their new home.

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is open for business in Atlanta after a 39-month construction time

An incredible 360-degree scoreboard measuring 1,100 feet in length covers in the inside perimeter at the top of the stadium

Fan are able to congregate in a 61,000-square-foot plaza outside the stadium for tailgate parties before matches

Inside, the capacity is 71,000 and the stadium boasts a 16-story window looking out on downtown Atlanta

Supporters will be stunned. Inspired by the Pantheon, six near-triangular panels form a 14.5-acre roof which rotates to close inside 11 minutes, leaving a small circular gap similar to the oculus at the top of the famous Roman church.

Inside, a 360-degree TV screen - 58 feet tall and a quite frankly ridiculous 1,100 feet long - wraps around the inside perimeter. At one end, a giant, 16-story window opens the stadium up to a breathtaking view of downtown Atlanta.

The Falcons have played an exhibition match against Jacksonville at their new base and their first regular-season game there is on September 18 against the Green Bay Packers.

Video screens are everywhere - during NFL games they will show RedZone action (the league's highlights-as-they-happen service) - and seats have been widened by two inches to give more comfort to fans.

Queues for drinks shouldn't be long, with 1,264 beer taps serving 40 different brews at $5 a pop - almost 50 per cent cheaper than the league average - from 673 outlets and 24 bars or restaurants.

In fact, the stadium management claim on their website that fans will 'never have to wait in line for another round of Coca-Cola'.

Panels move up and down to block off the upper tier in the event of smaller crowds at the extraordinary stadium

Outside, a falcon sculpture by Hungarian artist Gabor Miklos Szoke, weighs in at a whopping 73,000lbs

Both the city's MLS franchise (Atlanta United) and NFL side (Atlanta Falcons) will play their games in the venue

The fan experience has been at the forefront of stadium management's mind - with turnstile capacity increased 40 per cent

MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM FACTS Opened: 2017 Cost: $1.5billion Construction time: 39 months Parking spaces: 21,000 Height: 305 feet Square footage: 2,000,000 Capacity: 71,000 Advertisement

With that in mind, it's just as well that constructors have added 22 per cent more toilet facilities for men and 30 per cent for women, when compared to the existing Georgia Dome.

It's an impressive feat of engineering and construction, made possible by 27,000 tons of steel and 150,000 cubic feet of concrete.

But there's something in it for friends of the environment, too.

The Mercedes-Benz will gather rainwater for reuse in its 600,000-gallon cistern, while 4,000 solar panels will generate electricity.

The venue has been eagerly awaited over its 39-month construction period, with sports lovers in Atlanta seeing its development first-hand given the new stadium has been built slap bang alongside the Georgia Dome, but it remains to be seen whether the city's MLS team can pack it out.

Not that it matters if they're a few thousand short... panels drop down to cover the upper tier in the event of smaller crowds.

Out front, a 61,000-square foot plaza will play host to tailgate parties pre-match and a giant metallic statue of a bird by prominent Hungarian artist Gabor Miklos Szoke will certainly grab the eye.

The design of the roof takes its inspiration from the oculus of the Roman Pantheon and makes for an incredible sight

Fans will be screened by magnetometers on the way into the ground to help people get into the venue faster

On their way into the ground, supporters will be scanned by high-tech magnetometers as they enter the stadium, a change which the venue's management says will increase turnstile capacity by 40 per cent.

The stadium wants to be 'the finest sports and entertainment facility in the world'.

'We are changing the game for everyone,' shouts its promotional literature. The evidence is widely available to support the claims.

No wonder, then, that is has already been booked for two of the USA's premier sporting events - the 2019 Super Bowl and the 2020 NCCA Final Fours.

Inevitably more will follow.

