“When we open on the 26th, if it’s a good weather day, it’ll be open,” McKay said of the roof. “If not, it’ll be closed. We’ll be able to operate the roof.”

Falcons and Atlanta United parent company AMB Group said on April 18 that the stadium’s opening date would be pushed back from July 30 to Aug. 26, the third such delay, all attributed to issues related to roof steel work. Demolition of the Georgia Dome has been put on hold as an insurance policy against further delays.

McKay's comments echo those of Bill Darden, president of Darden & Company, the project management firm overseeing development of the stadium for Falcons and Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank. In an AJC report Sunday about a trip to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium roof, Darden said the stadium and the roof will be ready for the Aug. 26 preseason game.