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NEWS
Enormous steel falcon touches down by $1.5bn Atlanta stadium
POSTED 16 May 2017 . BY Kim Megson
The statue, which represents the team’s signature falcon, is the biggest bird representation in the world Credit: Timi Szoke
A 13m (43ft) bird of prey has found a perch front of the new US$1.5bn (€1.3bn, £1.1bn) home of NFL franchise the Atlanta Falcons.

The statue, which represents the team’s signature falcon, is the biggest bird representation in the world and the biggest sculpture ever created by Hungarian artist Gabor Miklos Szoke. It’s wingspan is 20m (66ft) long and it weighs 73,000 pounds (33 tonnes).

Millions of people will enter the the futuristic stadium, designed by architects HOK, from underneath the wings of the falcon – which is captured in the moment of touchdown with a giant football.

"I have always liked to spark a reaction, to think in monumental dimensions, to conquer new spaces with my animals and creatures, to bring them to life,” said Szoke. “This is the biggest project in my career. It is a special honour for me that I was asked to do this.”

The artist has worked on the project for over a year with his artistic partner Berta Hauer, a team of 150 people and the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. The bird is formed of over 1,000 pieces of stainless steel and had to be built in sections of four pieces. These were shipped from Budapest to Atlanta for assembly.



The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled to open 26 August for a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals; slightly later than the originally scheduled opening date, due to construction delays with the facility's unique retractable roof.

A flyover video of the stadium, filmed in December, can be viewed below:

The artist has worked on the project for over a year with his artistic partner Berta Hauer, a team of 150 people and the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia Credit: Timi Szoke
Millions of people will enter the the futuristic stadium, designed by architects HOK, from underneath the wings of the falcon Credit: Timi Szoke
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled to open 26 August for a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals Credit: Mercedes Benz Stadium
PROJECT PROFILE:

New Atlanta Falcons Stadium
American football side the Atlanta Falcons has released a fly-through video of its new US$1.4bn (€1.2bn, £922m) stadium, set to open in downtown Atlanta in 2017. The unique multi-use stadium, which includes an eight-petal retractable roof – a first for any stadium – and the world’s largest 360 degree HD video screen viewable from everywhere inside the stadium, has a capacity of up to 83,000 people.

Location: Atlanta , United States

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Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
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NEWS
Enormous steel falcon touches down by $1.5bn Atlanta stadium
POSTED 16 May 2017 . BY Kim Megson
The statue, which represents the team’s signature falcon, is the biggest bird representation in the world Credit: Timi Szoke
A 13m (43ft) bird of prey has found a perch front of the new US$1.5bn (€1.3bn, £1.1bn) home of NFL franchise the Atlanta Falcons.

The statue, which represents the team’s signature falcon, is the biggest bird representation in the world and the biggest sculpture ever created by Hungarian artist Gabor Miklos Szoke. It’s wingspan is 20m (66ft) long and it weighs 73,000 pounds (33 tonnes).

Millions of people will enter the the futuristic stadium, designed by architects HOK, from underneath the wings of the falcon – which is captured in the moment of touchdown with a giant football.

"I have always liked to spark a reaction, to think in monumental dimensions, to conquer new spaces with my animals and creatures, to bring them to life,” said Szoke. “This is the biggest project in my career. It is a special honour for me that I was asked to do this.”

The artist has worked on the project for over a year with his artistic partner Berta Hauer, a team of 150 people and the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. The bird is formed of over 1,000 pieces of stainless steel and had to be built in sections of four pieces. These were shipped from Budapest to Atlanta for assembly.



The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled to open 26 August for a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals; slightly later than the originally scheduled opening date, due to construction delays with the facility's unique retractable roof.

A flyover video of the stadium, filmed in December, can be viewed below:

The artist has worked on the project for over a year with his artistic partner Berta Hauer, a team of 150 people and the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia Credit: Timi Szoke
Millions of people will enter the the futuristic stadium, designed by architects HOK, from underneath the wings of the falcon Credit: Timi Szoke
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled to open 26 August for a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals Credit: Mercedes Benz Stadium
RELATED STORIES
NFL chooses unbuilt Atlanta and LA stadiums for future Super Bowls


Two yet-to-be-built stadiums have been selected to host the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl in 2019 and 2021.
Drone footage offers bird's eye view of HOK's hotly-anticipated Atlanta Falcons stadium


Dramatic drone footage of the ongoing construction of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium has been released.
Atlanta Falcons’ new stadium to feature edible gardens


As part of plans to make its new stadium among the most eco-friendly in the world, the Atlanta Falcons have unveiled plans to surround the venue with edible gardens.
Atlanta Falcons reveals new images for unique stadium development


American football side the Atlanta Falcons has released a fly-through video of its new US$1.4bn (€1.2bn, £922m) stadium, set to open in downtown Atlanta in 2017.
MORE NEWS
Mubadala makes €1 billion bid for Pierre and Vacances
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed €1 billion offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
Australian waterpark acquisition creates new leisure attractions group
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor, creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
Toverland unveils €98m expansion plan as park prepares to launch resort development
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi- day destination.
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COMPANY PROFILES
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

IAAPA Expo Europe was established in 2006 and has grown to the largest international conference and [more...]
Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin has since grown into a leading company in the waterpa [more...]
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


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Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

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