Mercedes-Benz Stadium Drops Food Prices Even Lower

ATLANTA, GA — At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where affordable food and beverages already are a calling card for owner Arthur Blank, some prices are dropping even lower.

On the anniversary of its opening, the downtown Atlanta stadium has announced that prices on select food items are being cut a dollar each — for a savings of roughly 12 percent.

The price reductions will begin next week. Also, there are plans for a new, stadium-exclusive, "domestically priced" craft beer that will debut in September, stadium officials said.

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When the stadium opened last year, Blank and other officials announced that Mercedes-Benz Stadium would have the lowest concession prices of any major-sports stadium in the United States. Unlike some stadiums, the menu and beverage pricing is consistent for all events hosted at the stadium, including games by the Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer's Atlanta United.

The move was honored as Sports Breakthrough of the Year by Sports Business Journal and several professional and college teams and venues across the U.S. have followed the lead, similarly slashing food and drink prices.

Here's a look at the newly announced price cuts, which will go into effect Aug. 30.

• ATL Italian Sausage: to $7
• Shock Top Bratwurst: to $8
• ATL Bud Burger: to $8
• West Nest’s Free Range Fried Chicken Sandwich: to $10
• Chili Cheese Fries: to $9
• Cheese Fries: to $5

"Arthur Blank has repeatedly challenged us to find ways to lower prices again to further improve a food and beverage experience that already ranked number one in the NFL and MLS in our debut season," said Steve Cannon, CEO of the AMB Group. "We’ve listened to our fans from the beginning and these new prices are a result of that feedback. Arthur is going to keep challenging us to go lower and we’re going to keep listening to the fans, so this is probably not the last one."

During the 2017 Falcons and Atlanta United seasons, average spending on concessions increased at Falcons games by 16 percent per person over the previous season, despite a 50 percent decrease in pricing over the previous season.

Data also showed that more than 6,000 Falcons fans per game entered the stadium as much as an hour earlier to take advantage of the options and pricing in the stadium, according to stadium officials.

"We’re thrilled to see others going this direction because fans win every time another one does, it’s as simple as that and we think the trend will continue," said Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons. "Giving the fans what they want at a fair price will never fail.”

The new craft beer will be a Mercedes-Benz Stadium exclusive in partnership with a local Atlanta brewery. Debuting Sept. 16 for the Falcons season home opener, it will be featured in concession stands throughout the stadium and sell for $5 for a 12-ounce draft and $7 for a 20-ounce draft.

Photo courtesy Mercedes-Benz Stadium