As the Atlanta Falcons open their 2011 regular season home schedule Sunday night in the Georgia Dome against the Philadelphia Eagles, fans should plan to arrive early in anticipation of additional security measures as they enter the building.
As recommended by the NFL last week before the start of the 2011 season for all NFL stadiums including the Georgia Dome, all fans should anticipate enhanced safety measures before being allowed inside the building. These measures are part of the NFL's ongoing initiative to have the best security features in place and are not the result of any specific threat.
"We encourage fans to arrive early and be patient about entering the stadium," said Falcons CEO and team president Rich McKay. "The enhanced security procedures upon entry recommended by the NFL will further ensure the safety of fans, but will require some additional time for inspections at the gates. We hope fans will come early, enjoy our tailgating opportunities, and take advantage of the fan friendly amenities inside of the Georgia Dome."
The Georgia Dome doors for Sunday night's game against Philadelphia will open at 6 p.m., to the general public and all parking lots will open at 3 p.m. Fans without pre-paid parking passes are strongly encouraged to use MARTA (mass transit, www.itsmarta.com.)
The popular pregame festival State Farm Falcons Landing will also take place prior to Saturday's on International Plaza. Falcons Landing is a free NFL adventure, with interactive games, Falcons cheerleader autograph sessions, live music, food and drink and much more. Activities will begin at 5 p.m.
The Georgia Dome and Atlanta Falcons would also like to remind fans there is a potential danger of being sold counterfeit tickets via the secondary market. The only authorized outlets for Atlanta Falcons playoff tickets are the Georgia Dome ticket office, Atlanta Falcons ticket office, and Ticketmaster's NFL Ticket Exchange program. Buyers who purchase tickets from any other source do so at their own risk.
Any person who purchases a stolen or counterfeit ticket, knowing or unknowing, will be denied admission at the gates and any individual trying to gain entry with a ticket found to be counterfeit could be subject to investigation.
