Behind the Scenes: How NFL Stadiums Transform Overnight for Game Day

A look at the 18-hour transformation of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta before a Falcons game.

Feb. 8, 2026 at 7:47am

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As soon as the final whistle blows, crews at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta have just 18 hours to transform the stadium for the next NFL game. This includes stripping and repainting the field, cleaning 2 million square feet of stadium space, and preparing thousands of meals in the crowded kitchens. The process is a well-choreographed ballet, with teams of workers racing against the clock to get everything ready before the next crowd arrives.

Why it matters

The ability to quickly reset an NFL stadium for the next event is crucial for the league's business model. With limited windows between games, stadiums must maximize their revenue-generating potential by hosting as many events as possible. This behind-the-scenes look highlights the incredible logistical coordination and hard work that goes into making game days a seamless experience for fans.

The details

Cleanup starts with collecting the roughly 5 million pieces of confetti dropped onto the field during the last game. Crews use rakes, leaf blowers, and utility vehicles fitted with large nets to gather every last piece. Groundskeepers then deploy a P-Rex machine to scrub paint from the field's logos and end zones, a process that takes 1-2 hours. Meanwhile, teams of workers fan out across the stadium's 2 million square feet, hand-picking trash from the seating bowl and power-washing spills and residue. The trash is then sorted by hand in the stadium's Resource Recovery Room. Once the field is cleared, crews use stencils to quickly repaint the center logo and end zones before the turf fully dries. In the kitchens, about 100 cooks prepare different menus for concessions, suites, catering, and eight all-inclusive clubs, serving up over 25,000 hot dogs, 10,000 slices of pizza, and 5,000 pounds of wings.

  • As soon as the final whistle blows, the clock starts ticking to reset Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the next event.
  • By 10 a.m., concessions are up and running and barbecue platters are being delivered to the private suites.
  • Eighteen hours after the last crowd left, the stadium is once again full of screaming fans.

The players

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The home stadium of the Atlanta Falcons NFL team, known for its impressive transformation between events.

Matt Cooper

The executive chef at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, responsible for overseeing the massive food operation that feeds tens of thousands of fans.

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What they’re saying

“This is the magic behind everything we do. We have all the chefs, all the supervisors, junior sous chefs, all the cooks, and we're able to kind of move the pieces around. It's a big kitchen, a lot of space, and I love being able to kind of visualize and see the whole team.”

— Matt Cooper, Executive Chef

The takeaway

The incredible behind-the-scenes effort required to transform an NFL stadium for game day highlights the logistical coordination and hard work that goes into providing fans with a seamless and exciting game-day experience. From cleaning up confetti to preparing thousands of meals, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium team demonstrates the level of precision and efficiency needed to reset the venue in just 18 hours.