ATLANTA _ In just 12 seconds early Monday morning, the Georgia Dome will be reduced to rubble, leaving behind 25 years of memories and a legacy of helping make Atlanta a renowned host of major sports events.
Super Bowls and Final Fours were played there. Olympic gold medals were decided there in three sports. And there were 256 Falcons games, 23 SEC Championship football games, even WrestleMania _ in all, 1,456 events attended by about 39 million people from 1992 through early this year.
No building in Atlanta sports history has hosted more big events.
But with the push of a button at 7:30 a.m. Monday, the Georgia Dome will be imploded, the same fate that befell Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and the Omni Coliseum 20 years earlier.
"It's going to be a sad day," said Ken Jefferson, who worked at the Dome from its opening through its closing. "To me, it's been like watching a loved one die."
Carl Adkins, the Dome's former general manager, usually averts his eyes when he drives by the building these days.
"I'd rather remember the good times," he said. "The memories will always remain, even if the building is gone."
Ah, the memories: Kerri Strug famously landing a vault despite an injured ankle to clinch the United States' first Olympic gold medal in women's team gymnastics; an NBA-record crowd of 62,046 watching Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls play the Hawks while Philips Arena was under construction; a Super Bowl that ended one yard shy of a tying touchdown; so many more.
The Falcons' desire for a new stadium with all the latest bells and whistles and revenue streams spelled the Dome's demise, even though the building remained in good condition through its final years.
The Dome hosted its final football game Jan. 22, the Falcons' rousing victory over Green Bay in the NFC Championship game, and its final event March 5, a Monster Jam trucks show.
