Whether you are a Rams or a Patriots fan, this year's Super Bowl was one for the books. From the halftime show starring Maroon 5 to the controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick, the game and its festivities generated headlines long before it ever kicked off in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3. This was also only the third time Atlanta hosted a Super Bowl after previously hosting two at the Georgia Dome.

The first was in 1994, a thriller that featured a last-minute hail storm that sparked rioting, as well as a memorable play by Vikings cornerback Corey Fuller, who tackled St. Louis Rams receiver Kevin Dyson at the goal line, one yard short of the end zone. It was the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history.

Atlanta returned to the playoffs in 1996 with an ominous squad that included flamboyant personalities like cornerback Deion Sanders and wide receiver Andre Rison, but lost in their second Super Bowl appearance, which was played in a snowstorm.

Despite a couple of massive winter storms and a few issues with ice (including a train getting stuck between the Lindbergh and Arts Center stations for over an hour), the city's residents handled the Big Game pretty darn well. The week of Super Bowl festivities brought a supercharged mix of commerce, bacchanalia and gridiron testosterone that made for an unforgettable experience, even for Atlanta natives who have never witnessed anything quite like it before.