The Mercedes-Benz Superdome will host the NFL's Super Bowl XLVII between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.

The New Orleans stadium has had a long and rich history since its opening nearly 40 years ago. Here are some interesting facts about the stadium where the NFL championship will be decided.

-- The Superdome opened Aug. 3, 1975.

-- The Superdome hosted Muhammad Ali Appreciation Day on Oct. 14, 1975, which Ali attended.

-- Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks at the Superdome on Sept. 15, 1978, to record his last professional boxing win.

-- The Superdome is built in proximity to the former Girod Street Cemetery.

-- The Superdome has already hosted six Super Bowls, excluding Super Bowl XLVII.

-- The first Super Bowl hosted at the Superdome was Super Bowl XII in January 1978.

-- The Superdome housed victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and subsequently closed for several months because of damage from the hurricane.

-- Super Bowl XLVII is the first Super Bowl hosted at the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina.

-- The Superdome was known as the Louisiana Superdome from 1975 to 2011, when it was renamed the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

-- The Superdome is the first U.S. stadium with naming rights sold to Mercedes-Benz.

-- The Superdome is among the contenders to host the 30th annual WrestleMania pay-per-view event in the spring of next year.

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