ATLANTA — Seven years ago today, the Georgia Dome came down in a cloud of dust and the loudest “oops” in Atlanta’s history. While the implosion itself was noteworthy, what truly stole the show—and the internet’s heart—was not the thousands of pounds of explosives or the towering concrete falling to the ground.
It was a MARTA bus, rolling into frame with all the impeccable timing of a stand-up comedian.
On Nov. 20, 2017, The Weather Channel set up for the perfect shot of the dome’s demolition, only to be photobombed by a lone MARTA bus cruising into view at the exact moment the explosives detonated. The bus blocked the camera’s view, leaving audiences everywhere with an uninterrupted look at…public transportation.
The video went viral, and the internet, ever resourceful, christened the incident “MARTA the Interrupting Bus. " Remixes quickly followed. Soon, the bus was edited into famous sports moments—blocking touchdowns, buzzer-beaters, and even iconic movie scenes.
Atlanta sports teams leaned into the hilarity. The Falcons and Hawks created their remixes. One memorable clip showed the bus cutting off a touchdown video from a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The driver, who remained unnamed, declined interviews, possibly content to let her place in meme history speak for itself. Some passengers on the bus reportedly got an excellent front-row seat to the implosion, though they’ve yet to capitalize on their prime viewing experience.
The Georgia Dome may be gone, but MARTA the Interrupting Bus continues to live in Atlanta’s collective memory—and online timelines.
