Sports

Atlanta’s Game Face: Sports in the Capital of the South

Sports fans will find no shortage of excitement in Atlanta, with a lineup of major league teams to see in action. The NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’ Atlanta United FC take the field at the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium. At State Farm Arena, the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks hit the court, while the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream play in Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Just north of Downtown, the MLB’s Atlanta Braves step up to the plate at Truist Park. The South is known for turning college football into a religion, so it was only fitting that Atlanta became the site for Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta was also home to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, which catapulted the city into international prominence. Atlanta will welcome several major sporting events in 2025 including the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, College Football Playoff National Championship, and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. These events will continue to build excitement as the city prepares to host eight matches during FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl LXII in 2028 and the NCAA Men’s Final Four tournament in 2031.

Fast facts

Atlanta is home to five professional sports franchises:
- Atlanta United FC (MLS)
- Braves (MLB)
- Dream (WNBA)
- Falcons (NFL)
- Hawks (NBA)
Two Division I NCAA programs are located in Atlanta:
- Georgia State (Sun Belt Conference)
- Georgia Tech (Atlantic Coast Conference)
Atlanta’s history includes hosting large-scale sporting events:
- 1996 Centennial Olympic Games
- Four NCAA Men’s Final Four tournaments – 1977, 2002, 2007 and 2013
- Three Super Bowl matchups – XXVIII (1994), XXXIV (2000), LIII (2019)
- College Football Playoff National Championship – 2018 and 2025
- 30 consecutive SEC Championship games; current contract will keep the game in Atlanta through 2031