New Entertainment Hub Taking Shape in Downtown Atlanta
Next Phase Begins in June
Published March 27, 2024
Centennial Yards has announced that the next phase of its huge new project in downtown Atlanta will begin in June. Permits are currently being filed. The project, a world-class sports and entertainment district in the heart of downtown will rise adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena, transforming an eight-acre site into a mixed-used entertainment destination.
This phase will offer 480,000 square feet of entertainment, retail, and restaurant space, including a three-story, 70,000-square-foot building described as an immersive entertainment concept; a four-story, 160,000-square-foot building that will be a single-tenant entertainment venue; a two-story, 50,000-square-foot building for food and beverage retail; a 14-story hotel; and a fan gathering plaza. The fan gathering plaza is expected to be the center of gravity for experiencing the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. The goal is to have two-thirds of the entire Centennial Yards project complete or under construction by the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Centennial Yards is a 50-acre urban revitalization project expected to transform underutilized property in the heart of downtown Atlanta into a thriving community with leading businesses, retail establishments, a world-class entertainment district and thousands of new apartments designed to develop a diverse, collaborative and inclusive community. The area involved, the Gulch, sits below street level and has most recently been used primarily for parking.
The design creates a balance between the surrounding Centennial Olympic Park and Atlanta’s high-rise buildings. It will feature lower tiered buildings accented by green terraces along various elevations. Visitors will enjoy a pedestrian-centered experience, as communal spaces and walkways will be interwoven with greenery. Inspired by downtown Atlanta’s industrial roots, the entertainment district will reflect the site’s railroad history with clean lines and flat pedestrian pathways throughout.
Importance to Visitors
“We are excited about this next phase of development at Centennial Yards and the new opportunities it presents for our visitors,” said William Pate, president and CEO, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Convention attendees want to see additional restaurants, entertainment venues, nightlife and retail opportunities within close proximity to Georgia World Congress Center, and this project will fill a void in each of those areas.”
The Vision
As one of America’s largest public-private partnerships, Centennial Yards will feature eight million square feet of commercial and residential space, including local and national retailers, multiple hotels, Class-A office buildings and residential offerings.
The Promise
The aim of Centennial Yards is to become a point of pride for everyone in Atlanta. The project seeks to champion Atlanta’s legacy of humanitarian achievement through collaboration, inclusion and progress by harnessing the dreams and accomplishments of the past, to reimagine and rebuild the place in the city where it all began.
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Journalist Carol Carter writes and edits for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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