State Farm Arena

If you are planning to visit Atlanta, Georgia, you might want to check out one of the city’s most popular attractions: State Farm Arena. This multi-purpose venue is home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, as well as a host of concerts, shows and events throughout the year. In this blog post, we will give you an overview of the history, urbanism and architecture, amenities and tips for visitors of State Farm Arena.

History

State Farm Arena was originally opened in 1999 as Philips Arena, replacing the Omni Coliseum. It cost $213.5 million to build and was designed by Populous (then HOK Sport) and Arquitectonica. It is owned by the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority and operated by the Hawks, owned by Tony Ressler along with a group of investors including Grant Hill.

The arena has been the home of the Atlanta Hawks since 1999, and has witnessed some of their memorable moments, such as their 60-win season and Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2015, and their 2021 run to the Eastern Conference Finals led by Trae Young. The arena also hosted the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers from 1999 to 2011, before they moved to Winnipeg, as well as the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream from 2008 to 2016 and 2019. The arena has also hosted several college basketball games, including the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 2011.

In 2017, the arena underwent a major renovation that cost $192.5 million and transformed it into a state-of-the-art facility with new features and amenities. The renovation was completed in 2018, when State Farm acquired the naming rights for 20 years. In 2021, State Farm Arena was named Pollstar’s Best New Concert Venue .

Urbanism and Architecture

State Farm Arena is located in downtown Atlanta, near other attractions such as Centennial Olympic Park, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, CNN Center and Georgia World Congress Center. It is easily accessible by public transportation, as it is served by MARTA’s Green Line and Blue Line at GWCC/CNN Center station, and by Red Line and Gold Line at Peachtree Center station.

The arena has a unique layout, with the club seats and luxury suites aligned solely along one side of the playing surface, and the general admission seating along the other three sides. This creates a more intimate and fan-friendly atmosphere for basketball games, as well as a more flexible configuration for concerts and other events. The arena also has a distinctive exterior design, with a curved roofline and a glass facade that allows natural light to enter.

The arena has a field size of 680,000 sq ft (63,000 m2) and can seat up to 21,000 people for concerts, 20,233 for basketball, and 17,624 for ice hockey. The arena also boasts a center-hung video board that is one of the largest in the NBA, measuring 27 feet high by 97 feet wide.

Amenities

State Farm Arena offers a variety of amenities for its guests, ranging from culture to gastronomy to commercial.

Culture

State Farm Arena is not only a sports venue, but also a cultural hub that hosts some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. The arena has hosted concerts by artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Drake, U2, Elton John, Justin Timberlake and many more. The arena has also hosted comedy shows by Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle and Amy Schumer . In addition, the arena has hosted other events such as WWE wrestling, Disney on Ice, Cirque du Soleil and Monster Jam .

Gastronomy

State Farm Arena offers a diverse selection of food and beverage options for its guests. The arena has partnered with Levy Restaurants as its food and beverage provider . Some of the highlights include:

• Zac Brown’s Social Club: A southern-inspired restaurant and bar that features live music and a rooftop patio overlooking the arena .
• Killer Mike’s SWAG Shop: A barbershop and bar that offers haircuts and drinks while watching the game or concert .
• ATL Brew Pub: A craft beer destination that showcases local breweries and serves pub fare .
• J.R. Crickets: A local favorite that serves wings and other comfort food .
• B’s Cracklin’ BBQ: A pitmaster’s paradise that serves authentic barbecue with homemade sauces .

Commercial

State Farm Arena also has a variety of commercial options for its guests, such as:

• Hawks Shop: The official team store that sells Hawks merchandise and apparel .
• State Farm Good Neighbor Club: A loyalty program that rewards guests with discounts, perks and experiences .
• State Farm Drive Safe & Save: A program that offers guests a chance to save on their car insurance by driving safely .

Tips for Visitors

If you are planning to visit State Farm Arena, here are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable:

• Check the arena’s website for the latest information on events, tickets, parking, directions and policies.
• Arrive early to avoid traffic and lines, and to enjoy the pre-game or pre-show entertainment.
• Download the State Farm Arena app to access mobile tickets, maps, food ordering, seat upgrades and more.
• Bring a clear bag or no bag at all, as the arena has a strict bag policy for security reasons.
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, as the arena can get warm or cold depending on the event and the season.
• Have fun and cheer on your favorite team or artist!

State Farm Arena is one of the best venues in Atlanta and in the country. Whether you are a sports fan, a music lover or a culture enthusiast, you will find something to enjoy at State Farm Arena.

Driving directions from the State Farm Arena to Oakland Cemetery

Via Decatur St. SE. 1.8 miles in 8 minutes.

1. Head northeast on Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW for 0.1 miles.
2. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Marietta St NW and continue for 0.3 miles.
3. Continue onto Decatur St. SE for 0.7 miles.
4. Turn right onto Hill St SE and continue for 0.2 miles.
5. Turn left onto Memorial Dr SE and continue for 0.4 miles.

Driving directions from the State Farm Arena to Ebenezer Baptist Church

Via Edgewood Ave SE. 1.5 miles in 8 minutes.

1. Head northeast on Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW for 0.1 miles.
2. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Marietta St NW and continue for 0.3 miles.
3. Continue onto Decatur St. SE for 0.1 miles.
4. Turn left onto Peachtree Center Ave SE for 0.1 miles.
5. Turn right onto Edgewood Ave SE and continue for 0.7 miles.
6. Turn left onto Jackson St NE for 413 ft.
7. Turn right onto Auburn Ave NE and the destination will be on the right.

Driving directions from the State Farm Arena to John Morrison Law

Via I-85 N. 18.6 miles in 26 minutes.

1. Get on I-75 N/I-85 N from Ted Turner Dr NW and continue for 1.5 mi.
2. Head northeast on Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW for 0.1 miles.
3. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Marietta St NW and continue for 420 ft.
4. Turn left at the 1st cross street onto Ted Turner Dr NW and continue for 0.6 miles.
5. Turn left onto Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW for 417 ft.
6. Turn right onto the I-75 S ramp for 0.5 miles.
7. Continue on I-85 N to Gwinnett County. Take exit 99 from I-85 N and continue for 15.6 mi.
8. Merge onto I-75 N/I-85 N and continue for 1.3 miles.
9. Use the left lanes to take exit 251B for I-85 N toward GA-400/Greenville for 0.4 miles.
10. Continue onto I-85 N for 13.5 miles.
11. Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 99 for GA-140 W/Jimmy Carter Boulevard for 0.4 miles.
12. Keep right at the fork and merge onto Jimmy Carter Blvd for 259 ft.
13. Merge onto Jimmy Carter Blvd and continue for 1.6 mi.
14. Destination will be on the left.