Centennial Yards’ ‘immersive dome’ reaches construction milestone

Josh Green

Tue, 05/06/2025 – 14:02

An entertainment option unique to Atlanta—and to the eastern United States, in fact—is set to reach a construction milestone this month.

Global tech company Cosm and Centennial Yards Company are scheduled to officially mark the beginning of development on Cosm Atlanta with a steel rising ceremony May 15 at the entertainment zone rising from the former Gulch, a site that’s seen a flurry of infrastructure construction activity all winter and spring.

Situated adjacent to State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Cosm Atlanta will mark the third venue for Cosm and the first in the eastern U.S., following similar concepts at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles and Grandscape in The Colony in Texas, north of downtown Dallas.

Topped with an 87-foot diameter, 12K+ LED “immersive dome,” Cosm Atlanta was designed by architecture firm Gensler, which also designed the nearby Signia by Hilton tower over The Benz, Atlanta’s tallest new hotel in four decades. Project officials say the Atlanta venue will expand on the foundational design of those in California and Texas while incorporating character that reflects Centennial Yards and the city at large.

Plans for the Cosm venue’s exterior, at left. Courtesy of Centennial Yards; images by Apex Visualization

Courtesy of Cosm

The company uses a technology called Shared Reality to take visitors “beyond the front row” for major sporting contests, live performances, art shows, and other events, alongside a food-and-beverage program described as “elevated.”

Cosm is the first confirmed tenant at Centennial Yards’ Sports and Entertainment District, which broke ground last year in hopes of being open in time for FIFA World Cup matches in Atlanta, beginning in June 2026. Several cranes hover over the construction site now.

Spread across 7.5 acres, the roughly 470,000-square-foot mixed-use component is expected to include a 230-room, flagship hotel adjacent to the Atlanta Hawks’ arena and a large plaza. A two-story retail building and music venue are also in the plans.

The estimated $5 billion project’s broader goal is to transform 50 acres around the chasm the Gulch had been for generations into a vibrant, walkable area for visitors and residents.

How the entertainment district is expected to meet Centennial Olympic Park Drive, near State Farm Arena. Courtesy of Centennial Yards; images by Apex Visualization

Courtesy of Cosm

We’ve asked Cosm reps this week for a fuller construction timeline and ETA, and we’ll update this story with any additional details that come.

Cosm has inked official partnerships with ESPN, the NBA, NBC Sports, TNT Sports, FOX Sports, the UFC, and others. Beyond live sports, the venue’s programming will include Cirque du Soleil’s production “O” and what are described as immersive art experiences from Cosm Studios Creator Program members.

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Images

Main entry point to the entertainment district along Centennial Olympic Park Drive. Courtesy of Centennial Yards; images by Apex Visualization

How the entertainment district is expected to meet Centennial Olympic Park Drive, near State Farm Arena. Courtesy of Centennial Yards; images by Apex Visualization

Plans for the Cosm venue’s exterior, at left. Courtesy of Centennial Yards; images by Apex Visualization

Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Planned look of a plaza area at Centennial Yards’ entertainment district. Courtesy of Centennial Yards; images by Apex Visualization

Courtesy of Cosm

How the next Centennial Yards phase is expected to meet Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (left), with active rail lines separating it from the Phoenix hotel tower (back left) and The Benz. Courtesy of Centennial Yards; images by Apex Visualization