Centennial Yards’ wins continue with signing of large music venue

Josh Green

Wed, 05/14/2025 – 08:18

Another sizable live music venue is bound for Atlanta’s core.

Centennial Yards Company revealed Tuesday it has signed a long-term lease with entertainment giant Live Nation to bring concerts and more to a section of the downtown megaproject now rising from the former Gulch.

The unnamed Live Nation venue will anchor Centennial Yards’ under-construction entertainment and sports section, situated across the street from both State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Expect a wide range of performances across genres, “from national headliners to global touring acts and local artists,” in the 5,300-capacity venue, according to Centennial Yards Company.

For context, the Fox Theatre’s seating capacity is 4,665 seats, and the nearby Tabernacle’s is 2,600.

Overview of the Live Nation music venue’s position and scope (foreground) relative to the rest of the entertainment district and State Farm Arena. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

The music venue is scheduled to open sometime in 2027, project officials tell Urbanize Atlanta.

Jordan Zachary, Live Nation’s president of global venues, predicted the downtown venture will fill “a key gap in the local entertainment landscape” and “further strengthen the city’s position as a cultural and economic powerhouse,” according to a prepared statement.

The broader district “is poised to be the epicenter of sports and entertainment for the southeastern United States where people of all ages can enjoy concerts, sporting events, bars, restaurants, and retail stores,” added Brian McGowan, Centennial Yards Company president. “This new [venue] is exactly what our region needs and adds a key element to what has already been a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown.”

The unnamed music facility (middle), tucked beside Cosm and active railroad lines. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Across Centennial Yards’ master-planned 50 acres, facets that have already opened include adaptive-reuse projects Centennial Yards South and Wild Leap Brewery. The connected, pedestrians-only Steele Bridge now hosts tailgating parties before large events with live music, food offerings, and other activities for fans and families.

All told, Centennial Yards is expected to cost $5 billion and span some 8 million square feet of mixed uses, described by its financial backers as one of the largest public-private partnerships in the U.S. right now. It’s all backed by a nearly $2-billion tax-incentive package, a record for Atlanta.

Centennial Yards Company—a partnership between an affiliate of CIM Group and another group led by Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler—is serving as the project’s master developer.

Construction progress on Centennial Yards’ entertainment component as of April, plus the north view from downtown to Midtown, Buckhead, and beyond.

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Images

Overview of the Live Nation music venue’s position and scope (foreground) relative to the rest of the entertainment district and State Farm Arena. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

The unnamed music facility (middle), tucked beside Cosm and active railroad lines. Courtesy of Centennial Yards Company

Construction progress on Centennial Yards’ entertainment component as of April, plus the north view from downtown to Midtown, Buckhead, and beyond.

Subtitle

Under-construction Live Nation facility will be bigger than Midtown’s Fox Theatre, officials say

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