State Farm Arena - Atlanta Hawks

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey, and Steve Allen

State Farm Arena FANFARE Score: 3.86

State Farm Arena 1 State Farm Dr Atlanta, GA 30303

Atlanta Hawks website

State Farm Arena website

Year Opened: 1999

Capacity: 16,888

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Where The Hawks Fly High

The Atlanta Hawks NBA franchise relocated to Atlanta from St. Louis in 1968. Since that time the team has called several venues home. They began play at Alexander Memorial Coliseum at Georgia Tech (1968-1972), before moving into the brand-new Omni Coliseum (1972-1997). They then played in the Georgia Dome for two years (1997-1999) while the Omni was torn down and replaced by Phillips Arena (1999-2018). In 2018, the arena was rebranded as State Farm Arena (2018-present).

There’s never been any doubt of what city State Farm Arena is in, as the exterior features the word “ATLANTA” spelled out using steel columns along the east side of the arena.

Food & Beverage 4

State Farm Arena has an extensive food and beverage program featuring both local restaurants and several stands with Southern favorites on their menus. The 200 level of the arena features the Scofflaw Beer Barn, the A-Town Eats neighborhood, and the Chick-fil-A Fan Zone.

One of the premier spots in the venue is Zac Brown’s Social Club, a gourmet restaurant that offers Pit BBQ, glazed salmon, peach pies, and other Southern delicacies. Other locally based restaurants located in the arena include Chick-fil-A, J.R. Crickets, Hot Chicken Tenders, Dolo’s Pizza, and the Westside Grill. The Hawk Walk neighborhood on the 100-level main concourse is home to the more generic stands you would expect to find at a sports venue.

As you would expect in Atlanta, Coca-Cola brand soft drinks are served at all vendors’ locations.

Atmosphere 4

The Hawks have several entertainment squads keeping the energy level high throughout their games. These include Harry the Hawk (team mascot), the ATL Dancers (dance team), the Flight Crew (break dancers), and the Sky Squad (dunk squad).

State Farm Arena also offers a top-notch experience in terms of in-house technology. The center-hung videoboard offers 4,500 square feet of video display with a screen that stretches 81 feet around and 28 feet tall. Xfinity Wi-Fi is also available throughout the arena.

Neighborhood 5

State Farm Arena is in the Centennial Park neighborhood in downtown Atlanta. This neighborhood is the epicenter of the top visitor attractions in the city. The arena is located next door to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the home of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. Centennial Olympic Park is located a block away and is home to both the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. The College Football Hall of Fame is two blocks down the street.

There is several dining establishments located within an easy walk from State Farm Arena. These include the Hudson Grille, Paschal’s Restaurant and Bar, No Mas’ Cantina, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Der Biergarten.

Out-of-town fans can stay at the Omni Hotel Atlanta, the Embassy Suites by Hilton at Centennial Park, and the Peachtree Plaza Hotel, which are all within walking distance of the arena.

Fans 4

The Hawks fanbase is very diverse, as it features longtime locals who have been coming since the Pete Maravich era, transplants who have moved to Atlanta from cities throughout the country with their jobs, and youth who have been attracted by the Hawks school-related outreach programs. The Hawks reach out to each segment of their fanbase through an extensive social media presence. Hawks’ games also draw both local and national celebrities regularly, as the city is the home base for many hip-hop stars.

The Hawks draw very well, with an average attendance of 16,500.

Fans can pick up their Hawks gear at the main Hawks Shop at Gate 1, or at one of the several satellite locations located around the arena. Fans may want to get a selfie with two of Atlanta’s top athletes before entering the arena. There are statues of Evander Holyfield and Dominique Wilkins just outside the arena on the eastern side of the building.

Access 3

Driving directions from the Downtown Connector (I-75/I-85):

Southbound: Take Exit 248-C. Follow signs to Mercedes-Benz Stadium/State Farm Arena. Turn right at Andrew Young International Blvd. Continue straight onto State Farm Drive. Northbound: Take exit 248D International Boulevard. Follow signs for State Farm Arena /CNN Center. Head west at State Farm Drive.

Driving directions from I-20:

Eastbound: Take exit 56B. Head north on Spring Street. Turn left at MLK, Jr Drive to the arena. Westbound: Take Exit 58A. Turn right at Capitol Avenue, which becomes Pryor Street. Head north towards downtown Atlanta and follow signs to State Farm Arena /CNN Center.  

The most cost-efficient way to reach State Farm Arena is via the MARTA rapid light rail system. The SEC (Sports, Entertainment and Convention) station is located mere feet from an arena entrance. The system charges $2.50 per person per ride, and the system extends out to the northern, eastern, and western suburbs, as well as Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

We did find some access issues related to the upper level of seating in the arena. There is a very steep pitch on the 200-level seating. This may make it difficult for some people to navigate the steps down to their seats. The concourses on the 200 level are also much narrower than the lower level, and they become quite congested during breaks in the action. The main way to reach the 200 level is via one of the escalators. These escalators are quite narrow and have space for one person at a time. This resulted in lengthy details at the end of the game.

There are six gates of entry into State Farm Arena.

Return on Investment 2

A night out on the town at a Hawks game can be a very expensive proposition. Parking in lots surrounding the State Farm Arena begins at $30 and up. It is best to check the ParkMobile app to find the most reasonable places to park near the arena.

Ticket prices are flex-priced based on opponent, day of the week, and ticket demand. Low-demand games in the middle of the week start as low as $30. Premium opponents on a weekend can begin at $50-$140 as a starting price.

The concession prices at State Farm Arena also tend to be on the high side. A sampling of arena favorites finds hot dogs ($7.50), popcorn ($8.75), French fries ($6.25), Coca-Cola brand sodas ($8.75), and bottled water ($5.50). Beers start at $8.00, with craft beers and imports going for $16.25.

Extras 5

Artists that have performed at State Farm Arena include Lady Gaga, Usher, Eric Church, New Edition, Earth, Wind and Fire, Pearl Jam, Paul McCarney and Blake Shelton.

The Hawks have honored several Hawks players and management with their numbers being retired and their jerseys being hung in the rafters of the arena. These stars include Bob Pettit, Lou Hudson, Pete Maravich, Dikembe Mutombo, and former owner Ted Turner.

State Farm Arena is one of the most energy-efficient. The sports and concert venues in the country. It is TRUE Platinum-certified for zero waste and has also achieved LEED Gold certification.

2025 Billboard Boxscore has named State Farm Arena as the #3 Domestic Top Venue and the #3 Worldwide Top Venue for its role as a concert venue.

There are two unusual services located inside State Farm Arena. Killer Mike’s Swag Shop is a four-chair barber shop and shaving emporium owned by local hip hop artist Killer Mike.  The arena is also home to a Topgolf Swing Suite indoor driving range.

Final Thoughts

State Farm Arena is well worth a visit, as it provides a wonderful place to experience NBA basketball. The arena is also located close to Atlanta’s most visited tourist attractions.