Atlanta

What Atlanta's live-event scene covers

Atlanta has the Falcons (NFL), Braves (MLB), Hawks (NBA), Atlanta United FC (MLS) and Dream (WNBA), along with a stadium that hosts the Peach Bowl, the SEC Championship Game and the Super Bowl (LIII in 2019, with LXII scheduled for 2028). It also has a strong concert circuit, from a 1929 movie palace to an 18,900-capacity amphitheater, and a comedy scene anchored by a club that has operated since 1982.

Downtown does most of the heavy lifting. Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena sit next to each other, both served by MARTA rail. The Braves are the exception: Truist Park is about 10 miles northwest in Cobb County, inside The Battery Atlanta district, and that changes how you plan a game day.

• Downtown: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, the Tabernacle.
• Midtown: the Fox Theatre and the Laughing Skull Lounge.
• Cobb County: Truist Park and the Coca-Cola Roxy at The Battery.
• Farther out: Lakewood Amphitheatre (south), the Gateway Center Arena (College Park), Gas South Arena (Gwinnett) and Helium Comedy Club (Alpharetta).

Concerts in Atlanta: which room suits which show

Atlanta's concert venues cover every size, so anyone searching for concerts in Atlanta, or concerts tonight, should think about the room as much as the bill.

State Farm Arena

Opened in 1999 as Philips Arena and rebuilt inside in 2017–18, the arena holds roughly 18,000 to 21,000 for concerts. For end-stage shows, the lower-level sections at the sides nearest the stage beat the back of the floor. The renovation added courtside cabanas and club spaces, so some lower-level seats are sold as premium packages. As of 2026, bags must be 14 by 14 by 6 inches or smaller, with backpacks banned.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Stadium tours use the 71,000-seat home of the Falcons, which has a retractable roof. The 100-level sideline seats nearest the stage give the best balance of view and sound. Upper-level seats at the far end are a long way off, so plan on watching the circular Halo video board and screens.

Fox Theatre

The Fox, at 660 Peachtree Street in Midtown, opened in 1929 as a movie palace and seats 4,665. It hosts touring Broadway, the Atlanta Ballet and concerts. The orchestra level puts you closest, while the front of the upper levels often gives a cleaner view than the far-back orchestra rows.

The Tabernacle and the Coca-Cola Roxy

The Tabernacle, a 1911 church turned music hall in 1996, holds about 2,600 and books rock, hip-hop and comedy tours. The Coca-Cola Roxy at The Battery opened in 2017 with a flat floor for about 4,000 standing and 800 permanent seats upstairs. On a flat floor, shorter fans may see more from the upstairs seats than from the back of the crowd.

Lakewood Amphitheatre

About four miles south of downtown, Lakewood opened in 1989 and holds 18,920: about 7,000 reserved seats and room for 12,000 on the lawn. The lawn is the cheaper, casual option; reserved seats are worth it if you want to see the stage rather than the screens.

Comedy shows in Atlanta: clubs from Midtown to Alpharetta

Searches for comedy shows in Atlanta turn up a mix of headliner clubs, small rooms and improv theaters, plus the touring stops at the Tabernacle and the Fox.

• The Punchline (3652 Roswell Road NE) has booked stand-up since 1982, more than four decades of headliners. Guests must be 21 with ID, and reservations are required.
• Laughing Skull Lounge (878 Peachtree Street, in the back of the Vortex restaurant in Midtown) is a 74-seat room that has run since 2009, with showcases and open mics Monday through Wednesday. It is 21 and up.
• Helium Comedy Club (3070 Windward Plaza, Alpharetta) books national headliners in a showroom where no seat is more than 60 feet from the stage. It is 18 and up, with a two-item food or drink minimum, and shows run about an hour and 40 minutes with an opener, a feature act and a headliner.
• Dad's Garage is the city's best-known improv theater, with shows and classes.
• Uptown Comedy Corner works as a touring brand rather than a single club, so check the venue on each ticket.

In small rooms like the Laughing Skull, every seat is close, and the front row is part of the show. For a big comedy tour at the Tabernacle, the balcony often beats the back of a standing floor.

Teams and their home venues

• Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta United FC (MLS): Mercedes-Benz Stadium, opened in 2017, which seats 71,000 for football and expands to 75,000. It is also home to the Peach Bowl, the SEC Championship Game and the Celebration Bowl.
• Atlanta Hawks (NBA): State Farm Arena, next door, which seats 17,608 for basketball.
• Atlanta Braves (MLB): Truist Park, opened in 2017 in the Cumberland area of Cobb County. The ballpark is built into a slope, so most fans enter on a middle level and walk down to their seats. A metal canopy covers about 60 percent of the seats, so ask whether your section is covered if shade matters.
• Atlanta Dream (WNBA): Gateway Center Arena in College Park, the team's home since the 2021 season.
• Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL): Gas South Arena in Gwinnett County, about 30 miles northeast.

Atlanta's sports and entertainment year

• January: the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which hosts a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on January 1, 2027. Hawks basketball runs through the winter.
• Late March to fall: Braves baseball at Truist Park.
• Spring to fall: Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Dream in summer, and the outdoor season at Lakewood.
• September to January: Falcons football. December brings the SEC Championship Game and the Celebration Bowl.
• Year-round: touring Broadway at the Fox, arena concerts and nightly comedy.

When the SEC Championship, a Falcons game and a State Farm Arena concert fall on the same weekend, downtown hotels and parking fill quickly. Buying early helps, and so does taking MARTA.

Getting to Atlanta's venues

• MARTA rail: SEC District station sits steps from State Farm Arena and serves Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as does Vine City station. It is the easiest way to reach either building.
• Truist Park: not on MARTA rail. Most fans drive or use rideshare, and the Braves have run a circulator shuttle; check the team's current options before you go.
• Fox Theatre and the Laughing Skull: both sit on Peachtree Street in Midtown, near MARTA's Midtown-area stations.
• Lakewood, College Park, Gwinnett and Alpharetta: plan on a car or rideshare, and allow for traffic on the Connector and I-285.

As of the 2026 season, Mercedes-Benz Stadium allows clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches or a small clutch, is cashless, and does not allow re-entry; check the stadium's A to Z guide before you go.

Neighborhood notes and tips for out-of-town visitors

• Downtown and Centennial Olympic Park: the obvious base for the stadium, the arena and the Tabernacle, with large hotels within walking distance.
• Midtown: the right base for the Fox and the Laughing Skull, with restaurants along Peachtree and easy MARTA access to downtown.
• The Battery Atlanta: restaurants, bars and hotels around Truist Park and the Coca-Cola Roxy. Staying here removes the drive on a Braves night.
• North Atlanta and Alpharetta: close to the Punchline and Helium, so they suit a comedy-focused evening.

Group your plans by area rather than trying to cross the metro in one night. Every order on GoodSeats comes with guaranteed entry. For Braves schedules, gates and shuttle details, the team's ballpark page is the place to check.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Atlanta
• Wikipedia: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium: A to Z guide
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Parking and transportation
• Wikipedia: State Farm Arena
• State Farm Arena: Bag policy
• State Farm Arena: Transportation
• Wikipedia: Truist Park
• Wikipedia: The Battery Atlanta
• Wikipedia: Atlanta Dream
• Wikipedia: Gas South Arena
• Wikipedia: Fox Theatre (Atlanta)