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Upcoming Atlanta Hawks dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The Hawks in brief: four cities, one title and a long Celtics history
The Atlanta Hawks play home games at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta, with the NBA regular season running from mid-October to mid-April and the playoffs beyond. The franchise is one of the most traveled in the league. It began in 1946 as the Buffalo Bisons of the National Basketball League, moved after 38 days to Moline, Illinois, as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, joined the NBA in 1949, and then played in Milwaukee from 1951 and St. Louis from 1955. The team arrived in Atlanta on May 3, 1968.
The Hawks' only NBA championship came in 1958, in St. Louis. All four of the franchise's Finals appearances (1957, 1958, 1960 and 1961) were against the Boston Celtics, which is why that rivalry carries more history than most fans realize.
- Conference: the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division, alongside Charlotte, Miami, Orlando and Washington.
- Franchise icons: Bob Pettit, the star of the St. Louis title years, and Dominique Wilkins, the franchise's career scoring leader with 23,292 points.
- Modern high points: a 60–22 record in 2014–15, the best in team history, and a first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
Choosing seats for a Hawks game at State Farm Arena
State Farm Arena seats 17,608 for basketball. Seating guides describe three main tiers: the 100 level (the lower bowl wrapped around the court), the 200 level (a smaller middle tier with club seating) and the upper tier above it. The 2018 renovation removed a wall of suites on one side and replaced it with seating, two levels of suites and Topgolf suites, so the building feels tighter than its 1999 opening date suggests.
Courtside and the first rows
Courtside seats and the courtside cabanas added in the renovation put you level with the players. They are the most expensive tickets in the building, and the low angle makes the far side of the court harder to read than you might expect. One seating guide places the Hawks bench in front of section 116 and the visitors in front of section 114; confirm on the seat map for your listing, because bench positions are not published by the arena.
Lower bowl sideline vs. behind the baskets
The lower-bowl sideline sections near midcourt are the best all-around seats for basketball. Rows roughly 8 through 20 sit high enough to see over the benches and the scorer's table. Seats behind the baskets cost less and are fun when the Hawks shoot toward you, but depth perception suffers for action at the far end, and the stanchion can block part of the view from the lowest rows.
The 200 level and the upper tier
The 200-level club seats are a strong middle ground: a centered view from a little higher up, padded seats and access to club amenities. For budget buyers, the first rows of the upper tier along the sideline usually beat the last rows of the lower bowl behind the baskets, because the whole court and the center-hung video board stay in view.
The NBA calendar and the Hawks games that sell first
Each NBA team plays 82 regular-season games, 41 at home. Preseason games run in early October, the regular season runs from mid-October to mid-April, the All-Star break falls in February, and the playoffs run from April into June. Group-stage games of the NBA Cup (the in-season tournament introduced in 2023–24) count in the regular-season standings.
Hawks demand follows a few reliable patterns:
- Marquee opponents: teams with national fan bases and star players draw visiting fans who buy across the arena and keep prices firm.
- The Celtics: the rivalry dates to the 1950s Finals meetings, and Boston's national following often brings visiting fans into the building.
- Weekend and holiday dates: Friday and Saturday night games and holiday-period games draw more families and out-of-town visitors than a weeknight in January.
- Playoff games: any home playoff date is the hardest ticket of the year, and prices climb with each round.
- Weeknight games against rebuilding teams: usually the easiest and least expensive way into the building.
Resale prices often soften in the final days before a low-stakes weeknight game and firm up for weekend dates and late-season games with playoff seeding on the line.
Following the Hawks on the road
The Southeast Division keeps several road trips short. Charlotte is a drive up Interstate 85, and Orlando and Miami are short flights. A road game in Boston carries the most history, given the Finals meetings in the 1950s and 1960s and a 2008 playoff series that set State Farm Arena's Hawks attendance record of 20,425.
In an opponent's arena, upper-level corner sections are usually the most affordable way to sit near other visiting fans. For buildings that sell out often, buying earlier is the safer approach, since the cheapest inventory thins out as game day approaches.
Game night downtown: MARTA, entry and arena rules
MARTA rail is the simplest way to get there. The SEC District station (served by the Red, Gold, Blue and Green lines) sits steps from the arena entrance. Parking is sold in nearby decks and lots, and the arena directs rideshare riders to a designated zone; both get congested after the final buzzer, so rail often wins on the way out.
As of the 2026 season, State Farm Arena allows bags no larger than 14 by 14 by 6 inches (single-compartment drawstring bags, purses and small fashion backpacks) and bans standard backpacks and hard-sided bags. The arena is cashless, gates generally open about 60 minutes before an event, and re-entry is not allowed. Policies can vary by event, so check the arena's bag policy page before you go.
The renovation also added features that are not standard in NBA buildings, including a barber shop on the concourse and Topgolf suites.
From the Omni to State Farm Arena: moments that shaped the franchise
The Hawks played their first Atlanta seasons at Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum, moved to the Omni Coliseum in 1972, and spent two seasons split between the Georgia Dome and Alexander Memorial Coliseum while the Omni was replaced. The new arena opened on the Omni site on September 18, 1999, as Philips Arena and was renamed State Farm Arena in 2018.
- 1958: the St. Louis Hawks, led by Bob Pettit, beat Boston for the franchise's only title.
- 1980s: Dominique Wilkins became one of the league's most exciting scorers and the face of basketball in Atlanta.
- January 2015: the Hawks became the first NBA team to go 17–0 in a calendar month, on the way to a 60-win season.
- 2021: the franchise reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time.
The team has retired six numbers (9, 21, 23, 44, 55 and 59), and Bill Russell's 6, retired across the league in 2022, also hangs in the rafters.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Atlanta Hawks play home games?
The Hawks play at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta, which opened in 1999 as Philips Arena and seats 17,608 for basketball.
Have the Hawks ever won an NBA championship?
Yes, once. The franchise won the 1958 NBA title while based in St. Louis, beating the Boston Celtics.
What is the best way to get to a Hawks game?
MARTA rail is usually the easiest option. The SEC District station is steps from the arena entrance and is served by all four MARTA rail lines.
What are the best seats for a Hawks game?
Lower-bowl sideline sections near midcourt, roughly rows 8 to 20, give the best overall view. The 200-level club seats and the first rows of the upper tier along the sideline are strong values.
What is State Farm Arena's bag policy?
As of the 2026 season, bags may be no larger than 14 by 14 by 6 inches, and standard backpacks and hard-sided bags are not allowed. Check the arena's current policy before you go.