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Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the State Farm Arena Seating Chart.
Upcoming events at State Farm Arena
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Home of the Hawks, the Dream and Atlanta's arena tours
State Farm Arena is the indoor arena in downtown Atlanta where the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) and the Atlanta Dream (WNBA) play, and it is the city's main stop for arena concerts, comedy tours, WWE and UFC cards. It seats 17,608 for basketball and roughly 18,000 to 21,000 for concerts, depending on the stage setup.
The building opened in September 1999 as Philips Arena, on the site of the old Omni Coliseum, and took the State Farm name in 2018. The Atlanta Thrashers of the NHL also played there from 1999 until 2011, when the franchise relocated to Winnipeg. It has hosted the NBA All-Star Game twice (2003 and 2021) and the NHL All-Star Game in 2008.
Hawks home games run from October into April, with playoff dates possible into late spring. Dream games fill the summer, roughly May through September, so the arena has a home team in almost every month.
The seating bowl after the 2018 rebuild
The arena's original design was unusual: one long side was a tall wall of about 90 suites stacked on top of each other, which pushed the regular seats on that side far from the court. The 2017–2018 renovation, which cost about 192.5 million dollars and was finished for the 2018–19 Hawks season, removed most of that wall. It was replaced with two levels of suites (about 40 in all), new upper-deck seating and party spaces, and the bowl now feels much more balanced.
Today's layout breaks into these tiers:
- Courtside and floor: the courtside row and premium floor seating, plus the courtside clubs and cabanas added in the renovation.
- 100 level: the lower bowl, reached from the main concourse.
- 200 level and Terrace level: the middle and upper seating, along with suite levels and club spaces.
Some resale sites label the upper deck as the 300 level. The venue's own maps are the safest reference for any particular section, and the arena publishes seating charts by event type.
Where to sit for a Hawks game or a concert
Basketball
For an NBA or WNBA game, the best all-around seats are lower-bowl sideline sections a dozen or more rows up. From there you look over the courtside row and the benches and see plays develop at both ends. Low rows behind the baskets are close to the action, but the stanchion and the glass sit between you and the far end of the court. In the upper tier, sideline sections near center court are the better bet; corner and end seats up high are where the court looks smallest.
Demand rises for marquee opponents, weekend dates and the stretch run of the season. Dream games are usually the easiest way into lower-bowl seats.
Concerts
Most concerts use an end stage, with floor seating or general admission in front. Lower-bowl sections along the sides, angled toward the stage, often give a clearer view than the back half of the floor, where the floor is flat and the crowd stands. Avoid side sections that sit even with or behind the stage line unless the tour sells them as partial-view or uses a center stage. Upper seats at the far end face the stage straight on but are a long way back.
How the view changes by level
Lower-bowl seats put you near the court with the noise of the building around you, and they are the obvious choice for a big game. The middle tier is a good compromise for families and for anyone who wants to see the whole floor at once. Upper rows are steeper and farther away, but the renovation added a center-hung video board about five times the size of the old one, plus boards in the corners, so replays and stats are easy to follow from anywhere.
The connected 360-degree concourses also matter here: you can walk the full ring, and several standing areas look onto the court, which makes standing-room and upper-level tickets more pleasant than in an older arena.
Getting to State Farm Arena
Transit is the arena's biggest advantage. The SEC District MARTA station sits steps from the entrance and is served by the Red, Gold, Blue and Green lines, so most of the metro area can ride in without a transfer. After a sold-out event, platforms fill quickly; if you can wait 15 minutes, the crowd thins.
Arena parking includes the Sapphire and Diamond decks and the Ruby Lot, reserved in advance through ParkMobile; a limited number of accessible spaces are first come, first served. A designated rideshare zone handles pickups after events. The arena shares the downtown district with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia World Congress Center, so traffic is heavy on nights when two events overlap. Check the arena's transportation page before you leave.
Bags, entry and payment
As of 2026, the arena allows bags no larger than 14 by 14 by 6 inches, such as small purses, single-compartment drawstring bags and fashion backpacks within that size. Larger backpacks and hard-sided bags are not allowed, and medical and diaper bags are permitted after a search. A paid bag check operates at Gate 2 on Centennial Olympic Park Drive. Policies vary by event, so check the current bag policy before you go.
- Doors: generally open 60 minutes before the event.
- Payment: cashless; cards are required for tickets, food and retail.
- Re-entry: not allowed.
- Children: under age 2 can sit on a lap without a ticket; everyone 2 and older needs one.
- Smoking and vaping: prohibited, with no designated smoking areas.
Every GoodSeats order includes guaranteed entry for the event you bought.
Food, extras and how the arena got here
The renovation turned the concourses into one of the more unusual amenity lists in the NBA. It added a restaurant tied to the Zac Brown Band, a barber shop linked to rapper Killer Mike, golf-simulator suites, the Players Club (with tabletops cut from an old Philips Arena court) and a lounge called Atlanta Social. Exterior windows that had been covered were opened up, so parts of the concourse now look out on downtown.
The original arena cost about 213.5 million dollars when it opened in 1999. Its largest Hawks crowd, 20,425, came during the 2008 playoff series against Boston. State Farm signed a 20-year naming deal in 2018, timed with the renovation.
Frequently asked questions
How many people does State Farm Arena hold?
It seats 17,608 for basketball. Concert capacity ranges from about 18,000 to 21,000 depending on the stage layout.
What was State Farm Arena called before?
It opened in 1999 as Philips Arena and was renamed State Farm Arena in 2018.
What is the bag policy at State Farm Arena?
As of 2026, bags must be 14 by 14 by 6 inches or smaller, and larger backpacks and hard-sided bags are not allowed. Rules can change by event, so check before you go.
How do I get to State Farm Arena on MARTA?
Take any train to the SEC District station, which sits steps from the arena entrance and is served by all four MARTA rail lines.
Is State Farm Arena cashless?
Yes. Card payment is required at ticket windows, concessions and retail locations.
Who plays at State Farm Arena?
The Atlanta Hawks of the NBA and the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA. The arena also hosts concerts, WWE, UFC and other touring events.