Atlanta is home to an impressive lineup of sports-centric venues that score high points with visiting groups.
The following places, including an exciting new stadium and various other entertaining attractions, welcome groups to either cheer from the sidelines during a professional game or participate in fun teambuilding activities.
They all also accommodate off-site gatherings that will make the group’s time in Atlanta even more memorable.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the NFL Atlanta Falcons and MLS Atlanta United, opened to much fanfare in 2017.
According to Natalee Anderson, the venue’s director of private events and tours, the stadium is ideal for corporate groups that would like to emphasize a sports theme during their meetings.
She said that since opening the building for private events in September 2017, Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s events team has hosted sports activities such as team trivia, tours with a scavenger hunt, on-field activities like punting and passing, and 7-on-7 football.
“To up the ante around the activities, our events team has arranged appearances from former and current Atlanta Falcons players,” Anderson added.
With more than 15 different event spaces, ranging from the playing field, field-level clubs and open-concourse spaces to sky bridges with sweeping views of the field and the downtown Atlanta skyline, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is poised to host any type of gathering a planner could dream up.
So far, the stadium has accommodated, among other events, seated meal functions, meetings, tradeshows and cocktail receptions.
“Various entertainment options can also be brought into the building for private events, including bands, photo booths, karaoke and tailgating games,” Anderson added.
While group ticket sales are available for Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United games, the stadium does not currently host group events on game days.
Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park, situated nearby Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort, offers eight covered private pavilions that seat 50 to 1,000-plus guests.
The park is available to host a great variety of group events, including picnics, education programs, laser shows and SkyHike, a popular area teambuilding activity.
“Centered on SkyHike, a ropes course that is set high among the Georgia Pines, Stone Mountain Park’s teambuilding programs create an exciting environment that serves as a foundation for a healthy work life,” said Jeanine Jones, the attraction’s public relations manager.
Teams can choose a relaxed “free play” style that allows each participant to explore the levels of SkyHike that they are comfortable with, or they can work with a trained facilitator who will lead them through a variety of activities designed to meet specific goals and objectives.
Groups meeting at Stone Mountain Park, Jones added, may also arrange scavenger hunts, electric bike rentals, Segway tours and hiking.
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is considered Atlanta’s most interactive event facility, according to Malia F. Mack, the attraction’s senior marketing coordinator.
“Our venue offers a variety of unique options for events of all sizes and types, from intimate formal gatherings to large receptions tailgate-style,” she said. “We offer packages perfect for educational field trips, corporate teambuilding and so much more.”
Additionally, the Hall utilizes a partnership with Chick-fil-A to provide lunch boxes for groups during operating hours.
“Your group will be amazed from the moment they step foot into our 95,000 square feet of awesome,” Mack said.
Andretti Indoor Karting and Games
Andretti Indoor Karting and Games offers groups a number of teambuilding activities to bolster camaraderie back in the workplace, including AutoBond, during which participants work together to build a kart and then race against coworkers.
According to Samantha LaMagna, the attraction’s senior marketing manager, there is also a team-bonding package that includes one race, one rock wall or ropes course experience, and the 7D interactive Dark Ride Motion Theater experience.
“Our event associates guide your group through the experience, calculating scores to keep your teams focused on having fun and not dealing with the usual clerical work,” she said. “Finding the right exercise can be challenging, so we work with the client to choose and adapt a package that will help their crew achieve their winning goals.”
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With over 10,000 square feet of event space, in-house gourmet catering, audiovisual capabilities and free Wi-Fi, Andretti is well suited for events of all sizes and types, including meetings, seminars, teambuilding and banquets.
Among the event spaces is the grand ballroom, which accommodates up to 250 people seated and 300 reception-style, and the private Sky Bar Lounge area, which offers a panoramic view of the track and can accommodate up to 200 attendees reception-style. Full facility buyouts are available for groups of up to 2,000 people.
“With our preferred partner network, you are guaranteed to get the best deal on any outside vendors such as DJs, green screens, photographers or photo booths, to name a few,” LaMagna added.
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway differentiates itself for group meetings with unmatched entertainment options, according to Jake Mullins, its vice president of business development.
“We provide groups the opportunity to drive a real NASCAR race car,” he said. “We also offer a ride-along experience with a professional driver at over 160 mph!”
In addition to NASCAR, driving experiences in Legend race cars as well as exotic sports cars are available.
“We can customize activities to include team or individual competition formats such as top speed, fastest lap and more,” Mullins said.
Situated on 850 acres, Atlanta Motor Speedway accommodates corporate events in everything from small spaces for up to 10 people to large spaces, including the 30,000-square-foot Club One.
“Not only do we have the permanent space to hold large groups, but we are also very experienced with temporary structures,” Mullins added. “We have utilized temporary structures to host group sizes well into the thousands of people.”
It’s also worth noting that discounted group tickets are available for groups to attend the NASCAR race weekend as well as various racing series throughout the year, such as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags during the summer.
More information on these and other Atlanta venues is available from the Atlanta CVB.
