Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta is a truly unique venue, having undergone two major conversions in its history. This remarkable facility, located in the heart of downtown, serves as the home field for the Georgia State Panthers football team.
History: From Olympic Glory to a College Football Gem
The stadium's story begins with the 1996 Summer Olympics. Built as the 85,000-seat Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was the centerpiece of the games, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the track and field events. The stadium was intentionally designed with a post-Olympics plan in mind—to be converted into a new baseball park.
Following the Paralympic Games, the stadium's first transformation began. Much of the north end was demolished to reconfigure the venue for baseball, and it reopened in 1997 as Turner Field, the new home of the Atlanta Braves. For 20 seasons, "The Ted" was the site of countless Braves victories, hosting postseason games, including the 1999 World Series, and the 2000 MLB All-Star Game.
In 2013, the Braves announced their departure, and Georgia State University stepped in with a vision to acquire and redevelop the stadium. In 2017, the university took ownership and began the second major conversion. In just nine months, the former baseball park was reshaped into a college football stadium. The university repurposed much of the existing seating and structures, including suites and concourses, while adding new grandstands and a new turf field. It was initially named Georgia State Stadium before a 15-year naming rights deal with Center Parc Credit Union was announced in 2020.
Current Information
As of the 2024 football season, Center Parc Stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 25,000. It features a modern FieldTurf playing surface. While the stadium's upper decks remain, they are not used for regular season games, though they could be utilized for larger events in the future.
The stadium is a key component of a larger development project by Georgia State to revitalize the surrounding Summerhill neighborhood. This includes new retail, housing, and academic spaces that aim to better integrate the stadium with the university campus and the downtown area.
Center Parc Stadium's history is a testament to its incredible adaptability. It has gone from hosting global athletic competition to a professional baseball team, and now provides a home for the Georgia State football program, all while preserving pieces of its unique legacy.