Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks Travel Guide: State Farm Arena

How to Get There

• Flying In: You will fly into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). It is consistently the busiest airport in the world and serves as the massive global hub for Delta Air Lines, meaning you can find a direct flight here from almost anywhere on the planet.

• Airport Transit: Do not rent a car. Atlanta traffic is famously brutal. ATL is directly connected to MARTA (the city's rapid transit rail system). You can board the train inside the airport terminal and be downtown in about 20 minutes for under $3.

Where to Stay

State Farm Arena is located right in the heart of Downtown Atlanta, nestled next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Georgia World Congress Center. Staying downtown gives you ultimate walkability to the arena and the city's best tourist attractions.

Budget/Mid-Range Options

• Reverb by Hard Rock Atlanta Downtown: Located practically in the shadow of the arena, this music-themed hotel is an incredibly cool, modern option for sports fans. It features a fantastic rooftop bar (RT60) with sweeping views of the downtown skyline and puts you just steps from the gates.

• Glenn Hotel, Autograph Collection: Situated just a few blocks away in the Centennial Park District, this historic boutique hotel offers premium comfort and a highly popular rooftop lounge. You can typically book this for 30,000 to 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Higher-End Options

• Signia by Hilton Atlanta: This is a brand-new, towering luxury hotel built directly into the Georgia World Congress Center complex. It physically overlooks the arena and stadium, offering world-class dining, a luxury spa, and a massive pool deck. Redemptions here usually hover around 70,000 to 90,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

• Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park: You cannot beat this location. The hotel is physically attached to the CNN Center and the arena complex. You can leave your room and walk to the security gates without ever stepping foot outside, making it the ultimate convenience play.

Nearby Activities

• Centennial Olympic Park: Located right across the street from the arena, this massive 22-acre park was built for the 1996 Summer Olympics. It serves as the gateway to all of downtown's major attractions.

• The College Football Hall of Fame: Literally attached to the same complex as the arena. It is a highly interactive, incredibly well-designed museum that is a mandatory visit for any sports fan.

• Georgia Aquarium: Just a short walk through the park, this is the largest aquarium in the United States and one of the only places in the world where you can see whale sharks up close.

Pregame Food and Drink

• Inside the Arena (Fan-Friendly Pricing): State Farm Arena famously revolutionized stadium food by introducing "fan-friendly pricing." Instead of gouging fans, they offer cheap staples (like $2 hot dogs, $3 nachos, and $5 beers). Combine that with incredible local Atlanta vendors like JR Crickets and Antico Pizza inside the concourse, and the best pregame move is to actually eat inside the arena.

• Park Bar: If you want a traditional sports pub vibe before heading in, this is a downtown staple. Located just a couple of blocks from the gates, it features great pub food, a massive bourbon selection, and gets packed with Hawks fans.

• Hudson Grille: Billed as downtown's biggest sports bar, it offers tons of space, a massive patio, and wall-to-wall TVs to catch other games before tip-off.

Getting to the Event

• MARTA (The Ultimate Hack): This is the easiest stadium commute in the NBA. Take the MARTA Blue or Green Line to the GWCC/CNN Center Station. The escalators from the station drop you literally at the front doors of State Farm Arena.

• Walking: If you stay at any of the recommended downtown hotels, you will simply join the crowds walking through the Centennial Park District straight to the gates.

• Driving: If you choose to drive from the suburbs, pre-purchasing a parking pass in the CNN Deck or the Ruby Lot is essential, but be prepared for heavy downtown gridlock both before and after the game.

Where to Sit at State Farm Arena

• The Hawks Bench: The home team sits in front of Section 118 and Floor 8.  

• Away Fans: If you are traveling to support the visiting team, you want to target Section 120 or Floor 9, which sit directly behind the visitor's bench.  

• The Players Club (Premium): This is one of the coolest premium concepts in the league. Located behind the team benches (Sections 117-121), this club features a massive glass wall that allows you to literally watch the players walk out of the locker room tunnel and onto the court, while offering high-end bars and lounges.  

• The Topgolf Swing Suites: For a wildly unique group experience, State Farm Arena features high-end suites that double as fully interactive Topgolf simulators. You can literally hit virtual golf balls in your suite while looking out over the basketball court.  

• The Budget Seats: Look at the 200-level (upper deck). Because the arena was completely gutted and redesigned in 2018, the sightlines from the upper bowl are fantastic. Try to score tickets in Sections 210-213 or 223-226 for a perfect center-court perspective at a fraction of the lower-level prices.