State Farm Arena

State Farm Arena is an indoor sports and entertainment venue in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It is the home court of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association and is operated by the Hawks organization under the ownership of the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority. The venue opened in 1999 as Philips Arena, replacing the deteriorating Omni Coliseum on the same downtown site. Its construction was closely connected to Atlanta's effort to secure a National Hockey League expansion franchise and to provide the Hawks with a contemporary facility containing premium seating, suites, modern event infrastructure, and improved spectator amenities. The arena was originally named through a long-term naming-rights agreement with Philips, the Netherlands-based technology company. That identity shaped the building's visual and commercial character, and contributed to the nickname "Highlight Factory," a reference both to memorable sports plays and to Philips' association with lighting and electronics. In 2018, State Farm acquired the naming rights in a new 20-year agreement, and the venue adopted its current name in 2019. The change marked the end of the Philips naming period and repositioned the arena under a major U.S. insurance brand. State Farm Arena has hosted a broad range of tenants and events. The Atlanta Thrashers played there from the arena's opening until the franchise relocated to Winnipeg in 2011. The Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association used the arena during several periods, including 2008–2016 and 2019, and returned for a regular-season game in 2024. Georgia Tech basketball also used the venue temporarily during the transition from the Omni to the new arena. The building has staged NBA and NHL All-Star Games, college basketball tournaments, professional wrestling, UFC events, concerts, religious conferences, esports, figure skating, and family entertainment. The building seats approximately 17,600 spectators for basketball, can accommodate more than 18,000 for many concerts, and can be configured for larger concert audiences. Its original design placed premium seating and suites primarily along one side of the court, allowing a large proportion of standard seats to remain close to the playing surface. A major renovation carried out in 2017–2018 substantially altered that arrangement. The project redistributed premium seating, improved concourses, expanded food and beverage offerings, installed a larger center-hung video board, and converted former operational areas into fan-oriented spaces. The renovation was also intended to retain the Hawks in downtown Atlanta and support a long-term lease extension. The arena has developed a role beyond sports. It is part of Atlanta's downtown convention, tourism, and entertainment district, with access to MARTA rail through the station beneath the building and proximity to the Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park, CNN's former headquarters complex, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It achieved LEED certification for existing-building operations and maintenance in 2009, becoming the first NBA/NHL arena to receive that designation according to the arena's published historical account. The venue remains an active multipurpose arena whose brand identity combines the State Farm naming partnership with the Hawks' local sports identity and Atlanta's wider live-events economy.

State Farm Arena was developed to replace Atlanta's Omni Coliseum, an early-1970s venue whose Cor-Ten steel structure deteriorated prematurely in Atlanta's humid climate. During the late 1980s and 1990s, NBA and NHL franchises increasingly required modern arenas with premium seating, luxury suites, improved hospitality areas, and more adaptable event infrastructure. Hawks owner Ted Turner also sought to bring NHL hockey back to Atlanta after the city's original Flames franchise moved to Calgary in 1980. The NHL required a suitable new building before awarding Atlanta an expansion team, making replacement of the Omni both a facilities project and a franchise-development strategy. The Omni was demolished in July 1997, and the Hawks temporarily divided their home schedule between the Georgia Dome and Alexander Memorial Coliseum while the new arena was built. The completed venue opened in 1999 as Philips Arena. Its first event was an Elton John concert in September of that year. The Atlanta Hawks became the principal tenant, while the expansion Atlanta Thrashers began play there as the city's NHL team. The arena's opening restored a permanent NHL presence to Atlanta, although the Thrashers later relocated to Winnipeg and played their final Atlanta home game in April 2011. The original building used an unusual seating concept. Suites and club seats were concentrated along one side of the playing surface, while most general-admission seating surrounded the other sides. This arrangement was designed to place ordinary spectators closer to the action without eliminating the premium inventory needed to support arena economics. The venue also incorporated downtown-facing architectural lettering, extensive event technology, and transit access through the MARTA station below the building. The former Omni scoreboard was preserved in the arena lobby as a physical link to the previous venue. During its Philips period, the arena hosted Hawks and Thrashers seasons, concerts, college competitions, wrestling, mixed martial arts, figure skating, religious gatherings, and other touring events. It hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2003 and 2021 and the NHL All-Star Game in 2008. It also staged the Atlanta Thrashers' only Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance, early Hawks playoff games after the team's long postseason absence, WNBA Finals action involving the Atlanta Dream, and numerous WWE and UFC events. In 2009, it received LEED certification for existing-building operations and maintenance, which the arena identifies as a first for an NBA/NHL venue. The venue's naming identity changed in 2019. Philips had purchased the original naming rights, but the company did not renew after its agreement expired. State Farm then secured the naming rights through a new long-term partnership, producing the current State Farm Arena name. The change was accompanied by a broader modernization program initiated after Tony Ressler's group acquired the Hawks and arena operating rights in 2015. The 2017–2018 renovation was conceived as a near-total interior modernization rather than a cosmetic refresh. It removed much of the original suite wall, redistributed premium seating, added new club areas and connected concourses, installed a substantially larger center-hung video board, improved corner displays, introduced new restaurants and bars, and converted more than 100,000 square feet of former office and storage space into fan areas. The first ticketed event after the renovation was a So So Def anniversary concert in October 2018, followed shortly afterward by the Hawks' first regular-season game in the updated building. Because construction conflicted with the WNBA schedule, the Atlanta Dream temporarily played at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion. The Dream later returned to State Farm Arena for the 2019 season, moved to Gateway Center Arena after disagreements with Hawks management, and returned for a 2024 game. The arena has continued to diversify its calendar, hosting the 2022 League of Legends World Championship semifinals, major wrestling cards, UFC events, concerts, conferences, and family attractions. It remains an active downtown venue centered on the Hawks but marketed as a multipurpose platform for Atlanta's sports, culture, and entertainment sectors.

1. 2024Atlanta Dream return

   The Atlanta Dream returned to the arena for a WNBA game.

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2. 2022League of Legends World Championship semifinals

   The arena hosted the semifinals of the League of Legends World Championship.

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3. 2021NBA All-Star Game returns

   State Farm Arena hosted the NBA All-Star Game for a second time.

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4. 2019State Farm Arena name adopted

   The venue completed its transition from Philips Arena to State Farm Arena under a new naming-rights agreement.

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5. 2018Renovation completed

   The principal renovation program introduced new seating, hospitality, technology, food-service, and fan-space features.

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6. 2011Thrashers leave Atlanta

   The Atlanta Thrashers played their final home game before relocating to Winnipeg.

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7. 2009LEED certification

   The building received LEED Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance certification.

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8. 2008NHL All-Star Game

   Philips Arena hosted the NHL All-Star Game.

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9. 2003NBA All-Star Game

   The arena hosted the NBA All-Star Game.

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10. 1999Philips Arena opens

    The new venue opened as Philips Arena and hosted its first event, an Elton John concert, in September.

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11. 1997Omni Coliseum demolished

    The deteriorating Omni Coliseum was demolished to clear the downtown site for the replacement arena.

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A downtown Atlanta destination arena positioned as the Hawks' home venue and a flexible, premium-capable host for major sports, concerts, conferences, esports, and entertainment events.

• Atlanta Hawks home gamesProfessional basketball1999

  The arena's primary recurring offering is the Atlanta Hawks' NBA home schedule. The building's basketball configuration accommodates approximately 17,600 spectators and includes general seating, club seats, suites, courtside areas, premium hospitality, concessions, and large-format video presentation.

• Concerts and live entertainmentMusic and entertainment1999

  State Farm Arena functions as a major touring-artist venue, with flexible seating and production infrastructure for concerts and other large entertainment events. Its calendar has included artists and groups such as Elton John, The Who, and The Weeknd, alongside anniversary shows and other arena-scale productions.

• Premium seating and hospitalityVenue services1999

  The arena sells suites, club seating, courtside experiences, party suites, and other premium hospitality products. The renovation redistributed premium inventory throughout the building instead of concentrating it behind a single continuous suite wall, while adding clubs, upgraded dining, and specialized fan spaces.

• Multi-sport and special eventsSports and events1999

  The venue can be configured for hockey, college basketball, wrestling, mixed martial arts, esports, figure skating, and family attractions. Its event history includes NHL and NBA All-Star Games, NCAA competitions, UFC cards, WWE events, and the semifinals of the 2022 League of Legends World Championship.

• 2018State Farm naming-rights agreementOther

  Philips did not renew the naming-rights arrangement as its business priorities moved away from consumer electronics.

  What changed. State Farm acquired the naming rights and the venue transitioned from Philips Arena to State Farm Arena.

  Aftermath. The new identity became effective in 2019 and remains the arena's public name.

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• 2017Interior renovation and seating redesignOther

  The original suite-wall arrangement limited flexibility and the building required modernization for contemporary sports and entertainment customers.

  What changed. The project removed upper suite levels, redistributed premium seating, added clubs and connected concourses, upgraded video systems, and repurposed former back-of-house space.

  Aftermath. The renovated venue reopened to ticketed events in October 2018 with expanded hospitality and fan amenities.

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• 2015Commitment to downtown arena modernizationStrategy

  After acquiring the Hawks and the arena operating rights, Tony Ressler's ownership group sought to retain the team in downtown Atlanta while improving the aging venue.

  What changed. The ownership group proposed a major interior reconstruction and pursued a financing arrangement with the city.

  Aftermath. The city and Hawks reached a financing agreement in 2016, followed by a renovation program and a long-term lease extension.

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• 2024Atlanta Dream return to State Farm Arena

  The Atlanta Dream returned to the venue for a WNBA game after previously moving its regular home schedule to Gateway Center Arena.

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• 2018State Farm acquires naming rights to Atlanta arena

  State Farm became the arena's naming-rights partner after Philips elected not to renew its agreement.

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• 2018Major renovation transforms the arena

  A substantial reconstruction updated seating, premium areas, concourses, video systems, dining, and fan spaces while supporting the Hawks' continued presence downtown.

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1. State Farm Arena