State Farm Arena – Home of the Atlanta Hawks | Arena Guide

State Farm Arena stands as Atlanta's pre-eminent sports and entertainment destination, serving as the passionate home of the Atlanta Hawks since its opening in 1999 and claiming its place among the NBA's most comprehensively renovated and fan-forward arenas. Originally opened as Philips Arena on September 17, 1999 — with Sir Elton John performing at the inaugural event — the arena underwent a landmark $192.5 million renovation completed in stages from 2018 to 2021, transforming every aspect of the fan experience with new technology, reimagined concourse neighbourhoods, and dramatically improved food and beverage options. The arena was renamed State Farm Arena in 2018 following a 20-year naming rights agreement. Instantly recognisable by its distinctive steel-beam exterior facade arranged to spell "ATLANTA" in capital letters, State Farm Arena is located in the Centennial Park District of downtown Atlanta, directly adjacent to CNN Center, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Georgia World Congress Center, and Centennial Olympic Park. With a capacity of 17,608 for basketball, the arena hosts nearly 200 events annually including Hawks games, concerts, wrestling, and family entertainment, serving close to 2 million guests per year — the equivalent of Atlanta's largest restaurant. A MARTA rail station (Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station) sits directly across the street from Gate 4, making State Farm Arena one of the NBA's most transit-accessible arenas. The post-renovation concourse features distinctive neighbourhood concepts including the Front Porch — home to Killer Mike's S.W.A.G. Shop, a working barber with court views — making the arena one of the NBA's most creatively programmed fan spaces.

State Farm Arena has its origins in the post-1996 Olympics era of Atlanta, when the city's major professional sports franchises sought to capitalise on the infrastructure investments of the Games by developing new facilities in the Centennial Park District. Ground was broken for what would become Philips Arena in 1997, and the venue opened on September 17, 1999, with Sir Elton John performing at the inaugural event. The Atlanta Hawks moved from the Omni Coliseum, their home since 1972. For much of its early existence the arena was also home to the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers, who left for Winnipeg in 2011 and were never replaced, leaving the Hawks as the sole permanent sports tenant. In 2018, the arena was renamed State Farm Arena following a 20-year naming rights agreement. That same year, the Hawks began a comprehensive $192.5 million renovation programme that would prove to be one of the NBA's most celebrated venue transformations. The renovation introduced distinctive neighbourhood concourse concepts — the Front Porch (housing Killer Mike's S.W.A.G. Shop), Backcourt, and Courtside neighbourhoods — along with dramatically improved food and beverage featuring Atlanta-specific brands, upgraded technology, and new premium spaces. The renovation was completed in 2021 and earned widespread industry recognition as the best arena renovation in the NBA.

State Farm Arena on Hawks game nights delivers a distinctly Atlanta experience — vibrant, culturally rich, and increasingly passionate as the franchise has developed competitive teams. The arena's unique concourse neighbourhood concept encourages early arrival, with Killer Mike's S.W.A.G. Shop, Scofflaw Brewing's Hawks-themed beers, B's Cracklin' Barbecue, and Old Lady Gang's Southern food creating an extended pre-game experience unlike anywhere else in the NBA. MARTA's direct station access makes getting in and out easy, and the Centennial Park District atmosphere — particularly when Mercedes-Benz Stadium also has an event — is one of the most energetic sports environments in the American South. For peak atmosphere, attend Eastern Conference rivalry games and any Hawks playoff game, when the arena's passionate core fanbase generates a level of noise that exceeds what the capacity suggests.

State Farm Arena offers behind-the-scenes tours covering the Hawks locker room (subject to team schedule), player tunnel, court-level access, luxury suites, broadcast areas, and the distinctive post-renovation concourse spaces including the Front Porch neighbourhood. Tours provide historical context on the arena's transformation from Philips Arena through its $192.5 million renovation. Contact State Farm Arena via statefarmarena.com or the Hawks ticket office for availability and booking. Group tours available with advance notice.