Atlanta’s Centennial Yards and South Downtown will blend walkability, culture and entertainment into a revitalized core.
Downtown Atlanta is undergoing a transformation that will present a reimagined experience for meeting planners and business travelers.
Two ambitious redevelopment projects—Centennial Yards and South Downtown—are converting long-overlooked pockets of real estate into walkable, event-friendly destinations that put authentic Atlanta front and center. Located just steps from the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena, meeting planners will discover a more seamless, immersive and memorable attendee experience in the coming years.
“We’re giving Atlanta the downtown it deserves,” says Brian McGowan, president of Centennial Yards, a CIM Group company. “To help downtown grow and thrive, we need more people living in the area. This will make it more vibrant, safe and appealing.”
“Prior to these redevelopment projects, the areas around Centennial Yards and South Downtown really lacked financial investment,” says Charlene Lopez, executive vice president and chief sales officer at Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB). “You had this amazing, walkable championship campus right next to a large parcel of land that was just ripe for residential, retail, all the amazing things you want in the heart of your city.”
What’s Coming to Downtown Atlanta
Centennial Yards
Centennial Yards, formerly known as “the Gulch,” is being transformed into an eight million-square-foot mixed-use district that includes 3,000 apartments, 1,500-1,800 hotel rooms, 900,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and a 5,000-seat music venue, plus a range of businesses including Cosm, a virtual fan zone designed for game-day gatherings with immersive sports experiences, slated to open in 2026, just in time for the World Cup.
“We started work on the entertainment district and finished the structure of our first residential building, The Mitchell, as well as our first hotel, Hotel Phoenix, both set to open in fall 2025,” says McGowan. “The transformation is happening right now, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience our vision coming to life.”
South Downtown
Just across the tracks, South Downtown offers a more historic and hyperlocal experience. Spearheaded by entrepreneur David Cummings, the project focuses on revitalizing historic buildings in a 10-block grid that was Atlanta’s original downtown.
“This neighborhood has been fairly ignored and forgotten for decades,” says April Stammel, director of leasing and marketing at South Downtown Atlanta. “We’ve got major civil rights moments that happened in our backyard, some in our buildings. There’s history here, and we want to help those stories be told.”
Read More: Atlanta Venues Offer Historical and Cultural Experiences
Two Distinct Flavors of Downtown
The contrast between Centennial Yards and South Downtown gives planners two highly complementary experiences to choose between—or combine for a final itinerary with the best of both worlds.
Centennial Yards is all about scale, spectacle and proximity to large events. “Some of our largest meetings and conventions take place right there in downtown,” Lopez says. “Planners can walk right outside the doors of the Georgia World Congress Center and be able to go to Cosm, grab a drink at a rooftop bar, or relax in the 5,000-person plaza we’re creating.”
Designed with major gatherings like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Super Bowl in mind, the district delivers new high-capacity spaces for activation, networking and entertainment all within walking distance of key venues and hotels.
South Downtown, on the other hand, leans into Atlanta’s local personality. “Our team is hyperlocal, and we try to use ourselves as linchpins to say, ‘What would it take for me to bring my daughters down here? Where would we scooter? Could I bring the dog? Where would I get a beer and have a safe space for them to play?’” Stammel said.
The neighborhood is already home to an outpost of Atlanta Tech Village, a Thai restaurant, a coffee shop—Spiller Park Coffee, where your author herself got to taste a delicious craft cappuccino (highly recommend)—and soon, a record store and bookstore. Smaller-scale buildings offer opportunities for planners to host speaker dinners, pop-ups, or cultural programming in spaces that reflect Atlanta’s entrepreneurial energy and creative spirit.
Read More: Notes From the Road: Atlanta
“We’re not overstepping each other,” Stammel says of South Downtown and Centennial Yards. “We’re actually playing really well together and offering a diverse set of opportunities.” It all comes down to what experiences the visitor wants to have. Why not try a taste of both?
Walkability and Wow Factor
A major advantage of both projects is how easily attendees can explore on foot. Atlanta’s downtown has long been a convention magnet, and these developments will only amplify it, with more options to get a true sense of place and create memorable experiences.
“I think it’s exciting because these developments are staying true to Atlanta,” Lopez says. “They’re giving attendees new places to explore and creating one-of-a-kind experiences. And the best part is, it’s all right downtown.”
For planners, that means no need to coordinate transportation between sessions and social outings. Everything from off-site receptions to post-meeting hangouts can now take place within walking distance of the convention center.
“It’s just wonderful to know that we’re going to be able to showcase a true Atlanta experience for those people who can’t go beyond the campus,” Lopez added.
Both developments share a vision of building inclusive, community-rooted spaces where visitors’ and locals’ paths naturally intersect.
McGowan says, “This isn’t just about new buildings. It’s about creating a vibrant, inclusive community that helps Atlanta continue to grow economically, socially and culturally.”
What Planners Need to Know
The best way to take advantage of these changes? Start planning now, and don’t do it alone.
The CVB is there to help you make it happen. “If you are hosting a meeting, we have an entire section devoted to planners,” says Lopez. “Our sales team can help you tap into the full potential of what’s coming downtown. And the best part? It’s all free.”
As these projects continue to progress, planners will see more options pop up in Centennial Yards and South Downtown. Now is the time to keep an eye on Atlanta if you want to bear witness to this inspirational growth.
The opportunity for planners is clear: Atlanta’s downtown is no longer just a meeting place. It is increasingly evolving into a place to connect, explore and celebrate everything the city offers.
“Atlanta isn’t waiting for the future of meetings,” Lopez says. “We’re building it.”
Read More: Smart Start Radio: Beyond the Brochure—What CVBs Really Do for Planners
