Atlanta the College Footbal Capital of the South

The City of Atlanta has been known for many things from Civil Rights to the home of the 1996 Summer Olympics.

But lately Atlanta has earned a a new title- College Football Capital of the South.

Since the building of the new College Football Hall of Fame in 2014 after it relocated from South Bend Indiana, the new sporting role for Atlanta had been mounting. Of course then came the new Mercedes Benz Stadium in 2017 , taking the city to a new level in college football.

Atlanta has been a popular place for professional football, soccer and now can add major college football town to its list of city attractions.

The Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl added a new preseason game in September hosting four major teams instead of its traditional two, with Alabama vs. Florida State and Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee games. Its annual major Bowl was held at the Mercedes Benz Stadium January 1 with Number 12 UNCF and Number 7 Auburn.

UCF and its loud and proud fans were looking to gain some respect after being overlooked for the college football playoff semi-finals which they believed they deserved to be selected for. After defeating Auburn on January 1 by a score of 34-27, the UCF Knights ended the season with an unblemished record of 13-0.

The 50th Anniversary Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl had and attendance of more than 71,000 and some 8.3 million television viewers, making it the second-most watched Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl of all time, and the most-watched non-College Football Playoff Semifinal Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in the New Year’s Six bowl games.

The second annual ESPN Celebration Bowl scrimmage earlier on December 16 between the SWAC vs. MEAC winners the Grambling State University and North Carolina A & T, boasted of being the first official bowl game to play in the Mercedes Benz Stadium. NC A& T won the game 21-14.

The College Football Playoff matches the No. 1 seed vs. No. 4, and No. 2 vs. No. 3 in semifinal games that rotate annually among the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual and PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. The season’s semifinals took place Monday, January 1, 2018, at the Rose Bowl Game in Pasedena Ca presented by Northwestern Mutual and the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The national championship game will be Monday, January 8, 2018 between the hometown Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Georgia defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the Rose Bowl and Alabama came out on top over the ACC Clemson Tigers in the Sugar Bowl to reach the Championship Game for College Football. This championship game is between to Southeast Conference (SEC) teams.

Some of the highlights of the Championship Game Week

Championship Tailgate Plaza presented by Allstate is the ultimate college football pregame experience, featuring fantastic food, interactive games and photo opportunities. ESPN will broadcast SportsCenter and College GameDay live from Championship Tailgate Plaza presented by Allstate. Playoff Fan Central is a 300,000 square foot interactive fan experience at the Georgia World Congress Center. Game ticket holders receive complimentary admission to Playoff Fan Central. Admission for fans without game tickets is $8 (Online); $10 (On Site). Children under 12 gain admission FREE with ticketed adult.

Gates for AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will open at noon on Monday. Darius Rucker will headline the pregame event from the Capital One Quicksilver® Music Stage, along with opening act Brett Young. Following both performances, game ticket holders are encouraged to visit Championship Tailgate Plaza presented by Allstate as they make their way to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The stadium will open to ticket holders at 5:30 pm ET on game day.

The ESPN Halftime Performance and Watch Party will also feature a live performance by seven-time Grammy Award winning artist Kendrick Lamar performing at halftime during Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship

EXTRA YARD 5K—Sunday, January 7, 8 a.m.

Downtown Atlanta, Start at International Plaza

· The Extra Yard 5K will include live entertainment, sponsor activities and more. The top overall male and female finishers will each receive two tickets to the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. All proceeds benefit Extra Yard for Teachers, the CFP Foundation’s primary platform.

TASTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP—Sunday, January 7, 7 p.m. at the Georgia Aquarium

The Taste of the Championship is hosted by the CFP Foundation as a fundraising opportunity for the Extra Yard for Teachers initiative. Attendees will enjoy samplings of food and beverage from the local area and regions of the New Year’s Six Bowls.

Jason Derulo, The Chainsmokers and Darius Rucker headline the trio of shows during AT&T Playoff Playlist Live!, which will take place Saturday through Monday at Centennial Olympic Park. Also on the bill are Charlie Puth, Lizzo, Bebe Rexha, Spencer Ludwig and Brett Young. Local DJs will be on site to entertain in between the musical acts.

Gates will open at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Jan. 6-7 and at noon Monday on Jan. 8.

Those who can’t attend but want to check out the concerts can watch a livestream of the performances at att.net/attplayoffplaylist.

The lineup:

Saturday: Jason Derulo, Charlie Puth and Lizzo.

Sunday: The Chainsmokers, Bebe Rexha and Spencer Ludwig.

Monday: Darius Rucker and Brett Young; Kendrick Lamar Halftime Show

How to access the park: Entrances will be located off of Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive.

Security: A clear bag policy will be enforced at all official venues, including Centennial Olympic Park for AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! and the ESPN Watch Party and Halftime Show. That means bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12.” Other options are a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar) and small clutch bags, no larger than 4.5 x 6.5, with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bag options.

Tickets: The shows are free, and nothing is needed for entry. But it is suggested that patrons be prepared for security checks to ensure the entry process goes quickly.

Other no-no’s: Animals (service animals excepted); chairs, stools or other seating devices; outside food or beverages; drones; explosives; large umbrellas; noisemaking devices; knives and other weapons; professional cameras or recording devices; signs that obstruct guests’ view; projectiles, including inflated balls and Frisbees.

Transportation: Parking is available in the lots surrounding the stadium and Philips Arena, but as usual, MARTA is suggested. MARTA riders can take the West Line to the Philips Arena/Dome/GWCC Station, or take the North Line to Peachtree Center, and follow the signs to Centennial Olympic Park. Those who opt for a rideshare service will find drop-off and pick-up locations marked near the park, Philips Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (on game-day only).

Expect street closures at Centennial Olympic Park Drive at Andrew Young International Boulevard and Luckie Street

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