A highly anticipated sports and entertainment facility has officially broken ground in Atlanta.
The Centennial Yards Company in July announced a partnership with Cosm, an immersive entertainment company headquartered in California.
The collaboration is set to produce a 70,000-square-foot entertainment venue that will feature live sports, music, “immersive art experiences” and an 87-foot diameter 12K+ LED dome throughout the facility’s three stories.
Cosm, which currently has two locations in Los Angeles and Dallas, says its technology connects virtual and physical worlds by merging state-of-the-art visuals with crowd participation and “elevated food and beverage service.”
It will also be used to showcase programming such as Cirque du Soleil’s “O” and sports content through partnerships with ESPN, the NBA, NBC Sports and the UFC.
“Atlanta is a passionate sports town with a proud history of hosting the world’s biggest events,” said Jeb Terry, CEO and president at Cosm, in a press release.
“The Cosm at Centennial Yards is the perfect complement to the State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Atlanta Convention Center to help make Centennial Yards the sports and entertainment capital of the South, and we are thrilled to work with CIM Group to make Atlanta our third location and bring shared reality to the East Coast.”
The entertainment hub serves as the first official venue announcement for Centennial Yards, a 50-acre urban revitalization project that, according to its website, will “feature leading businesses, retail establishments, a world-class entertainment district, and thousands of new apartments.”
“With existing, world-class sports venues and the addition of Cosm, we believe Centennial Yards will become the center of gravity for entertainment in Atlanta,” said Brian McGowan, president of Centennial Yards, in a press release.
Construction for the district, including a 19-story boutique hotel and 19-story residential tower, is expected to commence later this year.
Centennial Yards will be located adjacent to Atlanta staples State Farm Arena, Mercedes Benz Stadium and Georgia World Congress Center, and in walking distance from tourist hubs The World of Coca-Cola and Georgia Aquarium.
McGowan says that while there are hopes for Centennial Yards to revitalize downtown Atlanta, feedback from existing local businesses and community members is essential in its development.
“As an active member of various neighborhood associations and NPUS we keep our ears open to the wants and needs of residents, business owners, and the local government,” the company president told WABE in July. “We meet frequently with city council members to solicit feedback and align as best we can with their efforts.”
Official opening dates for Cosm and Centennial Yards have yet to be announced. However, McGowan states that Centennial Yards will have over 30,000 square feet of retail, a brand-new hotel, two residential buildings and a brewery open to the public by the time Atlanta hosts the World Cup in the summer of 2026.
McGowan says the company will always value the quality of its construction process over quantity.
“It’s important to remember that we are building Centennial Yards for Atlantans and visitors to enjoy for decades to come.”
Meimei Xu contributed to this report.
