Atlanta City Council approves ‘public entertainment district’ ahead of Peach Bowl, CFP National Championship

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The championship season has brought less than championship weather.

“Even though it’s chilly, it’s still a beautiful day in Atlanta,” said Atlanta City Councilman Michael J. Bond.

These days are good for Bond and the Atlanta City Council.

“You know, just like how doctors and lawyers practice law and medicine, the city government practices putting on these great special events,” he said.

The SEC Championship Game, Peach Bowl, and the College Football Playoff National Championship all occur at Mercedes-Benz Stadium over the next two months.

The council voted unanimously on Monday to establish a “public entertainment district” downtown that sets parameters on where events can be held in the weeks surrounding the Peach Bowl and CFP National Championship.

“People know clearly where to go for the activities and what’s expected in that area,” Bond said.

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The map shows a multifaceted zone, with borders at Walnut Street, Ralph McGill Boulevard, Piedmont Avenue and Whitehall Street.

The goal is to keep nearby residential areas quiet but also maximize the economic potential of these events.

“The public has to realize that the tourism industry is to Atlanta what Wall Street is to New York,” Bond said.

That impact can be significant. According to the Peach Bowl, last year’s game flushed nearly $50 million into the local economy, bringing in more than $90 million in tax revenue this century.

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“The more practice that we get, the better off these larger events and other large events that we might pursue will be,” Bond said.

The public entertainment district setup is good for seven days surrounding the events, which run Dec. 28–Jan. 4 and Jan. 14–Jan. 21.

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