The College Football Hall of Fame is the newest addition to Atlanta’s tourism corridor, located next to Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
The hall of fame was previously located in South Bend, Indiana since 1995, but the 94,256 square foot facility made its move to Atlanta, where the Chick-fil-a Kick-Off Classic and Peach Bowl already take place every year.
The privately funded $68.5 million dollar project contains both the hall of fame itself, where college football players are honored, as well as the Fan Experience, where football fans can learn about their school’s rivalries, coach histories and have interactive experiences with picture walls, tailgating exhibits and more.
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What to See at the College Football Hall of Fame
When you first walk into the hall you are immediately transported into the “running man tunnel”. Shadow images of players come streaming past you as they make their way onto the field, the field, in this case, being The Quad.
Upon entering the quad, you are greeted by a wall of helmets representing over 760 college football teams. There’s also the Playing Field, which is a 45-yard replica football field, where you can practice your throws.
Each visitor is given an all-access pass, lanyard, and asked to pick their favorite college team, which makes your visit truly unique and fitted to you. The selected team’s helmet then lights up on the wall of helmets and stays lit all day to let other guests know that one of their fellow fans had visited that day.
Guests are also asked for their email address and at the end of their visit, they will be sent a link to a gallery with all of the videos, pictures, and badges they earned that day. The link will be active for 30 days, one year for season ticket holders, and is designed to be shared on social media.
Before climbing to the third floor to experience the Hall of Fame, take the time to enjoy the Game Day Theater and the Coca-Cola Fan’s Game Day Experience.
There the team you selected in the Quad will be profiled at each exhibit you visit, so there is something for every level of fan and every age group. Take time to sing your school’s fight song, get your game face on or try your hand at calling your favorite play.
The actual Hall of Fame is located on the third floor of the facility. The inviting, luminous room is lined with pillars on which each player’s name is etched. To learn more about the 948 players currently inducted, they have included interactive touch screen podiums to allow each visitor to explore and learn more about the players.
Expect to spend an hour and 45 minutes exploring your way through the Hall, although diehards could spend upwards of 4 hours delving into the Hall of Fame.
Tips for Visiting the College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is located at 250 Marietta Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. It’s open from 10 am to 5 pm Sunday through Friday and 9 am to 6 pm on Saturdays. One day tickets are $19.99 for adults, $16.99 for children 3-12 and $17.99 for military, students, and seniors with ID.
Season tickets are also available, ranging from $50-150 with additional perks. Book your Small Group Tour to College Football Hall of Fame or visit multiple attractions with the Atlanta CityPASS. There are also discounts on Groupon.
The Hall of Fame is accessible from the Georgia World Congress Center and CNN Center MARTA Station. If you’re driving, exit at Williams Street and turn right onto Ivan Allan Boulevard and left onto Marietta Street, where the building will be on your right. Parking is available at the Marietta Deck located directly next to the Hall where a three-hour stay would cost $10.
Where to Eat Near the College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is sponsored in part by Chick-fil-a so there is an outpost of the Atlanta-based restaurant attached to it. Other options include the Atlanta Breakfast Club, Kwan’s Deli and Korean Kitchen, and The Yard Milkshake Bar. If you don’t mind walking, the food courts at the CNN Center and Peachtree Center have many options.
Where to Stay Near the College Football Hall of Fame
The Embassy Suites Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park is convenient to all of the attractions of Centennial Olympic Park. All rooms are suites, which is great for families, and they have perks like complimentary daily breakfast and afternoon social hour.
The Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center is another option, located across the street from the CNN Center’s large food court. The hotel has an in-house restaurant, a fitness center, and comfortable rooms.
About the Author: Elizabeth Levy has true southern roots. After spending four years in the loveliest village on the plains attending Auburn University, she decided to make her hometown of Atlanta her home again. When she isn’t training for her next 5k or half marathon, Elizabeth likes to spend as much time on St. Simons Island, preferably drinking a local craft beer (Stout please!). Her favorite southern city to visit is a toss-up between Charleston and Nashville and hopes to visit New Orleans very soon.
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Elizabeth visited the College Football Hall of Fame media preview on behalf of This Is My South in cooperation with Jackson Spalding. All photos are the property of the author and Caroline Eubanks.
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