The Classic Center is a convention center in Athens, Georgia, United States. It was opened in 1995. Located within is Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center, a large event hall that also serves as a 2,000-seat arena. The arena is home to the UGA Ice Dawgs hockey team and formerly the Peach State Cats arena football team. The Classic Center also contains a 2,122-seat theatre.
The Classic Center
The Classic Center
Location within Georgia
Show map of Georgia
The Classic Center
Location within the United States
Show map of the United States
Address
300 N Thomas Street Athens, GA 30601, United States
In 1987, the Civic Center Study Committee was created to determine the ideal public assembly facility for the Athens community. The committee determined that a facility with an 18,000 square-foot ballroom, 28,000 square-foot exhibit hall, and a 2,000-seat theatre was the best option. The facility was designed over the next few years, and construction began in 1994. The first phase opened in 1995, and the theatre opened the following year.[1]
In October, 2013, upgrades were approved for the Grand Hall, adding arena-style seating and an ice rink system. The UGA Ice Dawgs hockey team began playing their home games there starting with the 2014–15 season.[2] The Grand Hall was referred to as the Classic Center Arena, before being renamed Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center, after the naming rights were sold to Akins Ford of Winder, Georgia in 2015.
In 2018, it was announced that the American Arena League's Peach State Cats arena football team would be moving to Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center for the 2019 season.[3]
In January 2019, the Classic Center Authority announced their intent to construct the new Classic Center Arena adjacent to the existing site.[4] The new proposed arena is estimated to cost $88.88 million USD (2019) of which $33 million will be funded by the approved 2020 SPLOST Budget.[5] The arena will be connected to the existing Classic Center, the Multimodal Transportation Center and the downtown district via a new elevated walkway. The arena will have a permanent seating capacity of 5,500[6] and will be expandable up to 7,500 seats for concerts. Construction began on the Classic Center Arena in the spring of 2022 and is set to be completed by 2024. The hotel that was originally planned as a part of the Classic Center Arena was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, The Classic Center Authority has presented a grand vision for the redevelopment of the entire district including a hotel, retirement community, office space, a new judicial center, and a multi-level parkade.[6]
Final Presented Design of the Classic Center Arena (August 2021)
^"Coming Home to Athens: UGA Hockey Season Opens Sunday, Sept. 21 against rival Florida". Athens Patch. September 12, 2014.
^Blake Aued (August 21, 2018). "Arena Football Team Will Move to Athens Next Year". Flagpole.com.
^"03: Classic Center Arena Project | Athens-Clarke County, GA - Official Website". www.accgov.com. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
^"The Classic Center Arena | Classic Center, GA". classiccenter.com. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
^ ab"Design for Classic Center Arena Close to Approval". Flagpole. 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
External linksedit
Official website
April 12, 2024
classic, center, convention, center, athens, georgia, united, states, opened, 1995, located, within, akins, ford, arena, large, event, hall, that, also, serves, seat, arena, arena, home, dawgs, hockey, team, formerly, peach, state, cats, arena, football, team,. The Classic Center is a convention center in Athens Georgia United States It was opened in 1995 Located within is Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center a large event hall that also serves as a 2 000 seat arena The arena is home to the UGA Ice Dawgs hockey team and formerly the Peach State Cats arena football team The Classic Center also contains a 2 122 seat theatre The Classic CenterThe Classic CenterLocation within GeorgiaShow map of GeorgiaThe Classic CenterLocation within the United StatesShow map of the United StatesAddress300 N Thomas Street Athens GA 30601 United StatesCoordinates33 57 38 N 83 22 20 W 33 960618 N 83 372352 W 33 960618 83 372352Public transitAthens Transitat Athens Multimodal Transportation CenterOperatorThe Classic Center AuthorityCapacity2 000Opened1995TenantsUGA Ice Dawgs hockey SECHC 2014 present Peach State Cats AAL 2019 Websitewww ClassicCenter com Contents 1 History 2 Classic Center Arena 3 References 4 External linksHistory editIn 1987 the Civic Center Study Committee was created to determine the ideal public assembly facility for the Athens community The committee determined that a facility with an 18 000 square foot ballroom 28 000 square foot exhibit hall and a 2 000 seat theatre was the best option The facility was designed over the next few years and construction began in 1994 The first phase opened in 1995 and the theatre opened the following year 1 In October 2013 upgrades were approved for the Grand Hall adding arena style seating and an ice rink system The UGA Ice Dawgs hockey team began playing their home games there starting with the 2014 15 season 2 The Grand Hall was referred to as the Classic Center Arena before being renamed Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center after the naming rights were sold to Akins Ford of Winder Georgia in 2015 In 2018 it was announced that the American Arena League s Peach State Cats arena football team would be moving to Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center for the 2019 season 3 Classic Center Arena editMain article Classic Center Arena In January 2019 the Classic Center Authority announced their intent to construct the new Classic Center Arena adjacent to the existing site 4 The new proposed arena is estimated to cost 88 88 million USD 2019 of which 33 million will be funded by the approved 2020 SPLOST Budget 5 The arena will be connected to the existing Classic Center the Multimodal Transportation Center and the downtown district via a new elevated walkway The arena will have a permanent seating capacity of 5 500 6 and will be expandable up to 7 500 seats for concerts Construction began on the Classic Center Arena in the spring of 2022 and is set to be completed by 2024 The hotel that was originally planned as a part of the Classic Center Arena was postponed due to the COVID 19 pandemic However The Classic Center Authority has presented a grand vision for the redevelopment of the entire district including a hotel retirement community office space a new judicial center and a multi level parkade 6 nbsp Final Presented Design of the Classic Center Arena August 2021 References edit History Classic Center GA Coming Home to Athens UGA Hockey Season Opens Sunday Sept 21 against rival Florida Athens Patch September 12 2014 Blake Aued August 21 2018 Arena Football Team Will Move to Athens Next Year Flagpole com 03 Classic Center Arena Project Athens Clarke County GA Official Website www accgov com Retrieved 2020 11 14 The Classic Center Arena Classic Center GA classiccenter com Retrieved 2020 11 14 a b Design for Classic Center Arena Close to Approval Flagpole 2021 08 18 Retrieved 2022 03 25 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Classic Center amp oldid 1213038486, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
