Centennial Yards will be the site of a three-story entertainment complex which will double as a live sports and concert venue, AtlantaFi.com has learned.
The 70,000-square-foot development will be built by Cosm, a leading immersive technology, media, and entertainment company that opened a similar space in Los Angeles this past June. The firm aims to deliver live sports and experiential entertainment in “Shared Reality,” which takes advantage of augmented, virtual and mixed reality.
“The project we’re building is a sports-adjacent, entertainment district,” Centennial Yards Company president Brian McGowan said. “When we learned about the [Cosm] concept — this cool experiential entertainment, shared reality type of sports bar — we were like, ‘Oh my God, this is perfect for us.’”
As part of the Sports and Entertainment District at Centennial Yards. Cosm is the linchpin of Centennial Yards’ next phase of development, which will bring approximately 470,000 square feet of entertainment, retail and restaurant space, including a flagship hotel, to a 7.5-acre site adjacent to the Atlanta Hawks’ State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium — home to the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United—as well as the Five Points MARTA station connecting the site with the rest of the city.
“Cosm’s experience is unparalleled, using its Shared Reality technology to provide guests with front-row access to global events from Downtown Atlanta at Centennial Yards,” McGowan said in a press release. “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, connecting people of all ages with an incredible combination of sporting events, music, bars, restaurants and retail.”
“Atlanta is a passionate sports town with a proud history of hosting the world’s biggest events, including the Olympics, Super Bowls, CFP National Championships, NCAA March Madness, FIFA World Cup, and more,” said Jeb Terry, CEO and President at Cosm. “In fact, one of my favorite memories is winning the 2001 Peach Bowl in the Georgia Dome. Now, over 20 years later, 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.”
Cosm’s third venue at Centennial Yards will encompass 70,000 square feet and feature the company’s proprietary technology throughout, including an 87-foot diameter 12K+ LED dome. Working with award-winning architecture firm Gensler, the venue will expand on the foundational design of Cosm’s first and second venues in Los Angeles and Dallas, respectively, and ensure its values and iconic features are embodied while still incorporating unique characteristics that reflect Centennial Yards and the Atlanta community at large.
The company’s slate of live sports offerings continues to expand through official partnerships with ESPN, the NBA, NBC Sports, TNT Sports, FOX Sports, the UFC and more, which will allow guests to experience live Shared Reality productions of the biggest sports events in the world.
In addition to live sports, Cosm’s programming will also highlight Cirque du Soleil’s timeless production “O” and immersive art experiences from members of the Cosm Studios Creator Program, including award-winning new media artist Nancy Baker Cahill; filmmaker, director, and co-founder of Planetary Collective Guy Reid; renowned DJ and artist Chris Holmes; and acclaimed composer and new media artist Ricardo Romaneiro.
“At Centennial Yards, we have the opportunity to reshape a major area of Atlanta as a walkable and appealing destination for residents and visitors, and key to that effort is bringing unique and engaging businesses such as Cosm that attract people to the district,” said Shaul Kuba, Co-Founder and Principal, CIM Group.
Who Owns Centennial Yards?
The Centennial Yards Company serves as the master developer of Centennial Yards and consists of a partnership between an affiliate of CIM Group, which is co-founded by Richard Ressler, and a group led by Hawks owner Tony Ressler, his brother.
‘The Gulch’ No More
Development at Centennial Yards is already well underway, with the construction of a 19-story boutique hotel and 19-story residential tower, and additional retail and residential groundbreakings commencing later this year. Centennial Yards is a transformative project for Atlanta and one of the largest private developments in the United States, reshaping an important but underutilized portion of the city’s Downtown formerly known as “The Gulch” into a dynamic and active 24/7 community. With a master site plan designed by a global team, the 50-acre Centennial Yards development will also feature the creation of new city blocks, public open space and up to 12 million square feet of new modern retail, hotel and residential buildings, and world-class sports and entertainment venues.
Final Word
Downtown Atlanta is transforming, but so is much of the city. The best restaurants on the Beltline all have excellent customer service and food. What separates them from many of the other spots is that they’re on the urban playground called the Beltline.
The ATL has other cool eateries as well. If you’re gluten-free, there’s plenty of options. Same goes for keto-friendly restaurants or Asian fare in Atlanta.
