Akins Ford Arena

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Akins Ford Arena
Akins Ford Arena.jpg
Akins Ford Arena
Former namesClassic Center Arena (20222024)
Address300 N Thomas Street
Location Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Coordinates 33°57′40.1″N83°22′14.9″W / 33.961139°N 83.370806°W / 33.961139; -83.370806
Public transit Athens Transit
at Athens Multimodal Transportation Center
OwnerUnified Government of Athens Clarke County
OperatorClassic Center Authority
Capacity 8,500 (in the round concerts)
7,000 (end-stage concerts)
5,500 (hockey)
Construction
Broke groundApril 28, 2022
OpenedDecember 13, 2024
Construction cost$146 million
Architect Perkins&Will and Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart
Project managerImpact Construction Management
General contractor J. E. Dunn Construction Group
Tenants
UGA Ice Dawgs (2024–present)
Athens Rock Lobsters (FPHL) (2024–present)

Akins Ford Arena is an indoor arena in Athens, Georgia. [1] [2] It is part of the Classic Center complex and is intended as an upgrade to the Classic Center Grand Ballroom, which had been configured as a 2,000-seat arena. It will become the new home of the UGA Ice Dawgs of the College Hockey South conference and on March 28, 2024, it was announced it would be home to an FPHL expansion team, [3] later named the Athens Rock Lobsters. It has a capacity of 8,500. It is owned by the Unified Government of Athens Clarke County.

Contents

History

In January 2019, the Classic Center Authority announced their intent to construct the new Classic Center Arena adjacent to the existing site. [4] The arena will be connected to the existing Classic Center, the Multimodal Transportation Center and the downtown district via a new elevated walkway.

On August 20, 2024, it was announced that Akins Ford, of Winder, Georgia, had purchased the arena's naming rights for an undisclosed period and sum. [5]

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References

  1. "Classic Center Asks for Downtown Tax District to Fund Arena" . Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  2. "Facility Map".
  3. "Hockey fever in Georgia: New pro team coming to Athens" . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  4. "03: Classic Center Arena Project | Athens-Clarke County, GA - Official Website". www.accgov.com. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  5. Dennis, Ryne. "Classic Center Arena announces official name for hockey and concert venue". Online Athens. Retrieved 2024-08-21.