Everything You Need to Know About March Madness in Atlanta, Georgia
As the college basketball tournament comes to Georgia, here's your guide to grabbing tickets, getting around, finding a reservation, and where to go.
Atlanta is hosting the South Regional of the NCAA men’s tournament this year, marking the sixth time for the city and its first since 2018. The biggest city in the Southeast with a population of over 500,000 people, Atlanta is well equipped to handle an influx of sports fans; it’s home to five professional teams in the Falcons, Hawks, Dream, United and Braves. This year's games will be held at State Farm Arena, which is the Hawks' home stadium, but it also regularly hosts plenty of concerts and other events.
Atlanta’s mix of southern cuisine, outdoor activities, and arts/music scene have been shown off previously when the city has hosted Final Fours, College Football National Championships, the Summer Olympics, and a Super Bowl. And the sports influx is not stopping anytime soon; it'll host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a Super Bowl in 2028 and the Final Four in 2031.
College sports are a huge deal here and much of the city’s culture has exploded in growth as a result. You’ll find transplants galore in Atlanta, particularly from other southern enclaves and neighboring states. This is extra exciting as this year’s tournament features many promising, exciting teams from the SEC, in the heart of the south. Here we’ve got your guide for visiting Atlanta for this year’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matchups.
How do I get tickets?
Sweet 16 tickets are available through the NCAA via Ticketmaster, and you can find Elite Eight tickets here. You can also purchase tickets by calling the Ticketmaster office direct, which believe it or not is still a sneaky trick in 2025 as customer service reps can often find tickets that aren’t available online or on secondary market sites.
If you're looking for resale options, check out Gametime, which offers plenty of promo codes, or StubHub. Finally, if you want to go the OG secondary market route, you might find re-sellers outside the arena closer to tip-off. State Farm Arena holds up to 16,888 fans for basketball games, and there's no shortage of quality seats. Even if you're sitting in the top 200-level seats, you can still see the court clearly, and there's a big screen in the center of the venue. State Farm’s size is definitely bigger than your average college basketball arena but consider yourself lucky if you’re sitting up top because sight lines are great throughout.
On that note, floor-level seats behind the basket (sections 101-104, 111-115) might seem great but it's very difficult to see the other side of the court from here. And if like yours truly you’re vertically challenged, it can make seeing the action pretty tough. These seats typically hold the student sections and bands anyway so I'd suggest sitting elsewhere. If you're looking for unique seating options, check out The Front Porch just outside of Gate 2, which offers a panoramic view of the stadium.
What else should I know about the venue?
The Atlanta Hawks play here regularly, but the venue also hosts other events so it’s well equipped in the food department. They just unveiled a brand new menu at the beginning of this year. Partnering with a new guest chef program, nearly 20 local restaurant owners prepare select menu items like ATL hot chicken tenders, buffalo cauliflower bites, a lemon pepper loaded footlong and a smashburger.
I recommend local favorites like the wings from JR Crickets (100-level West), Chick-fil-A (founded in Georgia, can be found at 100-level East) and Scofflaw Beer Barn (section 200). Also head up to Zac Brown's Social Club, named for the legendary Georgia native musician, for amazing chicken nachos, sweet potato tots, and a smoked baby back rib sandwich.
When it’s time to enter the building, you won’t have many issues getting in as they’re accustomed to hosting larger crowds. The arena doesn’t have a clear bag policy, but the bag size limit is 14" x 14" x 6" or smaller. Strollers are also allowed, but they have to be checked inside Gate 1 at the Guest Service Center.
How should I get there? How do I get around?
There are a few things to know about flying in and out of Atlanta, in addition to how to get around. If you're flying here, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is legitimately the busiest airport in the world, so despite an efficient layout, expect delays, traffic and long waits for food and drink.
Getting a rideshare from the airport requires a manageable three to five-minute walk to the pickup location, in the North Economy Parking lot. You’ll encounter a few escalators and be channeled through parking garages on your way. There are plenty of signs and attendants to help you so enjoy stretching your legs after your flight.
Once you’re in the car, keep in mind that Atlanta traffic is no joke even without big events like March Madness in town. If you're planning to rideshare to get around town, I'd budget an extra 20-30 minutes to get anywhere during your stay.
I'd also highly recommend taking public transportation, like the MARTA Trains. There's a stop at the airport that takes you into the city, and it'll take you directly to State Farm Arena, using the GWCC/CNN Center stop. The trains also meander to other popular neighborhoods like Midtown, Buckhead, Inman Park, and Five Points. If you’ve got the stomach for it, you can take Lime Scooters to get around as well.
Other places to eat (and watch)
For a heavy breakfast before a long day, don’t miss out on Atlanta’s iconic breakfast spot Waffle House, with locations throughout the city. Everything on the menu is great - and if you really turn into a dedicated fan, there’s a museum at the original location, about 35 minutes east of downtown.
If you're looking for a place to post up all day and watch games, check out Whitehall Tavern in Peachtree Hills. It's a Buffalo Bills bar during NFL Sundays but you can count on March Madness games to be on here; try posting up on the outdoor patio if weather allows. This neighborhood sports bar serves up some of the city’s best crunchy fries.
Atlanta’s status as a strong transplant city means that—particularly downtown near the arena—you’ll find various sports bar options that are perfect for visiting fans. STATS Brewpub is a great option. I’d recommend making a reservation here ASAP as their nice rooftop terrace gets very crowded. Also check out Wild Leap Brewery, a great local brewery which is walking distance from State Farm Arena and regularly hosts hoards of Hawks and Falcons fans in its 15,000-square foot space (try the beer flights!)
If you want a long walk through a historic part of Atlanta’s sports iconography, check out Centennial Park, home of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Here you can see the Olympic rings, Olympic torches, an Olympic rings fountain and several plaques and monuments offering more historical context. You can walk the park yourself, or take an audio tour. Then unwind next door at Top Draft Atlanta, which features incredible views of the park and decadent butter-poached lobster fries.
Other must-dos
Check out the College Football Hall of Fame, which is walking distance from State Farm Arena. Saturdays in the Fall mean everything here in the center of SEC country so a visit here is a must if you’re in town for college sports. It’s kid-friendly and features interactive displays, films and a jaw-dropping, colorful quad featuring a helmet for every team in the country.
If you have time and are feeling frisky, you can go snorkeling with whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium. They also have beluga, sea lion and dolphin exhibits that are unique and interactive. World of Coca-Cola is another popular, landmark attraction that’s right near the stadium as well. You’ll get a chance to sample Coke products from all over the world here.
Final Tips
Late March is peak pollen season in Atlanta so come prepared with allergy meds. This time of year also has some pretty unpredictable weather–it could be the start of warm springtime or still holding on to chilly winter temperatures. If it's a warm forecast, bring a jacket—it's likely to cool down once the sun goes down.