Centennial Olympic Stadium
Stadium Stadium built for 1996 Atlanta Olympics
Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Stadium hosted the 1996 Olympic opening ceremony and athletics events. Sports historians and visitors come to examine the site’s Olympic legacy and related displays.
Centennial Olympic Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, was the main stadium for the 1996 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. It served as the primary venue for the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies and athletics competitions.
The stadium held about 85,000 spectators during the Olympics and was built with an athletics track and temporary seating to reach that capacity. After the Games the facility was reconfigured into a baseball stadium known as Turner Field, and later adapted again for use by Georgia State University football.
Constructed in the mid-1990s specifically for the Atlanta Games, the venue was planned from the outset for conversion to a long-term sports facility following the Olympics. Its post-Olympic conversions have been a major part of the site’s history and use.
The stadium sits in the Summerhill neighborhood just southeast of downtown Atlanta, within the city’s urban core and near other sports and cultural venues.
- Olympic capacity: Seated roughly 85,000 spectators during the 1996 Olympic Games.
- Post-games conversions: Reconfigured after the Games into Turner Field for Major League Baseball and later adapted for college football use by Georgia State University.
How to Get to Centennial Olympic Stadium #
The Olympic site is in downtown Atlanta near Centennial Olympic Park. By MARTA (metro), get off at Five Points or Peachtree Center and walk (roughly 10-15 minutes) to the park and stadium precinct. Numerous city buses serve the area and rideshare services are plentiful.
Tips for Visiting Centennial Olympic Stadium #
- If visiting the Olympic Park complex, check schedules - the stadium and surrounding sports facilities sometimes host events that limit access.
- Note the stadium's post-Olympic history: parts of the site were redeveloped into Turner Field and later converted for other uses - local tours often explain the 1996 legacy and controversies.
- Combine a visit with nearby Centennial Olympic Park, which is a short walk and has plaques and memorials describing the 1996 games.
Best Time to Visit Centennial Olympic Stadium #
Visit in spring or autumn for comfortable weather; check local event calendars for access to stadium grounds.
Weather & Climate near Centennial Olympic Stadium #
Centennial Olympic Stadium's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 0°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1290 mm/year), wettest in March.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 11°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (127 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (120 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 6°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (141 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 21°C. Significant rainfall (127 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 21°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 18°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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November
November is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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