Omni Coliseum Park

Omni Coliseum was an indoor arena in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, which opened in 1972 and served as a major sports and concert venue through the 1970s to 1990s. It was a primary home arena for professional teams and touring performers during that period.

Highlights included the arena bowl and seating for roughly 16,000 spectators for basketball, as well as frequent concerts and special events. It was commercially and culturally prominent in Atlanta while active.

The building was used by franchises including the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) and hosted hockey and concert events; changing market demands and building condition led to its closure and demolition in 1997. The site was redeveloped and a new arena complex opened on or near the site afterward.

The Omni sat in downtown Atlanta close to the Georgia World Congress Center and other civic facilities. The location was integral to the city’s sports and entertainment district of the late 20th century.

• Dates and replacement: The arena opened in 1972 and was demolished in 1997; its site was redeveloped and replaced by a new arena complex.
• Capacity and use: Seated roughly 16,000 for basketball games when in use and served as the main indoor sports venue in downtown Atlanta while active.

The Omni’s former location is in downtown Atlanta, near what is now State Farm Arena. From Five Points MARTA station, it’s a 10-15 minute walk northwest along Peachtree Street; from the Georgia World Congress Center, walk northeast across the Midtown connector. The area is well served by MARTA rail and several downtown bus lines.

• Look for plaques and archived photos near the site - a small plaza now marks where the Omni stood and tells the story better than the shopping mall that replaced it.
• Visit on a weekday morning when office workers trickle past; the contrast between the hulking memory of the arena and the glass of the new development is most visible then.
• If seeking archival footage or game-day programs, the Atlanta History Center and local libraries have collections not found on the usual tourist trail.