The College Football Playoff announced today that Atlanta has been selected to host its first College Football National Championship in 2018. The game is scheduled to be played on Jan. 8, 2018, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
If there was any doubt, Atlanta has solidified it’s title as the “College Football Capital of the South” and a city that hosts championships.
Leaders from around the Atlanta community teamed up on the proposal which was submitted this past May, and Atlanta was ultimately selected over Houston, Miami and Santa Clara. The Atlanta Bid Committee included representatives of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Atlanta Falcons, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Georgia Tech and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. Much of the credit is due to the Atlanta Sports Council.
Atlanta has hosted Super Bowls, Final Fours, the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and now the biggest spectacle in college football.
“This is a very exciting day for everyone involved and a huge win for the Atlanta community,” said Dan Corso, Executive Director of the Atlanta Sports Council. “The bid process, which began in February of this year, was truly a team effort and we could not be more proud of the group of partners we have here in Atlanta. Together, we look forward to working with the College Football Playoff to host an unforgettable event and showcasing all that Atlanta has to offer as a host city.”
As part of Atlanta’s pitch, the Atlanta Bid Committee focused on the unique qualifications that set Atlanta apart, such as the accessibility with the world’s busiest airport and public transportation options, downtown walkability to hotels and world-class attractions like Mercedes-Benz Stadium, College Football Hall of Fame and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. All of these combine to uniquely position Atlanta as a first-class, fan-friendly host city.
Officials from the College Football Playoff toured Atlanta as part of the bid process in mid-July and toured ancillary event venues, hotels, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium Preview Center and the construction site of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“We are excited and proud to host the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship in Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” added Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United FC and Atlanta Falcons Stadium Company, developer and operator of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “We promise to offer a first-class experience for teams, fans, media and business partners, and we will do everything we can to take this championship game to the next level in 2018.”
Atlanta is also home to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which is part of the College Football Playoff’s six-bowl semifinal rotation, and is slated to host its first Playoff Semifinal on December 31, 2016, along with the Fiesta Bowl.
