History
The Omni opened in October 1972 as part of a downtown complex that later became the CNN Center, built for about $17 million.
The Hawks and the NHL Flames moved in together; the Flames left Atlanta in 1980, while the Hawks stayed for 25 years. The building also hosted the 1977 Final Four, the 1988 Democratic National Convention and 1996 Olympic volleyball.
The Hawks played their last game there in May 1997, the arena was demolished that July, and Philips Arena, now State Farm Arena, opened on the same site in 1999.
Why it matters: Atlanta's first major-league arena and host of the 1988 Democratic National Convention.
Timeline
- March 30, 1971Groundbreaking[2]
Construction began (Wikipedia text says April 1971).
- October 14, 1972
The Omni opened; the Hawks' first game there followed on October 15.
- 1980
The NHL Flames left Atlanta.
- 1988
The Omni hosted the 1988 DNC.
- 1996Olympic volleyball[2]
The arena hosted indoor volleyball at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- May 11, 1997Final Hawks game[2]
The Bulls beat the Hawks 89-80 in Game 4 of a playoff series.
- July 26, 1997
Wikipedia records an implosion on July 26, 1997; Axios reports demolition in July 1997.
- September 18, 1999
The replacement arena opened on the same footprint.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[2,3] |
|---|---|
| Current use | State Farm Arena (opened 1999 as Philips Arena) on the same site[1,2,3] |
| Surviving remnants | The Omni's scoreboard hangs in the State Farm Arena pavilion (per Wikipedia)[2] |
| Built on the site | State Farm Arena (Built on the Omni's footprint) |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Teams & events
| Atlanta Flames | NHL · 1972–1980 |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | NBA · 1972–1997 |
| Atlanta Chiefs | NASL · 1979–1981 · tenant |
| Atlanta Knights | IHL · 1992–1996 · tenant |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | The Omni |
|---|---|
| Location | 190 Marietta Street NW, part of the Omni complex (now CNN Center area), Atlanta, Georgia[2] |
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, Boxing & wrestling, Olympic venues |
| Level | NBA, NHL, NCAA, Olympic, Minor League |
| Opened | October 14, 1972[2,3] |
| Last used for sports | May 11, 1997[2] |
| Demolished | July 26, 1997[2,3] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 16,378[2] |
| Capacity notes | Final basketball 16,378 (1994-1997); hockey 15,278 (1984-1997). |
| Architect | Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates[2] |
| Construction cost | $17 million[2] |
| Owner / operator | City of Atlanta[2] |
| Closure | Demolished to make way for a new arena (Philips Arena) on the same site. |
Documented details
- The Omni's scoreboard is described as the only surviving component of the building.[2]
Connected venues
Sources
- State Farm Arena (Wikipedia), Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: current land use
- Omni Coliseum (Wikipedia), Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, architect, capacity, closed, construction cost, coordinates, current land use, demolished, events, opened, owner operator, remnants, teams
- Atlanta's Omni Coliseum gave the Hawks a home, Axios Atlanta. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: current land use, demolished, opened, teams
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Demolition method: Wikipedia says imploded July 26, 1997; Axios refers to a wrecking ball and gives only July 1997.
- Groundbreaking: infobox March 30, 1971 vs text April 1971.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.