Photos: Georgia stadiums through the years

Sports

Georgia stadiums: Then and now

The South is no stranger to sports, and Atlanta boasts some of the best stadiums around. Check out some of Georgia' greatest sports stadiums, before and after.

The Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966 and played in what was then called the Atlanta Stadium. The $18 million facility debuted in 1966 and hosted more than 1.5 million fans in the Braves' inaugural season. In 1966, the facility also hosted home games for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Chiefs' soccer games. The stadium was renamed Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium after Ted Turner purchased the Braves in 1976. The Braves played at the stadium until 1996.

Aerials of Turner Field May 7, 2014. Georgia State University and a prominent Atlanta development team want to acquire Turner Field and the sea of parking lots between it and downtown to create a new southern campus for the college and a $300 million mixed-use development that would transform an area threatened by the Braves’ pending departure to Cobb County. The university wants to convert The Ted into a new 30,000-seat football, soccer and track-and-field stadium and build a new baseball park, academic buildings and green space.

Aerial view of Atlanta Fulton County Stadium with Turner Field in the background. This photo was taken the morning of August 2, 1997 just before Atlanta Fulton County Stadium was imploded. (AJC Staff Photo/Jean Shifrin)

Olympic Stadium on left and Atlanta-Fulton County stadium on right. Photo made from Kroger Blimp, Sept. 5, 1996 (AJC Staff Photo/Joe McTyre) 10/96

Lanier water levels have dipped so much that the shell of the Gainesville Speedway, covered when the federal government built Buford Dam and filled the lake in the 1950s, can be seen along the shore at Laurel Park in Gainesville. The dirt track where stock cars once ran is pictured. David Coughlin made this and the following black and white prints from negatives owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A crowd watches the start of the Atlanta Coca Cola 500, 1982. Ray West / AJC file

Aerial view of the Atlanta Journal 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1989. William Anderson Bridges / AJC file

Aerial view of Atlanta Motor Speedway during the Hooters 500, Hampton, Georgia, November 15, 1992. Over 100,000 race fans jammed into and around Atlanta Motor Speedway for a weekend of racing featuring Bill Elliott winning the event 11/15 while legend Richard Petty hangs up his helmet. Ricardo Ramogosa / AJC file

Omni Coliseum under construction, June 11, 1971. Original caption: "Atlanta's 16,5000-seat coliseum nest to the Techwood Viaduct is 20% complete. Completion is expected within 15 months--giving the coliseum an opening date sometime in October 1972. The Atlanta Hawks professional basketball team will make the coliseum their home. It'll also be used for convention gatherings."

The exterior of the Omni coliseum in 1983. READ MORE by clicking here: Sports facilities have shorter life spans.SEE MORE HISTORIC PHOTOS of Atlanta on MYAJC.com by clicking here.

Atlanta's skyline towers over the arena in 1994. READ MORE by clicking here: Sports facilities have shorter life spans.SEE MORE HISTORIC PHOTOS of Atlanta on MYAJC.com by clicking here.

An aerial photo of the Omni and the Georgia Dome. READ MORE by clicking here: Sports facilities have shorter life spans.SEE MORE HISTORIC PHOTOS of Atlanta on MYAJC.com by clicking here.

Dusk aerial showing Philips Arena on Wednesday evening, September 8, 1999.

Philips Arena sits in Atlanta — in case you couldn’t tell. (Kimberly Smith / AJC file)

Philips Arena, the successor of the Omni and home to the Atlanta Hawks, on Jan. 27, 2004.

Philips Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks, is 16 years old. (AJC File)

Aerial view of Sanford Stadium during a Georgia Bulldogs game, 1946. Original caption: "Sanford Stadium in 1946 had nothing but sun seats before the double decking that would come in the mid-60's. The late Dr. S. V. Sanford, university president, was the driving force behind the construction of the $300,000 structure seating some 30,000 fans in 1929."

Sanford Stadium hosts the Georgia Bulldogs and can hold over 92,000 people, making it the tenth-largest stadium in the NCAA.

Georgia Bulldogs football coach Vince Dooley on the sidelines during a game, 1965.

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray (11) watches the Georgia defense from the sideline late in their game at Sanford Stadium Saturday afternoon in Athens, Ga., October 12, 2013. Missouri defeated Georgia 41-26. Murray threw for 290 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and had a fumble returned for a touchdown in the loss. JASON GETZ / JGETZ@AJC.COM

Aerial view of Bobby Dodd Stadium and the Atlanta skyline, with a crowd gathered to hear Nelson Mandela speak, Atlanta, Georgia, June 27, 1990. Marlene Karas / AJC

Fans line up to get autographs from Georgia Tech football players and Tech's head coach Paul Johnson during Georgia Tech football's annual fan day at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Saturday, August 8, 2015, in Atlanta. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

Georgia Tech football game, Atlanta, Georgia, ca. 1919.

1/25

The Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966 and played in what was then called the Atlanta Stadium. The $18 million facility debuted in 1966 and hosted more than 1.5 million fans in the Braves' inaugural season. In 1966, the facility also hosted home games for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Chiefs' soccer games. The stadium was renamed Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium after Ted Turner purchased the Braves in 1976. The Braves played at the stadium until 1996.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Georgia students organize protests against ICE after Minnesota killings

Alerts

PHOTOS: Snellville's Brookwood High School students rally and march against ICE

PHOTOS: Scenes from icy winter storm in Metro Atlanta

PHOTOS: Georgia readies for incoming ice storm

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

PHOTOS: Matt Ryan introduced as Falcons President of Football

PHOTOS: Hawks defeat Pelicans

PHOTOS: Trae Young reportedly traded to Wizards

PHOTOS: Georgia Tech's comeback falls short in loss to Syracuse in ACC basketball