Versatile, soundproof Gateway Center Arena is now open near Atlanta airport

Basketball fans now have a new, modestly sized ITP destination for their favorite sport: The Gateway Center Arena @ College Park, which kicked off its tenure Thursday with the home opener of the College Park Skyhawks, the NBA G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks.

But the versatile facility isn’t all about hoops.

It will host various concerts, comedy shows, conventions, conferences, graduations, and other events throughout the year, while also serving as the home of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.

Operated by the Georgia International Convention Center in partnership with the Fox Theatre, the 100,000-square-foot arena is initially set up with 3,500 seats with 360-degree seating. Capacity can be expanded up to 5,000 for concerts and events.

(It’s unknown who may have signed on for concerts, comedy shows, and other events in College Park; requests for that information have thus far gone unanswered.)

With architecture spearheaded by tvsdesign, the building boasts a soundproof experience despite its location in the flight path of nearby Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (Planes pass overhead about every 39 seconds, on average.)

To accomplish this goal, the arena was constructed of thick concrete precast walls on the exterior with extra building components to make it a more solid mass, per project officials.

In addition, special acoustical insulation was installed in the ceiling along with a double-layered exterior curtain to help filter out noise.

The facility stands next to the GICC, and is within walking distance of the ATL SkyTrain. The College Park MARTA Station also is close, but not necessarily within walking distance.

Parking in the onsite lot starts at $10 per event and $15 for VIP access.

Funded by the City of College Park, the venue broke ground in February 2018 and celebrated its completion last week with numerous events.