Classic Center

Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center
Address

300 N Thomas Street

Athens, GA 30601
Coordinates 33°57′38″N 83°22′20″W / 33.960618°N 83.372352°W / 33.960618; -83.372352Coordinates: 33°57′38″N 83°22′20″W / 33.960618°N 83.372352°W / 33.960618; -83.372352
Operator The Classic Center Authority
Capacity 2,000
Opened 1995
Tenants
UGA Ice Dawgs hockey (SECHC) (2014–present)
Peach State Cats (AAL) (2019–future)
Website
www.ClassicCenter.com

The Classic Center is a convention center in Athens, Georgia. It was opened in 1995. Located within is Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center, a large event hall that also serves as a 2,000 seat arena. The arena is home to the UGA Ice Dawgs hockey team and the Peach State Cats AAL arena football team. The Classic Center also contains a 2,122 seat theatre.

History

In 1987, the Civic Center Study Committee was created to determine the ideal public assembly facility for the Athens community. The committee determined that a facility with a 18,000 square-foot ballroom, 28,000 square-foot exhibit hall, and a 2,000-seat theatre was the best option. The facility was designed over the next few years, and construction began in 1994. The first phase opened in 1995, and the theatre opened the following year[1].

In October, 2013, upgrades were approved for the Grand Hall, adding arena-style seating and an ice rink system. The UGA Ice Dawgs hockey team began playing their home games there starting with the 2014–15 season[2]. The Grand Hall was referred to as the Classic Center Arena, before being renamed Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center, after the naming rights were sold to Akins Ford of Winder, Georgia in 2015.

In 2018, it was announced that the American Arena League's Peach State Cats arena football team would be moving to Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center for the 2019 season[3].

References

  1. ↑ http://classiccenter.com/168/History
  2. ↑ "Coming Home to Athens: UGA Hockey Season Opens Sunday, Sept. 21 against rival Florida". Athens Patch. September 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ Blake Aued (August 21, 2018). "Arena Football Team Will Move to Athens Next Year". Flagpole.com.

Official website

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