Akins Ford Arena
- 300 N. Thomas St., Athens, GA 30601
- 706.208.0900 | Toll Free: 800.918.6393
Opening in late 2024, Akins Ford Arena will seat up to 8,500 for concerts, sports tournaments, family shows, conventions, and banquets. The arena will be home to three UGA Ice Dawgs teams plus the Rock Lobsters pro hockey team. The arena is directly connected to The Classic Center and is just steps away from the excitement of Downtown Athens restaurants, shops and entertainment.
The Classic Center Arena is versatile and can hold many events including concerts, family shows, sporting events, community events, conferences and conventions.
Classic Center Arena Specs, Capacities, and Amenities
- 5,635 permanent seats
- 6,500 for end-stage concert
- 8,500 in-the-round
- 3 basketball courts
- 6 volleyball courts
- 140 trade show booths
- 6 trailer load-in docks
- ice hockey floor
- 6 Locker rooms
- concessions, bars, etc.
- Sensory room
- 120 ' x 260 ' arena floor
- The Georgia Music Collections by the Special Collections Libraries (located in the arena concourse)
See below for current Facility Guide, event specs, and space layouts for a variety of events.
- Construction Updates: https://www.classiccenter.jedunnbuilds.com/
- Live construction feed here and here
Akins Ford Arena Facility Guide
Learn More About the Arena
Map
Amenities
General
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Catering Services:
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Handicap Accessible:
General
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EV Charging station:
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Handicap Accessible:
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Parking Available:
General
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Handicap Accessible:
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Parking Available:
Sports Venue
- Total SeatingCapacity: 2000
Meeting Facilities
- Exhibits Space
- Description The Classic Center has 105,000 sq. ft. of convention space, including a 55,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall and 35 breakout rooms.
- Floorplan File Floorplan File
- Largest Room 55000
- Total Sq. Ft. 105000
- Theatre Capacity 6000
- Banquet Capacity 3000
- Number of Rooms 35
- Booths 273
GRAND HALL `1-8 (total)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 54025
- Width: 145
- Length: 367
- Height: 16
- Booth Capacity: 273
- Theater Capacity: 6015
- Classroom Capacity: 1764
- Banquet Capacity: 2820
- Reception Capacity: 4060
ATHENA BALLROOM (total)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 17700
- Width: 110
- Length: 160
- Height: 18
- Booth Capacity: 100
- Theater Capacity: 1600
- Classroom Capacity: 860
- Banquet Capacity: 1000
- Reception Capacity: 1900
Athena Ballrooms A-D, G-J (each)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1000
- Width: 27
- Length: 36
- Height: 18
- Theater Capacity: 100
- Classroom Capacity: 44
- Banquet Capacity: 50
- Reception Capacity: 75
Athena Ballrooms E & F (each)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 4802
- Width: 43
- Length: 110
- Height: 18
- Booth Capacity: 20
- Theater Capacity: 460
- Classroom Capacity: 260
- Banquet Capacity: 240
- Reception Capacity: 400
Parthenon Room 2
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1598
- Width: 32
- Length: 55
- Height: 10
- Theater Capacity: 185
- Classroom Capacity: 100
- Banquet Capacity: 80
- Reception Capacity: 120
Parthenon Room 1
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1790
- Width: 33
- Length: 55
- Height: 10
- Theater Capacity: 240
- Classroom Capacity: 100
- Banquet Capacity: 120
- Reception Capacity: 150
Olympia Room 1
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1459
- Width: 30
- Length: 55
- Height: 10
- Theater Capacity: 180
- Classroom Capacity: 64
- Banquet Capacity: 80
- Reception Capacity: 110
Olympia Room 2
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1790
- Width: 35
- Length: 55
- Height: 10
- Theater Capacity: 240
- Classroom Capacity: 100
- Banquet Capacity: 120
- Reception Capacity: 150
FIRE HALL
- Total Sq. Ft.: 2000
- Width: 40
- Length: 48
- Height: 13
- Booth Capacity: 14
- Theater Capacity: 150
- Classroom Capacity: 60
- Banquet Capacity: 90
- Reception Capacity: 150
THEATRE
- Theater Capacity: 2100
EMPIRE ROOM (total)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 3724
- Width: 76
- Length: 49
- Height: 12
- Booth Capacity: 24
- Theater Capacity: 420
- Classroom Capacity: 212
- Banquet Capacity: 200
- Reception Capacity: 300
WILLOW ROOM
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1040
- Width: 26
- Length: 40
- Height: 13
- Booth Capacity: 7
- Theater Capacity: 100
- Classroom Capacity: 52
- Banquet Capacity: 50
- Reception Capacity: 75
OCONEE RIVER ROOM (total)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 3871
- Width: 79
- Length: 49
- Height: 12
- Booth Capacity: 24
- Theater Capacity: 420
- Classroom Capacity: 220
- Banquet Capacity: 210
- Reception Capacity: 300
Oak Board Room 1
- Total Sq. Ft.: 345
- Width: 23
- Length: 15
- Height: 9
- Classroom Capacity: 10
Oak Board Room 2
- Total Sq. Ft.: 345
- Width: 23
- Length: 15
- Height: 9
- Theater Capacity: 48
- Classroom Capacity: 10
CYPRESS ROOM (total)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 2006
- Width: 59
- Length: 34
- Height: 9
- Theater Capacity: 230
- Classroom Capacity: 104
- Banquet Capacity: 130
- Reception Capacity: 200
Cypress Room 1
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1258
- Width: 37
- Length: 34
- Height: 9
- Theater Capacity: 150
- Classroom Capacity: 60
- Banquet Capacity: 80
- Reception Capacity: 125
Cypress Room 2
- Total Sq. Ft.: 748
- Width: 22
- Length: 34
- Height: 9
- Theater Capacity: 80
- Classroom Capacity: 48
- Banquet Capacity: 50
- Reception Capacity: 70
HIGH SHOALS ROOM (total)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 3337
- Width: 71
- Length: 47
- Height: 8
- Theater Capacity: 390
- Classroom Capacity: 168
- Banquet Capacity: 180
- Reception Capacity: 250
FOUNDRY PLAZA
- Total Sq. Ft.: 5000
- Width: 68
- Length: 74
- Theater Capacity: 560
- Banquet Capacity: 320
- Reception Capacity: 500
Oconee River Room 1
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1862
- Width: 38
- Length: 49
- Height: 12
- Booth Capacity: 12
- Theater Capacity: 210
- Classroom Capacity: 112
- Banquet Capacity: 100
- Reception Capacity: 150
High Shoals Room 1&2 (each)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1645
- Width: 35
- Length: 47
- Height: 8
- Theater Capacity: 190
- Classroom Capacity: 84
- Banquet Capacity: 90
- Reception Capacity: 125
ATRIUM
- Total Sq. Ft.: 8400
- Width: 84
- Length: 100
- Height: 45
- Booth Capacity: 36
- Theater Capacity: 690
- Classroom Capacity: 360
- Banquet Capacity: 360
- Reception Capacity: 520
Athena Ballroom A-E or F-J
- Total Sq. Ft.: 9000
- Width: 110
- Length: 79
- Height: 79
- Booth Capacity: 45
- Theater Capacity: 700
- Classroom Capacity: 360
- Banquet Capacity: 450
- Reception Capacity: 650
OLYMPIA ROOM (total)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 3249
- Width: 66
- Length: 55
- Height: 10
- Booth Capacity: 20
- Theater Capacity: 420
- Classroom Capacity: 164
- Banquet Capacity: 180
- Reception Capacity: 260
PARTHENON ROOM (total)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 3388
- Width: 68
- Length: 55
- Height: 10
- Booth Capacity: 20
- Theater Capacity: 425
- Classroom Capacity: 200
- Banquet Capacity: 180
- Reception Capacity: 270
Empire Room 1 & 2 (each)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1813
- Width: 37
- Length: 49
- Height: 12
- Booth Capacity: 12
- Theater Capacity: 210
- Classroom Capacity: 120
- Banquet Capacity: 100
- Reception Capacity: 150
Oconee River Room 2
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1862
- Width: 38
- Length: 49
- Height: 12
- Booth Capacity: 12
- Theater Capacity: 210
- Classroom Capacity: 92
- Banquet Capacity: 100
- Reception Capacity: 150
Grand Hall 1
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1972
- Width: 34
- Length: 58
- Height: 16
- Booth Capacity: 10
- Theater Capacity: 192
- Classroom Capacity: 72
- Banquet Capacity: 120
- Reception Capacity: 150
Grand Hall 2-4 (each)
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1450
- Width: 25
- Length: 58
- Height: 16/18'
- Booth Capacity: 10
- Theater Capacity: 120
- Classroom Capacity: 72
- Banquet Capacity: 80
- Reception Capacity: 110
Grand Hall 5
- Total Sq. Ft.: 1972
- Width: 34'
- Length: 58'
- Height: 16/18'
- Booth Capacity: 10
- Theater Capacity: 192
- Classroom Capacity: 72
- Banquet Capacity: 120
- Reception Capacity: 150
Grand Hall 6
- Total Sq. Ft.: 5727
- Width: 145
- Length: 39
- Height: 16
- Booth Capacity: 22
- Banquet Capacity: 200
- Reception Capacity: 290
Grand Hall 7
- Total Sq. Ft.: 15225
- Width: 145'
- Length: 105'
- Height: 35
- Booth Capacity: 83
- Theater Capacity: 1334
- Classroom Capacity: 576
- Banquet Capacity: 710
- Reception Capacity: 1025
Grand Hall 8
- Total Sq. Ft.: 24300
- Width: 150'
- Length: 162'
- Height: 35'
- Booth Capacity: 120
- Theater Capacity: 2240
- Classroom Capacity: 1080
- Banquet Capacity: 1200
- Reception Capacity: 1725
Grand Hall 1-5
- Total Sq. Ft.: 8410
- Width: 145
- Length: 58
- Height: 16
- Booth Capacity: 48
- Theater Capacity: 744
- Classroom Capacity: 360
- Banquet Capacity: 480
- Reception Capacity: 690
Grand Hall 1-6
- Total Sq. Ft.: 14210
- Width: 145
- Length: 98
- Height: 16/18/35'
- Booth Capacity: 69
- Theater Capacity: 1186
- Classroom Capacity: 480
- Banquet Capacity: 600
- Reception Capacity: 860
Grand Hall 1-7
- Total Sq. Ft.: 29580
- Width: 145'
- Length: 204'
- Height: 16/18/35'
- Booth Capacity: 153
- Theater Capacity: 2751
- Classroom Capacity: 1056
- Banquet Capacity: 1600
- Reception Capacity: 2300
Grand Hall 6 & 7
- Total Sq. Ft.: 21025
- Width: 145'
- Length: 145'
- Height: 16/35'
- Booth Capacity: 117
- Theater Capacity: 1792
- Classroom Capacity: 816
- Banquet Capacity: 1100
- Reception Capacity: 1580
Grand Hall 6-8
- Total Sq. Ft.: 45397
- Width: 145'
- Length: 307'6"
- Height: 16/35'
- Booth Capacity: 227
- Theater Capacity: 5144
- Classroom Capacity: 1872
- Banquet Capacity: 2200
- Reception Capacity: 3180
Grand Hall 7-8
- Total Sq. Ft.: 39670
- Width: 145
- Length: 268
- Height: 35
- Booth Capacity: 191
- Theater Capacity: 4308
- Classroom Capacity: 1536
- Banquet Capacity: 2000
- Reception Capacity: 2900
ARENA
- Total Sq. Ft.: 54025
- Width: 145
- Length: 367
- Height: 16
- Booth Capacity: 273
- Theater Capacity: 6015
- Classroom Capacity: 1764
- Banquet Capacity: 2820
- Reception Capacity: 4060
Events
Dec
06
Rock Lobsters Season Schedule
Dates vary between December 6, 2024 - April 4, 2025
Dec
14