Akins Ford Arena
- 155 Hickory Street, Athens, GA 30601
- 706.208.0900
Just steps from the vibrant heart of downtown, the brand-new Akins Ford Arena is Athens’ newest stage. Boasting 180,000 sq. ft. and a capacity of more than 8,000 fans, this state-of-the-art venue is designed for entertainment. Whether you're catching a concert, cheering on your favorite team, or attending a special event, Akins Ford Arena is dedicated to providing top-tier entertainment and unparalleled experiences. Akins Ford Arena is home to the Rock Lobsters FHPL professional hockey team and THREE UGA Ice Dawgs teams.
Visitors to the Akins Ford Arena are in for an extra treat! Be sure to arrive early to explore the best of Athens and Georgia music through interactive displays of the Georgia Music Collections from the University of Georgia Libraries.
On a larger-than-life video board, The B-52s member and Athens resident Cindy Wilson welcomes visitors to check out all the memorabilia on display, representing more than 200 legendary artists, from Whisperin’ Bill Anderson to Run the Jewels. Display cases share memories of concerts, stories about the recording process, fan merchandise and interactions, behind-the-scenes moments, and more. For example, a cold medicine bottle Duane Allman used to make his distinctive slide guitar sounds is on display alongside the Gibson Les Paul he played while recording “Statesboro Blues.” From James Brown’s red velvet cape to the megaphone used by Michael Stipe, the exhibit includes 18 instruments, 11 t-shirts, 4 pairs of shoes or boots worn on stage, dozens of photos, and hundreds of concert posters and album covers.
In front of a gigantic mural at the entrance to the arena, guests can explore facts about musicians at an interactive digital table.
The exhibit also features interactive elements, including Spotify playlists, trivia games, and a gigantic floor piano.
Akins Ford Arena is where Athens’ energy meets world-class performances and where memories and music come to life!
Check out the Events tab below and follow Akins Ford Arena on Facebook and Instagram for all the upcoming entertainment headed to Akins Ford Arena in Athens, including concerts and family shows.
Get directions for parking at The Classic Center, including a map of convenient parking deck options.
Events
Athens Rock Lobsters Ice Hockey
Dates vary between October 25, 2025 - April 4, 2026
Map
Amenities
General Accommodations
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Bus Parking Available:
- Bus Parking Capacity (Max Number of Busses): 50
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Catering Services:
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Handicap Accessible:
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EV Charging station:
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Handicap Accessible:
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Parking Available:
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Handicap Accessible:
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Parking Available:
Basketball
- Total Number of Courts: 3
Sports Venue
- Facility Layout: https://Athens.simpleviewcrm.com/sched/getfilebykey.cfm?filekey=d35d0888-1fa5-4cc6-8fda-1f8b139c3c6a
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Lights:
- Total SeatingCapacity: 5500
Volleyball
- Number of Hardwood Courts: 4
- Number of Volleyball Sport Courts: 4
- Total Number of Courts: 4
Other Venues
- Number of Hockey Rinks: 1
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
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
AKINS FORD ARENA
- Width: 150
- Length: 350
- Height: 55
- Booth Capacity: 150
- Theater Capacity: 5500