Akins Ford Arena
- 155 Hickory Street, Athens, GA 30601
- 706.208.0900
In the heart of downtown, Akins Ford Arena brings concerts, hockey, family shows and other live events to The Classic Center campus. The arena is home to the Athens Rock Lobsters and UGA Ice Dawgs teams. On the concourse, the Georgia Music Collections invite visitors to explore the state’s musical history through stage-worn artifacts, interactive displays and stories of artists with Athens connections. The collection’s Georgia connections stretch from the B-52s and R.E.M. to James Brown and Duane Allman, giving visitors another reason to arrive before the main event.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seats does Akins Ford Arena have?
Akins Ford Arena has a capacity of up to 8,500 guests, depending on the event and seating configuration.
Where do you park for Akins Ford Arena?
Visitors can park in convenient parking decks near Akins Ford Arena, including The Classic Center Parking Deck.
What events are at Akins Ford Arena?
Akins Ford Arena hosts a wide variety of events, including concerts, professional hockey, UGA Ice Dawgs games, family shows, sporting events, and special events. Check the Akins Ford Arena event calendar for upcoming concerts, hockey games, family shows, and other live events. You can also follow Akins Ford Arena on Facebook and Instagram for event announcements and updates.
Meeting & Event Facilities
Akins Ford Arena also offers flexible space for large-scale meetings, conventions, trade shows, keynote sessions, and other events. For detailed information about meeting room configurations, exhibit space, booth capacities, classroom setups, and other specifications, explore meeting facilities and event planning information.
Events
The Ultimate Game Day Tailgate Experience
Dates vary between October 17, 2026 - November 28, 2026
Athens Rock Lobsters Ice Hockey
Dates vary between October 16, 2026 - March 27, 2027
Map
Amenities
General Accommodations
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Bus Parking Available:
- Bus Parking Capacity (Max Number of Busses): 50
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:
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





