Visitors and residents attending the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta's stadiums will be permitted to carry alcoholic beverages on public streets and sidewalks. A new entertainment district enables temporary open drinking during the international soccer tournament running from June 11 to July 19.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host eight matches, including a semifinal game. The district boundaries encompass areas surrounding Atlanta's sporting venues and popular tourist destinations as city officials seek to maximize visitor spending.
The entertainment district stretches across Centennial Olympic Park and areas near the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Underground Atlanta falls within the district's boundaries.
This represents the Atlanta City Council's second initiative establishing open drinking areas. On April 15, historic South Downtown became the first neighborhood in the city to institute open container rules, driving foot traffic and supporting new developments across the 57-building, 16-acre district developed by Jon Birdsong and David Cummings.
The Dickens administration aims to increase the tournament's estimated economic impact from $500 million to exceeding $1 billion. Around 300,000 visitors are expected downtown during the eight games.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
