A large new entertainment venue is set to open this summer in downtown Atlanta, and its timing couldn't be better. Cosm, a 70,000-square-foot dome that uses the same technology as planetariums to broadcast sports, movies and events, announced it will open its Atlanta location June 10 — five days before the city will host its first of eight World Cup matches.
The venue is a centerpiece of Centennial Yards' entertainment district, a massive redevelopment in the shadow of Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena. The $5 billion project is remaking the Gulch, a 50-acre tangle of rail lines and parking lots, into one of the Southeast's largest mixed-use districts — an effort often compared to creating a "minicity" within downtown Atlanta.
The Cosm in Atlanta will be the company's third, joining locations in Los Angeles and Dallas. Its main attraction is an 87-foot diameter LED dome that projects sports on a cosmic scale. The Atlanta location will have some city-specific offerings, like sweet tea and lemon pepper wings. Once complete, the company plans to hire hundreds of employees.
Cosm was the first big lease signed in Centennial Yards' entertainment district, helping validate the developer's vision and attract other tenants. Centennial Yards is being developed by Los Angeles-based CIM Group and received a $1.9 billion taxpayer-backed incentive package — the largest of its kind in Atlanta history. Music industry giant Live Nation will also run a 5,300-seat concert venue in the district.
Cosm's June 10 grand opening will broadcast Game 4 of the NBA Finals, and its summer sports calendar includes UFC matches, the College World Series, WWE Summer Slam and both the MLB Home Run Derby and All-Star game. Tickets and information are available on Cosm's website.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution