State Farm Arena Pregame Guide
Atlanta Hawks · Atlanta, GA
State Farm Arena is at 1 State Farm Drive in downtown Atlanta, near the intersection of Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive, with a MARTA stop steps from the entrance — so most people arrive by train and there is no tailgating policy to publish. The bag rule is more permissive than most arenas but bans a whole category: nothing over 14 by 14 by 6 inches, and no backpacks or hard-sided bags at any size, though single-compartment drawstring bags and fashion backpacks under the limit are welcome. Doors vary by event; for Hawks games they typically open at 6:00 p.m. for the general public and 5:45 p.m. for season ticket members.
Tips & Fan Reports
A hard-sided bag is refused at any size, but a soft drawstring bag under 14 by 14 by 6 is fine — the shape matters more than the volume here.
Reserve through ParkMobile ahead for the lower price; ADA spaces cannot be reserved and go first come, first served.
Season ticket members get in fifteen minutes early on a typical Hawks night.
MARTA stops steps from the entrance, which beats driving into downtown Atlanta.
Where to Go Before the Game
The MARTA stop by the entrance
A MARTA station sits steps from the arena entrance, which makes the train the simplest approach into downtown Atlanta on a game night.
Known for Steps from the entrance · Rail transit · No parking needed
Sapphire, Diamond Deck and Ruby Lot
The arena's three parking locations, each holding a limited number of ADA spaces on a first come, first served basis. Reserving through ParkMobile in advance guarantees the space and the lower price.
Known for Three arena locations · ADA spaces in each · Reserve via ParkMobile
Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive
The downtown intersection the arena sits beside at 1 State Farm Drive, and the landmark most driving routes aim for.
Known for Downtown Atlanta · 1 State Farm Drive
Rules to Know
What State Farm Arena allows, and what it does not.
- Bags larger than 14" x 14" x 6" are prohibited, including briefcases, purses and luggage.
- Backpacks and hard-sided bags of any size are prohibited. Single-compartment drawstring bags, and fashion backpacks or purses smaller than 14" x 14" x 6", are permitted.
- Door opening times vary by event. For Hawks games doors typically open at 6:00 p.m. for the general public and 5:45 p.m. for season ticket members.
- The Box Office opens on event days only, one hour prior to the event's scheduled door time.
- The arena is at 1 State Farm Drive, near the intersection of Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive, with a MARTA stop steps from the entrance.
- Parking can be reserved in advance through ParkMobile. ADA spaces are available in all parking locations — Sapphire, Diamond Deck and Ruby Lot — on a first come, first served basis.
- The arena publishes no tailgating policy.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Bags must be no larger than 14 x 14 x 6 inches and are screened; single-compartment drawstring bags and qualifying purses or fashion backpacks are allowed, while standard backpacks and hard-sided bags are prohibited.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and drinks are prohibited except plastic bottles of formula or milk for small children and medically necessary snacks approved in advance.
- A card or a phone wallet
State Farm Arena is cashless; ticket, food and beverage, and retail locations require card payment and support contactless tap-to-pay.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Hawks tickets are mobile-only and must be opened in the Hawks + State Farm Arena app, the Ticketmaster app, or a phone's digital wallet.
- A coat for the walk in
January lows average 34°F between the lot and the door at State Farm Arena.
- A rain layer for the walk in
March averages 4.5 inches of rain outside State Farm Arena.
Atlanta Hawks Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Atlanta Hawks gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
State Farm Arena official site: Policies & FAQs, Arena Parking, and Transportation
- Venue policies
Current State Farm Arena policies, accessibility, transportation, and prohibited-items pages plus official Atlanta Hawks mobile-ticket guidance and a current Hawks event listing reviewed for game-day policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals