Centennial Yards Selects Live Nation to Operate Downtown Atlanta’s Newest Iconic Entertainment Venue

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 2025--

Centennial Yards Company announced today that it has executed a long-term lease with Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company, to bring a new live music and entertainment venue to the heart of Downtown Atlanta. The state-of-the-art Live Nation venue will anchor Centennial Yards ’ under-construction sports and entertainment district adjacent to the Atlanta Hawks’ State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United.

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This partnership marks a new milestone in the continued development of Centennial Yards, the 50-acre, $5B+ mixed-use project set to transform a long-underutilized section of the city into a vibrant, walkable district blending sports, culture, community, and commerce. Centennial Yards Company serves as the master developer and consists of a partnership between an affiliate of CIM Group and a group led by Tony Ressler.

"Centennial Yards is poised to be the epicenter of sports and entertainment for the southeastern United States where people of all ages can enjoy concerts, sporting events, bars, restaurants, and retail stores—all in one vibrant mixed-use district," said Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards Company. "Partnering with Live Nation brings us one step closer to creating a thriving hub where unforgettable experiences happen. This new Centennial Yards entertainment venue is exactly what our region needs and adds a key element to what has already been a catalyst for the revitalization of Downtown Atlanta."

Joining the entertainment ecosystem in Downtown Atlanta, the new 5,300-seat capacity venue will complement the existing venue landscape including Tabernacle, Fox Theater and Buckhead Theater as well as sports facilities Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which can host up to 75,000 fans, and State Farm Arena, which accommodates 17,000 attendees.

The venue is set to showcase a range of performances across genres, from national headliners to global touring acts and local artists. Designed with unwavering focus on the fan, it will offer exceptional sound quality, clear sightlines, and a range of customizable options—including premium experiences and elevated food and beverage offerings.

“Atlanta has long been a cornerstone of American music and live entertainment, and we’re thrilled to help write its next chapter downtown with this new venue at Centennial Yards,” said Jordan Zachary, President of Global Venues at Live Nation. “This venue fills a key gap in the local entertainment landscape and we believe it will further strengthen the city’s position as a cultural and economic powerhouse. We’re proud to partner with the Centennial Yards, CIM Group and the Hawks organizations to deliver a destination that draws fans from across the region and contributes to the growth of Atlanta’s vibrant music scene.”

"We are thrilled to welcome Live Nation to Centennial Yards as we continue shaping a district that reflects the energy and spirit of Atlanta," said Shaul Kuba, Co-Founder and Principal, CIM Group. "Bringing this world-class venue to life is a major step forward that brings people together through transformative experiences—not just for the development, but for the city itself. It reflects our commitment to building something bold, inclusive, and unforgettable for Downtown Atlanta."

"As owners rooted in Atlanta, we are committed to shaping a Downtown that is dynamic, inclusive, and vibrant," said Tony Ressler, Principal Owner of the Atlanta Hawks. "Live Nation’s new music venue builds on our vision for Centennial Yards as a destination where residents, visitors, and fans alike come together to experience the best of Atlanta."

Development at Centennial Yards is well underway. Live Nation will join Cosm, a 70,000-square-foot, three-level immersive entertainment venue; Hotel Phoenix, a 292-key hotel; and The Mitchell, a 304-unit apartment tower, which are anticipated to open later this year.

Centennial Yards' 50-acre master plan will feature over 8 million square feet for residential, retail, hotel, and entertainment uses. Centennial Yards South is already open, offering Centennial Lofts for students and young professionals. Wild Leap Brewery hosts sporting events with beer and handcrafted cocktails. Before ticketed events, the Tailgating Experience on Steele Bridge provides food trucks, live music, face painting, and fan activities. Overall, Centennial Yards is transforming Downtown Atlanta through community-focused development and vibrant spaces.

ABOUT CENTENNIAL YARDS

Centennial Yards is a $5 billion transformational mixed-use development in Atlanta, the Southeast’s biggest and most influential market. As one of the largest and most ambitious city-center developments in the country, Centennial Yards is expected to revitalize 50 acres of underutilized land in the heart of Downtown Atlanta to connect surrounding communities and create several new city blocks at the junction of the rail lines where the city was founded. Once complete, Centennial Yards is expected to offer 8 million square feet of world-class new commercial and residential space comprised of 4 million square feet of dynamic retail, entertainment, modern office, and hotel, and 4 million square feet of new residential, as well as a vibrant public realm that will provide outdoor gathering spaces to all Atlantans and visitors of Centennial Yards. Anchored by major Downtown attractions, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena, one of the Southeast’s largest Sports Entertainment Districts will feature restaurants, bars, a live music venue and other hospitality destinations. With multiple MARTA stations linking the campus with the rest of the city, and in close proximity to the Atlanta Beltline, Centennial Yards is expected to bring increased connectivity, walkability, and 24/7 living to the heart of Atlanta. Centennial Yards Company serves as the master developer of Centennial Yards and consists of a partnership between an affiliate of CIM Group and a group led by Tony Ressler. For more information visit www.centennialyards.com.

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com

ABOUT CIM GROUP

CIM is a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender and developer. Since 1994, CIM has sought to create value in projects and positively impact the lives of people in communities across the Americas by delivering more than $60 billion of essential real estate and infrastructure projects. CIM’s diverse team of experts applies its broad knowledge and disciplined approach through hands-on management of real assets from due diligence to operations through disposition. CIM strives to make a meaningful difference in the world by executing key environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and enhancing each community in which it invests. For more information, visit www.cimgroup.com.

Rendering of the Centennial Yards entertainment district in downtown Atlanta, featuring a 5,300-seat Live Nation venue as part of the $5 billion redevelopment of the historic Gulch.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)