College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience to Host Free Tailgate Event for Grand Opening on August 23

After nearly 18 months of construction, the new home of the national College Football Hall of Fame will open its doors on Saturday, August 23. To celebrate, the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience will host the “Ultimate Tailgate” from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday in conjunction with its Grand Opening.

Located in the Centennial Olympic Park District on Marietta Street in downtown Atlanta, the complimentary, family-friendly tailgate will feature a visit from the ESPN College GameDay bus, a free kids’ football clinic hosted by Kids and Pros, a live broadcast from 680 The Fan, children’s activities, music by a DJ and the Clark Atlanta drum line, games and prizes. Cheerleaders and favorite college mascots (including the Hall’s new mascot, “Fumbles”) will also join the celebration.

No ticket is needed for the tailgate party, but tickets to experience the new attraction are available at www.cfbhall.com/tickets. Stay all day and go to the Atlanta Falcons’ preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at the Georgia Dome that evening.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed will officiate the opening, along with a host of College Football Hall of Famers including Steve Bartkowski, Kevin Butler, Charlie Flowers, Rich Glover, Joe Hamilton, Randy Rhino, Freddie Scott, Art Shell, Bill Stanfill and the legendary Charley Trippi, along with a few other well-known surprise guests.

Giveaways and special activities will also be provided by founding partners and official sponsors, including AT&T, Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, Kia, Regions Bank, Southwest Airlines, Sporturf, The Home Depot and Under Armour.

“We are thrilled that our Grand Opening is finally here and cannot wait to share this special day with college football fans across the country,” said John Stephenson, president and CEO of the College Football Hall of Fame. “We know that a football event is not complete without a tailgate, so if you are a college football fan in Atlanta on August 23, come spend an unforgettable morning with us.”

The College Football Hall of Fame is being relocated from South Bend, Indiana, to downtown Atlanta—in the heart of the city’s sports and entertainment district. At more than 94,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art facility will feature historic and contemporary artifacts, interactive multimedia displays, children’s activities, a theater featuring an ultra-high-definition 4K film, meeting facilities and private event spaces.

Guests planning to attend the event are strongly encouraged to arrive early and consider taking MARTA to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center or Peachtree Center stations. For additional information about the Hall, directions or to purchase tickets to the Grand Opening, please visit cfbhall.com/events/grand-opening.