SEC Championship Game to Remain in Atlanta
By John Buhler
According to NBC Sports, the Atlanta Falcons and the Southeastern Conference have agreed to a 10-year extension to keep the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta through at least 2026.
It looks like the SEC Championship Game will stay in Atlanta for at least the next 11 years, as the Atlanta Falcons organization and the SEC agreed to a 10-year extension. The annual battle between SEC East and SEC West Champions has made its home in Atlanta since 1994. The SEC opted to move the Championship Game from Legion Field in Birmingham to the Georgia Dome for the 3rd annual game and it has remained in Atlanta ever since.
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The 2015 and 2016 games will again occur at the Georgia Dome, while new Mercedes-Benz Stadium is under construction next door. The 2017-2026 games will happen at the new home of Arthur Blank’s Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC.
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While the Georgia Dome is still serviceable, Blank wanted to build a more attractive venue that would allow Atlanta to host Super Bowls, Final Fours, and SEC Championship Games. Had Blank and the Falcons organization not had in place a more modern facility, the SEC Championship Game could have relocated to Dallas, New Orleans, Nashville, Tampa, maybe even St. Louis or Kansas City, all major metropolises in the SEC media market.
With the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, it makes sense to keep the SEC Championship Game in a relatively centralized location in the Conference. New Orleans is the home of the Sugar Bowl and many Super Bowls. Tampa and Nashville have suitable weather to host the Championship game at their NFL outdoor stadiums. AT&T Stadium in Dallas is the gold standard for new NFL stadiums.
With so many marquee events going to Jerry World, Atlanta had to make a move to keep the SEC Championship game in our great city. The renderings of Mercedes-Benz Stadium should excite most SEC fans with the thought of watching their favorite team compete there in the coming years.
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In the next two Conference Championships, fans from other division winner can glance next door at the House that Uncle Arthur Built and visualize the game day atmosphere coming from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta has the busiest airport to accommodate travelers from all parts of the SEC, should their team earn a Championship Game berth. Now Atlanta will have a first-class stadium that will host a Power 5 Conference Championship Game every fall. Exciting times, Atlanta. Exciting times.
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