What Football Team Is Atlanta? A Local Guide to Atlanta’s Pro and College Football

If you’re wondering “What football team is Atlanta?”, the short answer is that Atlanta is home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. But in this city, “Atlanta football” can also mean big-time college games, passionate high school rivalries, and even soccer and flag football.

This guide breaks down what “Atlanta’s football team” usually refers to, plus how the local football scene is organized if you live in or are visiting Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta’s Main Professional Football Team: The Atlanta Falcons

When people ask what football team represents Atlanta, they’re almost always talking about the Atlanta Falcons, the city’s National Football League (NFL) franchise.

Key facts about the Atlanta Falcons

• League: NFL (National Football League)
• Conference/Division: NFC South
• Home Stadium:Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• Team Colors: Red, black, silver, and white
• Season: Preseason in August, regular season from September through early January, with potential playoff games in January

The Falcons are the primary professional American football team associated with Atlanta. When the city appears on national NFL broadcasts, it’s the Falcons who carry the Atlanta name.

Mercedes‑Benz Stadium is located downtown, near the Vine City and Castleberry Hill neighborhoods, and is easily accessible via MARTA’s GWCC/CNN Center Station and Vine City Station.

Where the Falcons Play: Mercedes‑Benz Stadium

For locals and visitors, understanding where and how to see Atlanta’s football team in person is a big part of the experience.

Game day basics

Stadium: Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
Address: 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Nearby landmarks: State Farm Arena, Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center

Getting there:

• 🚇 MARTA Rail:
  • GWCC/CNN Center Station (Blue/Green Line) – short walk to the stadium
  • Vine City Station (Blue/Green Line) – short walk on the west side
• 🚗 Driving: Multiple parking decks and surface lots around the stadium; parking is typically reserved or paid on game day.
• 🚶‍♂️ On foot: Very walkable from downtown hotels and attractions.

Inside the stadium, you’ll find:

• A large lower bowl and upper deck seating
• Suites and club levels
• A wide selection of concessions, often with family-friendly pricing
• Team stores selling Falcons jerseys, hats, and merchandise

Quick Reference: Major Football Teams in Atlanta

Here’s a simple overview of the main teams people might mean when they say “Atlanta football team”:

“Football” vs. “Soccer” in Atlanta

Most Atlanta residents use “football” to mean American football, especially when referring to the Falcons or college teams like Georgia Tech.

However, Atlanta also has a hugely popular Major League Soccer (MLS) club:

• Atlanta United FC, also based at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium

People who follow international or European sports sometimes call soccer “football,” so if someone asks about “Atlanta’s football club,” they might mean Atlanta United rather than the Falcons. In everyday local conversation, though:

• “Atlanta’s football team” → Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
• “Atlanta’s soccer team” or “Atlanta United” → MLS club

If you’re talking to locals and want to be clear, specify “Falcons” or “Atlanta United”.

College Football Teams That Represent Atlanta

For many people in metro Atlanta, especially students and alumni, “Atlanta football” also means college football. Two main programs call Atlanta home.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Midtown Atlanta)

• School: Georgia Institute of Technology
• Team:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
• Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
• Stadium:Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field
• Address: 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Bobby Dodd Stadium is in Midtown Atlanta, on the Georgia Tech campus, just north of downtown. It’s one of the oldest stadiums in major college football and offers city skyline views.

Getting there:

• MARTA North Avenue Station (Red/Gold Lines), then short walk west to campus
• Limited campus and nearby paid parking on game days

Georgia Tech plays home games mostly on Saturdays in the fall, and the atmosphere can be intense, especially for rivalry games.

Georgia State Panthers (Downtown/Summerhill)

• School: Georgia State University
• Team:Georgia State Panthers football
• Conference: Sun Belt Conference
• Stadium:Center Parc Stadium (the former Olympic Stadium/Turner Field)
• Address: 755 Hank Aaron Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

Center Parc Stadium is just south of downtown, in the Summerhill neighborhood.

Getting there:

• Short drive from downtown via I‑75/85, exit near Hank Aaron Drive
• MARTA bus routes serve the area; fans often combine rail and bus or rideshare.

Georgia State’s football program is newer than Georgia Tech’s but has built a following among students, alumni, and nearby residents.

High School Football in Atlanta

In many Atlanta neighborhoods, Friday night high school football is part of local life. While these teams don’t “represent Atlanta” in the same way the Falcons do, they are a big part of the city’s football identity.

High school teams are governed by the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) and include programs in:

• Atlanta Public Schools (APS), such as:
  • Midtown High School
  • Mays High School
  • Carver High School
• Private and charter schools in and around the city

For local families, coaches, and students, these programs are often the first step into Atlanta’s football culture—both as players and fans.

How to Experience Football in Atlanta

If you’re in Atlanta and want to tap into the football scene, you have several options depending on your budget, time, and interest level.

1. Attend an Atlanta Falcons game

• Best for: Experiencing the city’s primary pro football team
• When: August (preseason) through early January (regular season), mainly Sundays
• Where: Mercedes‑Benz Stadium

Tips:

• Use MARTA to avoid traffic and parking stress.
• Arrive early to explore fan zones and the stadium concourses.
• Night games can be especially energetic, with the downtown skyline lit up around you.

2. Catch a college game (Georgia Tech or Georgia State)

• Georgia Tech:

  • Midtown location makes it easy to combine with restaurants and nightlife.
  • Great option if you’re near Midtown or Downtown and want a traditional college football atmosphere.

• Georgia State:

  • Often more budget‑friendly and family‑accessible.
  • Located near the Summerhill retail and dining area.

3. Join or watch recreational and flag football

Across the Atlanta metro area, you’ll find adult flag football leagues, youth leagues, and pickup games at:

• City of Atlanta recreation centers
• Large parks like Piedmont Park, Grant Park, and Perkerson Park
• Suburban parks in DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties

Locals often join leagues through community organizations, sports clubs, or neighborhood groups. This is a good option if you’re not just asking who Atlanta’s team is, but also want to play football yourself.

Key Takeaways for “What Football Team Is Atlanta?”

If you’re trying to understand what team truly represents Atlanta in football:

• The main answer:

  • Atlanta Falcons – the city’s NFL team and primary professional football identity.

• Other important football teams in Atlanta:

  • Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – major college football program in Midtown Atlanta.
  • Georgia State Panthers – growing college program south of downtown.

• If someone says “football club” or uses the European sense of “football”:

  • They may be referring to Atlanta United FC, the city’s MLS soccer team.

So when you hear “Atlanta’s football team,” especially on national broadcasts or around the NFL season, it almost always means the Atlanta Falcons, playing right in the heart of the city at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium.