When Did the Braves Move to Atlanta? A Local’s Guide to How It Happened

If you live in Atlanta, visit often, or you’re just trying to understand the city’s sports history, you’ve probably heard someone say that baseball has deep roots here. A big part of that story starts with one key moment:

They played their first regular-season home game in Atlanta on April 12, 1966.

But how did the team get here, and what does that move mean for Atlanta today? Here’s a clear, Atlanta-focused breakdown.

A Quick Timeline: From Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta

The Braves weren’t always Atlanta’s team. Before calling Georgia home, they had a long journey.

Key takeaway:
The Braves became the Atlanta Braves starting in 1966, making Atlanta a major league baseball city for the first time.

Why Did the Braves Move to Atlanta?

From an Atlanta perspective, a few major factors stand out:

1. The Southeast Needed a Big League Team

By the mid-1960s, no other Major League Baseball team was located in the Southeast. Atlanta’s leaders saw an opportunity:

• Atlanta was rapidly growing and positioning itself as the capital of the “New South.”
• City and regional officials wanted a major league identity to match the growth of Hartsfield airport, new businesses, and expanding infrastructure.

Bringing the Braves here made Atlanta the first MLB city in the region, drawing fans from across Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and beyond.

2. A New Stadium Was Waiting in Atlanta

When the Braves were still in Milwaukee, Atlanta officials were already working ahead. The city built a new stadium with the clear goal of attracting a team:

• Atlanta Stadium (later known as Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium) was completed in 1965.
• It sat just south of downtown Atlanta, near what is now the Center Parc Stadium area.
• The stadium was a strong selling point: it was modern for its time and designed to host big-league baseball right away.

For a team looking to relocate, a ready-made, publicly supported stadium in a growing city was a powerful draw.

3. Business and Attendance Concerns in Milwaukee

From the Atlanta side, what you mostly need to know is this:

• The Braves were facing declining attendance and financial concerns in Milwaukee.
• Team ownership began looking for a market with more long-term growth potential.
• Atlanta offered regional reach, a new stadium, and a business-friendly climate.

The combination of Atlanta’s growth + a new stadium + the Southeast’s untapped fan base set the stage for the move.

The Braves’ First Season in Atlanta (1966)

If you imagine what it felt like in Atlanta in 1966, a few things stand out:

• First home game: April 12, 1966, at Atlanta Stadium.
• Opponent: The Pittsburgh Pirates.
• For Atlanta residents at the time, it was the city’s official arrival on the national sports stage.

Even if you weren’t around then, you still see the impact today in how deeply the Braves are woven into Atlanta’s identity.

Where Have the Braves Played in Atlanta?

Understanding when the Braves moved to Atlanta is only part of the story. For locals and visitors, it also helps to know where they’ve played over the years.

1. Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1996)

• Location: Just south of downtown Atlanta, near the intersection of I-75/85 and I-20.
• Role: Hosted Braves games from their first Atlanta season in 1966 through the 1996 season.
• Famous for:
  • The Braves’ early Atlanta years
  • Hank Aaron’s 715th home run in 1974, breaking Babe Ruth’s record
  • Hosting games during the 1996 Summer Olympics (baseball competition)

Today, the stadium is gone, but:

• A commemorative outline and historical markers can still be found in the area near the old site.
• If you visit the area around what is now Center Parc Stadium (formerly Turner Field, 755 Hank Aaron Dr SE), you can still find references to the Braves’ legacy there.

2. Turner Field (1997–2016)

• Location: 755 Hank Aaron Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
• Originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Olympics, then converted to a baseball park.
• Served as the home of the Atlanta Braves from 1997 through the 2016 season.
• Now operates as Center Parc Stadium, primarily used by Georgia State University for football and events.

This stadium represents a middle era of Braves history in Atlanta — the years many current adults in Atlanta grew up watching games.

3. Truist Park (2017–Present)

• Location: 755 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 (Cobb County, just northwest of Atlanta city limits)
• Opened: 2017
• Part of a larger mixed-use development known as The Battery Atlanta.

Even though Truist Park is technically outside the city of Atlanta, it is still marketed and celebrated as the home of the Atlanta Braves and is deeply associated with the metro area.

For local fans:

• It offers a modern ballpark experience, with restaurants, shops, and entertainment within walking distance.
• Many Atlanta residents travel from neighborhoods across the city — from Midtown and Downtown to Buckhead, Westside, East Atlanta, and beyond — to catch games here.

What the 1966 Move Means for Atlanta Today

1. A Core Piece of Atlanta’s Identity

Because the Braves arrived in 1966, Atlanta can claim one of the longest-standing major league teams in the Southeast. Over time, that’s meant:

• Generations of Atlantans growing up as Braves fans.
• A shared cultural reference point — from Hank Aaron to modern stars.
• A team that many people across Georgia and the Southeast still associate with “their” big-league club.

2. A Major Draw for Visitors

If you’re visiting Atlanta and love sports, the Braves’ move in 1966 is why you can:

• Watch Major League Baseball from April through September (and often into October).
• Plan trips around:
  • Regular-season home games at Truist Park
  • Postseason games, when the team qualifies
  • Special events, theme nights, and fireworks shows

🚗 Getting there from Atlanta:
From most intown neighborhoods, visitors typically use I-75/I-85 north, then I-75 to reach the Cumberland / Truist Park area. Public transit and rideshare are also common options on game days.

3. Economic and Neighborhood Impact

The move in 1966 didn’t just bring baseball; it shaped how parts of metro Atlanta developed:

• The original stadium area south of downtown has evolved, now centered around Georgia State University and new housing.
• The move to Truist Park and The Battery helped stimulate growth in Cobb County and created a large entertainment district that many Atlantans treat as a game-day destination even if they aren’t big baseball fans.

Common Atlanta Questions About the Braves’ Move

Did the Braves change their name when they moved to Atlanta?

No.
They kept the Braves name when they moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966. The full name simply became the Atlanta Braves.

Were the Braves the first major league team in Atlanta?

Yes.
When the Braves moved in 1966, they became Atlanta’s first Major League Baseball team and one of the city’s earliest major professional teams overall, helping set the stage for:

• The Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
• The Atlanta Hawks (NBA, who arrived in Atlanta in 1968)
• Later additions like the Atlanta United FC (MLS)

Is there anything to visit today related to the Braves’ early Atlanta years?

If you’re in Atlanta and interested in the history of the move and early years, you can:

• Visit the area around Center Parc Stadium (755 Hank Aaron Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30315)
  • Look for historical markers and references to Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and Hank Aaron.
• Spend time at Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta
  • Explore displays, memorabilia, and tributes to Braves history inside and around the ballpark.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Residents and Visitors

• The Braves moved to Atlanta for the 1966 season, playing their first home game in the city on April 12, 1966.
• Atlanta built Atlanta Stadium (later Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium) specifically to attract a major league team and succeeded in landing the Braves.
• Since 1966, the team has played in three local stadiums:
  • Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1996)
  • Turner Field (1997–2016)
  • Truist Park (2017–present)
• The move helped make Atlanta a major sports hub for the Southeast, and the Braves remain one of the city’s most visible and unifying institutions.

If you’re in Atlanta today—whether you grew up a Braves fan or are just getting to know the team—every game at Truist Park traces back to that pivotal decision in 1966, when the Braves officially became Atlanta’s team.