When Did the Braves Move to Atlanta? A Local’s Guide to the Team’s Big Move

The Atlanta Braves are woven into everyday life in Atlanta, from MARTA rides to Truist Park on game days to generational stories about Hank Aaron and postseason runs. If you’re new to the city, visiting, or just brushing up on your local sports history, you might be wondering:

When did the Braves move to Atlanta, and why does it matter so much here?

The short answer:
The Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, playing their first regular-season home game on April 12, 1966 at what was then Atlanta Stadium (later known as Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium).

Below is a clear breakdown of what happened, why they came, and how that move shaped both the team and the city.

Key Dates: When the Braves Became the Atlanta Braves

Here’s a simple overview of the Braves’ move to Atlanta and the milestones around it:

For everyday life in Atlanta, 1966 is the year that really matters. That’s when the city officially became a Major League Baseball town.

Why Did the Braves Move to Atlanta?

By the mid-1960s, the Braves were still in Milwaukee, but attendance and revenue were not where ownership wanted them. At the same time, Atlanta was aggressively positioning itself as a growing, modern Southern city.

Several local factors made Atlanta a prime candidate:

• New stadium ready to go: Atlanta had already built Atlanta Stadium (later Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium) in anticipation of landing a major league team.
• Expanding transportation hub: With Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport growing and major highways intersecting here, the city was becoming easier to reach.
• Population and business growth: Atlanta was marketing itself as “the city too busy to hate,” with an emphasis on business, transportation, and professional sports.
• Regional fan base potential: Team owners saw that the Braves could draw fans not just from Atlanta, but from across Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and beyond.

The move was finalized in time for the 1966 season, and the team became the Atlanta Braves, the first Major League Baseball franchise in the Deep South.

The First Atlanta Braves Game: April 12, 1966

If you ever drive near the former stadium site downtown, you’re close to where the Braves played their first home game as an Atlanta team.

• Date: April 12, 1966
• Location:Atlanta Stadium (later Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium)
• Opponent: Pittsburgh Pirates

That game marked the official beginning of Major League Baseball in Atlanta. For longtime residents, this moment symbolized the city’s arrival on the national sports stage.

Where That First Stadium Was

Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium once stood near what’s now the area around:

• Hank Aaron Drive SE
• Close to the old Turner Field / Center Parc Stadium area
• South of downtown, near the Summerhill neighborhood

Today, you can still find markers and tributes in that area, including references to Hank Aaron’s 715th home run, which he hit there in 1974.

How the Move Changed Atlanta

For someone living in or visiting Atlanta, the Braves’ move in 1966 explains a lot about the city’s identity.

1. Atlanta Became a True “Big-League” City

Before 1966, Atlanta did not have a Major League Baseball team. Once the Braves arrived, the city’s sports landscape began to expand:

• Atlanta Braves (MLB) in 1966
• Atlanta Falcons (NFL) joined around the same era
• Later, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta United FC, and others reinforced the city’s major-league profile

This helped Atlanta grow its reputation as a major sports hub in the region and country.

2. A Regional Team for the Southeast

For years, the Braves were promoted as a team for the entire Southeastern United States. Atlantans still meet fans who drive in from:

• Macon, Columbus, Augusta, and Savannah
• Birmingham and Montgomery
• Upstate South Carolina and parts of Tennessee

The 1966 move made Atlanta the baseball capital of the Southeast for many fans.

3. A Cultural and Community Anchor

Since arriving in 1966, the Braves have become part of:

• Local traditions: Many Atlantans grow up going to summer games, school outings, and church group trips to the ballpark.
• Neighborhood life: Game days affect traffic, restaurant business, and nightlife, especially around the Battery Atlanta today.
• Shared memories: The 1990s championship runs, the 1995 World Series title, and recent postseason success all trace back to that initial move to Atlanta.

From Downtown to Cobb County: How Braves Stadiums Have Shifted in Atlanta

Understanding when the Braves moved to Atlanta also helps you follow how they’ve moved within the metro area.

Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1996)

• First Atlanta home of the Braves
• Located just south of downtown Atlanta
• Hosted the Braves from their very first Atlanta game in 1966 through 1996
• Site of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run in 1974

If you’re in the area today near Hank Aaron Drive SE, you’re very close to where this stadium once stood.

Turner Field (1997–2016)

• Originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Olympics
• Converted for baseball and became Turner Field in 1997
• Hosted Braves home games until the team moved after the 2016 season
• Now converted into Center Parc Stadium, used by Georgia State University

Turner Field kept the Braves in the city of Atlanta for another two decades after they left their original Atlanta stadium.

Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta (2017–Present)

• Since 2017, the Braves have played at Truist Park in Cobb County, just northwest of the Atlanta city limits.
• Truist Park is part of The Battery Atlanta, a mixed-use development with restaurants, shops, apartments, and entertainment venues.

Key local details for visitors and residents:

• General area: Near the intersection of I-75 and I-285 (the “Cobb Cloverleaf”)
• Typical mailing area: Atlanta addresses are still used in many spots around the Battery, even though it is in Cobb County
• Game day reality: Expect heavy traffic around Cumberland Boulevard, Cobb Parkway (US 41), and nearby interchanges when the Braves are at home.

Even though the stadium is outside Atlanta’s city limits, the team is still very much branded and experienced as the Atlanta Braves, continuing the legacy that started in 1966.

How This History Affects Today’s Braves Experience in Atlanta

If you’re planning to catch a game or just want to appreciate local history, here’s how the 1966 move still shapes what you see and feel in the city.

1. Legacy of Hank Aaron and the Early Atlanta Era

The move to Atlanta set the stage for Hank Aaron’s most famous moments, including his record-breaking 715th home run.

Around the metro area, you’ll find:

• Hank Aaron Drive SE near the site of the old stadium
• Various references, murals, and displays honoring Aaron’s career

These tributes connect directly to the Braves’ arrival in 1966 and the team’s impact on Atlanta’s sports and civil rights history.

2. Neighborhoods Tied to Braves History

If you’re exploring the city, two main areas reflect different eras of the Braves in Atlanta:

• Summerhill / Georgia State area (Old Stadium/Turner Field zone)

  • Tied to the original Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and later Turner Field
  • You may still see references to the Braves era in that neighborhood’s history and redevelopment projects

• Cumberland / Galleria area (Truist Park & The Battery)

  • Modern home of the Braves
  • Restaurants, hotels, and apartments built around the ballpark
  • Very active on game days, especially evenings and weekends

Knowing that the Braves first arrived in 1966 helps explain how both of these areas ended up with strong connections to the team.

Quick FAQ for Atlantans and Visitors

Q: When did the Braves officially become the Atlanta Braves?
A: The team became the Atlanta Braves for the 1966 season, after relocating from Milwaukee.

Q: When was the first Atlanta Braves home game?
A:April 12, 1966, at Atlanta Stadium (later Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium), against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Q: Where did they play after moving to Atlanta?
A:

1. Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1996)
2. Turner Field (1997–2016)
3. Truist Park in the Battery Atlanta (2017–present)

Q: Are the Braves still considered “Atlanta’s team” even though Truist Park is in Cobb County?
A: Yes. The franchise name remains the Atlanta Braves, and they are still treated as the city’s MLB team, drawing fans from across the entire metro and region.

If you live in Atlanta or you’re visiting for a game, knowing that the Braves moved here in 1966 helps you see the team as more than just a logo. The move marked a turning point for Atlanta itself—shaping local neighborhoods, regional fandom, and the city’s identity as a major-league sports town.