I was involved in setting up the new Publix there. It seems like a big development is going on the site but I couldn’t really tell what all was involved. The stadium (from what I could see) looked nice. I did go into the parking lot to see the Hank Aaron 715 display. I hope that is always maintained.

Who is the Carter you are referring to? Is it some connection to Jimmy?

(08-24-2023 12:01 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  I was involved in setting up the new Publix there. It seems like a big development is going on the site but I couldn’t really tell what all was involved. The stadium (from what I could see) looked nice. I did go into the parking lot to see the Hank Aaron 715 display. I hope that is always maintained.

Who is the Carter you are referring to? Is it some connection to Jimmy?

No connection. Carter is the name of the development company partnered with to build out the non-GSU stuff.

(08-18-2023 03:58 PM)APPdiesel Wrote:  I drove through downtown Atlanta today on I-85 and saw Georgia State’s Center Park Stadium…definitely a more noticeable structure than Georgia Tech’s stadium…

Not hard to believe when you consider the stadium was originally built to be a stadium for the Olympics that would be converted into a MLB stadium after the games ended

(08-21-2023 10:26 AM)GSU-Blue Wrote:  I will get flamed for saying it, but it may be an impossibly tall task to see that stadium ever consistently full. But I wouldn’t blame GSU. It’s a location problem when so much of the city’s population lives north of the perimeter.

I’ve been to many, many more Braves games in the five years since they moved to Cobb compared to their twenty years at Turner Field.

The drive isn’t bad at all, but there’s this weird psychological thing where it seems worse than it is. I can’t explain it. Braves (formerly). Falcons. United. Hawks. GSU. I just always think, “eh, I’d rather just watch on tv than make THAT drive.”

It’s fine coming down from the northern burbs UNTIL you reach the downtown connector. Then it sucks until you at least get past the Williams Street exit. I mean the Grady Curve is no enjoyable experience, but it’s better than the portion of the connector between the 75/85 merge and Williams Street

(08-19-2023 11:00 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  I just want to know when those unused seats will finally be demolished...

that would be the entire stadium then.....

(08-21-2023 12:34 PM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  

(08-21-2023 09:50 AM)eaglewraith Wrote:  You don't know about Atlanta/Georgia residents' relationship with MARTA. I'm fine with taking the train somewhere, but a trip to Gast's stadium would require transfer from train to bus and it's just not as convenient to do that. I know quite a few people that are the same way. Dealing with Atlanta traffic and all is already a pain point for Gast getting people to the stadium, introducing more hoops to jump through is not as conducive. You want to make it as easy as possible for people to get from point A to point B.

We need to break this type of thinking and promote walking. It's only 1 mile walk from the closest rail station to the football stadium.


I've walked this path plenty. I know it's doable because I saw GSU students walking the same path from their apts to their classes when the shuttles are full. Only off-putting part is the bridge across I-20, but you still have sidewalks and crosswalk signals.

1) exit Georgia State MARTA Station (blue line) via Piedmont Ave front of the Georgia Capitol. head south.



2) pass the Georgia Capitol Building


3) go across the bridge above I-20.


4) pass the GSU basketball arena


5) pass the Olympic Cauldron Tower


6) walk along the 565 Lofts (Publix now completed on the left, much more pedestrian friendly)



7) Center Parc front gate is to your right

I don’t live in Atlanta, but I made that walk several times to see the Braves when I didn’t want to bother with the shuttle from Five Points. Not bad at all.

It may only be a one mile walk, but ya'll are forgetting that half of the fun of college football games is the tailgating. If you're riding marta to the game, you're not tailgating at all and the number of people that will do that is very slim.

I've lived in the suburbs of Atlanta for 30 years. I've ridden Marta once in that time frame.

(08-19-2023 11:00 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  I just want to know when those unused seats will finally be demolished...

Can't begin to imagine how much that will cost.

(08-28-2023 11:43 AM)The Roach Wrote:  I don’t live in Atlanta, but I made that walk several times to see the Braves when I didn’t want to bother with the shuttle from Five Points. Not bad at all.

It really isn't.

(08-28-2023 04:25 PM)KJ Eagle Wrote:  It may only be a one mile walk, but ya'll are forgetting that half of the fun of college football games is the tailgating. If you're riding marta to the game, you're not tailgating at all and the number of people that will do that is very slim.

I've lived in the suburbs of Atlanta for 30 years. I've ridden Marta once in that time frame.

Football and tailgating aside, your usage of MARTA once in 30 years..is probably psychological at this point. Not criticizing necessarily, you're most likely not alone among suburban commuters. I still remember this being a topic in urban policy class a long time ago, where layers of social, political, even cultural dysfunctions are built into unique the social phenomenon of car-centric southern cities, which includes Atlanta.

Personally, I can attest MARTA is pretty clean and safe in comparison to some other rail systems out there. Few months ago for example, I rode the BART while visiting San Francisco, thinking how it was a small, cramped death trap that could derail at any moment. Folks in ATL don't appreciate what we have in our city. MARTA's climate controlled, spacious cabins on stable high-speed heavy rail are luxuries by comparison. If ATL suburban voters didn't oppose the expansion of MARTA for last 50 years, it could've been one of the top metro rails in the US that rivals DC's metro rail system, but that's a story for a different place.

Obviously, this is my opinion based on my own experience of course, but MARTA is the best stress-free option when leaving for the airport, the Georgia Aquarium, the High Museum of Art, attending the Peach Drop on new years eve, conferences at GWCC, Falcons games, Hawks games, attending concert venues, etc etc. They're all convenient short walks from train stops.

(08-28-2023 07:04 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  

(08-19-2023 11:00 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  I just want to know when those unused seats will finally be demolished...

Can't begin to imagine how much that will cost.

I heard $10mil before the inflation.

(08-28-2023 07:27 PM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  

(08-28-2023 07:04 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  

(08-19-2023 11:00 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  I just want to know when those unused seats will finally be demolished...

Can't begin to imagine how much that will cost.

I heard $10mil before the inflation.

Well, I guess you get a better view of the ATL skyline for that $10 mil.

(08-28-2023 07:26 PM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  

(08-28-2023 11:43 AM)The Roach Wrote:  I don’t live in Atlanta, but I made that walk several times to see the Braves when I didn’t want to bother with the shuttle from Five Points. Not bad at all.

It really isn't.

(08-28-2023 04:25 PM)KJ Eagle Wrote:  It may only be a one mile walk, but ya'll are forgetting that half of the fun of college football games is the tailgating. If you're riding marta to the game, you're not tailgating at all and the number of people that will do that is very slim.

I've lived in the suburbs of Atlanta for 30 years. I've ridden Marta once in that time frame.

Football and tailgating aside, your usage of MARTA once in 30 years..is probably psychological at this point. Not criticizing necessarily, you're most likely not alone among suburban commuters. I still remember this being a topic in urban policy class a long time ago, where layers of social, political, even cultural dysfunctions are built into unique the social phenomenon of car-centric southern cities, which includes Atlanta.

Personally, I can attest MARTA is pretty clean and safe in comparison to some other rail systems out there. Few months ago for example, I rode the BART while visiting San Francisco, thinking how it was a small, cramped death trap that could derail at any moment. Folks in ATL don't appreciate what we have in our city. MARTA's climate controlled, spacious cabins on stable high-speed heavy rail are luxuries by comparison. If ATL suburban voters didn't oppose the expansion of MARTA for last 50 years, it could've been one of the top metro rails in the US that rivals DC's metro rail system, but that's a story for a different place.

Obviously, this is my opinion based on my own experience of course, but MARTA is the best stress-free option when leaving for the airport, the Georgia Aquarium, the High Museum of Art, attending the Peach Drop on new years eve, conferences at GWCC, Falcons games, Hawks games, attending concert venues, etc etc. They're all convenient short walks from train stops.

I just don't see the need, nor do I see a convenience in driving somewhere to park my car, to then pay to get on a train to go somewhere that I will then (in most cases) have to walk a decent distance to my final destination. Then do it all backwards when going home. It is much easier to drive to my exact destination and park.

(08-28-2023 07:26 PM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  

(08-28-2023 11:43 AM)The Roach Wrote:  I don’t live in Atlanta, but I made that walk several times to see the Braves when I didn’t want to bother with the shuttle from Five Points. Not bad at all.

It really isn't.

(08-28-2023 04:25 PM)KJ Eagle Wrote:  It may only be a one mile walk, but ya'll are forgetting that half of the fun of college football games is the tailgating. If you're riding marta to the game, you're not tailgating at all and the number of people that will do that is very slim.

I've lived in the suburbs of Atlanta for 30 years. I've ridden Marta once in that time frame.

Football and tailgating aside, your usage of MARTA once in 30 years..is probably psychological at this point. Not criticizing necessarily, you're most likely not alone among suburban commuters. I still remember this being a topic in urban policy class a long time ago, where layers of social, political, even cultural dysfunctions are built into unique the social phenomenon of car-centric southern cities, which includes Atlanta.

Personally, I can attest MARTA is pretty clean and safe in comparison to some other rail systems out there. Few months ago for example, I rode the BART while visiting San Francisco, thinking how it was a small, cramped death trap that could derail at any moment. Folks in ATL don't appreciate what we have in our city. MARTA's climate controlled, spacious cabins on stable high-speed heavy rail are luxuries by comparison. If ATL suburban voters didn't oppose the expansion of MARTA for last 50 years, it could've been one of the top metro rails in the US that rivals DC's metro rail system, but that's a story for a different place.

Obviously, this is my opinion based on my own experience of course, but MARTA is the best stress-free option when leaving for the airport, the Georgia Aquarium, the High Museum of Art, attending the Peach Drop on new years eve, conferences at GWCC, Falcons games, Hawks games, attending concert venues, etc etc. They're all convenient short walks from train stops.

MARTA is by far the worse subway system I’ve encountered in terms of availability, aesthetics, coverage, basically anything

NY, Boston, and DC are the best. Only one even close to as bad as Atlanta is St Louis

(08-29-2023 01:27 PM)KJ Eagle Wrote:  I just don't see the need, nor do I see a convenience in driving somewhere to park my car, to then pay to get on a train to go somewhere that I will then (in most cases) have to walk a decent distance to my final destination. Then do it all backwards when going home. It is much easier to drive to my exact destination and park.

Yes precisely. A lot of us Americans became too dependent on the comforts of our cars, until it became ingrained into the way of life. We need to consciously promote changes to how the millions of us commute into the city, or we're never going to fix the daily reoccurring nightmare that is ATL's gridlocked traffic.

(08-30-2023 01:27 AM)GATABOY Wrote:  MARTA is by far the worse subway system I’ve encountered in terms of availability, aesthetics, coverage, basically anything

NY, Boston, and DC are the best. Only one even close to as bad as Atlanta is St Louis

I've ridden MTA perhaps the second-most out of all metro systems due to family roots up north. Aesthetics? I'm not sure you realize how old, grungy, and underfunded it is. Now if you're speaking with regards to the network of access points across the five boroughs in NYC, yes 100% MTA is much more accessible hands down.

But then, you're missing my whole point that MARTA is underused in car-centric Atlanta, which created a vicious cycle of giving the politicians, automobile lobbyists, and opposition interest groups the armaments to block the expansion of MARTA network for last 50 years or so.

BTW, I think these new MARTA trains rolling out in 2025 will be huge going forward in overall rider experience.

(08-28-2023 07:26 PM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  

(08-28-2023 11:43 AM)The Roach Wrote:  I don’t live in Atlanta, but I made that walk several times to see the Braves when I didn’t want to bother with the shuttle from Five Points. Not bad at all.

It really isn't.

(08-28-2023 04:25 PM)KJ Eagle Wrote:  It may only be a one mile walk, but ya'll are forgetting that half of the fun of college football games is the tailgating. If you're riding marta to the game, you're not tailgating at all and the number of people that will do that is very slim.

I've lived in the suburbs of Atlanta for 30 years. I've ridden Marta once in that time frame.

Football and tailgating aside, your usage of MARTA once in 30 years..is probably psychological at this point. Not criticizing necessarily, you're most likely not alone among suburban commuters. I still remember this being a topic in urban policy class a long time ago, where layers of social, political, even cultural dysfunctions are built into unique the social phenomenon of car-centric southern cities, which includes Atlanta.

Personally, I can attest MARTA is pretty clean and safe in comparison to some other rail systems out there. Few months ago for example, I rode the BART while visiting San Francisco, thinking how it was a small, cramped death trap that could derail at any moment. Folks in ATL don't appreciate what we have in our city. MARTA's climate controlled, spacious cabins on stable high-speed heavy rail are luxuries by comparison. If ATL suburban voters didn't oppose the expansion of MARTA for last 50 years, it could've been one of the top metro rails in the US that rivals DC's metro rail system, but that's a story for a different place.

Obviously, this is my opinion based on my own experience of course, but MARTA is the best stress-free option when leaving for the airport, the Georgia Aquarium, the High Museum of Art, attending the Peach Drop on new years eve, conferences at GWCC, Falcons games, Hawks games, attending concert venues, etc etc. They're all convenient short walks from train stops.

My wife and I (and we are straight up rural Tennesseans) took a vacation in downtown Atlanta about 5 years ago. I found a Marta station we could park at for free, but had to move our car once a day. We took the Train to our hotel and used the train/bus system to get around all day, then took it to our car in the evening to get supper somewhere outside of downtown and satisfy the moving our car once a day requirement. We found it pretty nice to not have to search for parking at all the places we were going.

For me at least, it has nothing to do with being dependent on the comforts of my car. It has to do with time and inconvenience. Yes traffic is bad, but it is bad everywhere. It will be just as bad going TO the marta station as it will be going to my destination.

I live in Marietta. If I'm going to MBS for example, I can drive 30-40 minutes directly to the stadium with no stops. Or I can drive 25-30 minutes to the North Springs station to then park, pay for a train, wait on the train to get there, ride the train (that takes I don't know how long to get there because I don't ride it), maybe have to switch trains, then get off the train and walk to the stadium. How much time does all of that take, another 30 minutes or more? So my 30-40 minute trip now takes an hour or more and I have to drive 30 minutes East to get to my destination that is originally only 40 minutes south. I have to deal with paying for the train, hoping that the train is running on my schedule and going directly to my stop or else I have to switch trains and make sure I get on the right train, to then get out and walk to my destination.

If someone lives ITP marta is fine. For almost anyone OTP it's a pain in the *** unless you live right next to a station.

(08-30-2023 07:29 AM)KJ Eagle Wrote:  For me at least, it has nothing to do with being dependent on the comforts of my car. It has to do with time and inconvenience. Yes traffic is bad, but it is bad everywhere. It will be just as bad going TO the marta station as it will be going to my destination.

I live in Marietta. If I'm going to MBS for example, I can drive 30-40 minutes directly to the stadium with no stops. Or I can drive 25-30 minutes to the North Springs station to then park, pay for a train, wait on the train to get there, ride the train (that takes I don't know how long to get there because I don't ride it), maybe have to switch trains, then get off the train and walk to the stadium. How much time does all of that take, another 30 minutes or more? So my 30-40 minute trip now takes an hour or more and I have to drive 30 minutes East to get to my destination that is originally only 40 minutes south. I have to deal with paying for the train, hoping that the train is running on my schedule and going directly to my stop or else I have to switch trains and make sure I get on the right train, to then get out and walk to my destination.

If someone lives ITP marta is fine. For almost anyone OTP it's a pain in the *** unless you live right next to a station.

Not from Atlanta but you are right. The way public transit in nearly ever US city (excluding probably DC, Boston, NYC and Chicago) is designed makes it not as convenient over a private vehicle. But slowly urban infill is changing that equation (see the infill plans on GSU's campus).

Even places like Harrisonburg and JMU are changing. We are removing car lanes in replacement for bike lanes in multiple parts of the city. Making life a whole lot better for those who live in the city, while making it take a tad longer to get into the city from the county by private vehicle.

(08-30-2023 07:29 AM)KJ Eagle Wrote:  For me at least, it has nothing to do with being dependent on the comforts of my car. It has to do with time and inconvenience. Yes traffic is bad, but it is bad everywhere. It will be just as bad going TO the marta station as it will be going to my destination.

I live in Marietta. If I'm going to MBS for example, I can drive 30-40 minutes directly to the stadium with no stops. Or I can drive 25-30 minutes to the North Springs station to then park, pay for a train, wait on the train to get there, ride the train (that takes I don't know how long to get there because I don't ride it), maybe have to switch trains, then get off the train and walk to the stadium. How much time does all of that take, another 30 minutes or more? So my 30-40 minute trip now takes an hour or more and I have to drive 30 minutes East to get to my destination that is originally only 40 minutes south. I have to deal with paying for the train, hoping that the train is running on my schedule and going directly to my stop or else I have to switch trains and make sure I get on the right train, to then get out and walk to my destination.

If someone lives ITP marta is fine. For almost anyone OTP it's a pain in the *** unless you live right next to a station.

This is pretty accurate. I usually lived pretty close to 285 while in ATL and always preferred to drive to a station and take MARTA in, both to GSU and to games. BUT there were definitely times that I needed to cut down on my travel time, so I'd drive. I personally enjoyed the MARTA time, since it's a good time to read and relax at the beginning or end of the day, but I can understand why it doesn't fit the way a lot of folks want their days to go. If you're the type that gets super stressed if you're a minute late for something (not that KJ Eagle indicates this), the time spent cursing the train that hasn't arrived yet when you're in a hurry to get somewhere is enough to make a lot of folks swear off ATL public transit for good. It really does require a slight shift in lifestyle to fully integrate train rides into your travel.