Question: How do you plan to tailgate in ATL for the Clemson game?

[Duckhook]

looking for ideas.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I thought this was a trick question...

 

[BAMA FANatic]

There's about five or six of that have motor home and stay in Stone Mountain campground and take the Marta right to the stadium.

ROLL TIDE ROLL :BigA:

 

[Crimson Wonder]

Don't do it near the stadium at night. I policed over there for 5 years before coming back here to Birmingham and I can tell you right now that the area is NOT the place to be hanging out after dark. It's no joke.

 

[Dogtown Darren]

I live outside of Atlanta, and I can tell you first hand, the Georgia Dome is not fan friendly for tailgating....AT ALL!!!! I'd go so far as to say don't even consider it!

Official Dome parking is very limited, and most is usually reserved for VIP's, officials, sponsors etc. The rest of the parking is 'gypsy' lots...ratty old lots, people's front yards and the like.....and VERY expensive!

The only option, really, is an area the locals refer to as "The Gultch". It's hard to describe, and even harder to give directions to! But, basically, it's a railroad gultch area located off Marietta street. One lot is under the street/CNN-Philipps Arena, with an open air lot that joins up to it. As game time gets closer, and your serious about tailgating near the Dome, I'd look into it. It's your only real option.

And as stated before, when you go to the game, don't leave anything out you don't want gone when you get back. Homeless people in that area are thick, and they'll steal the paint off your vehicle if you arn't careful. I don't mean that in a politacally incorrect way, but TRUST ME!!!

IMO, you'd be much better off from a money/security/convience standpoint to take MARTA into town. It's not perfect by any means, but it is a good alternative. Getting to the game is easy enough, leaving the game can be VERY tough, with such a large influx of people hitting the system all at once.

The good news is, there's PLENTY to do down in the Dome area. CNN is near by (which has a food court), a NEW Taco Mac is by Philipps Arena (opened just this week), the Olympic Park (a GREAT place to just hang out and chill), the Aquarium, the new World of Coca-Cola just opened (located next door to the Aquarium), and there's a sports bar called 'Stats' near the Dome as well (but it's a bit on the small side).

Sorry this is so long! I'm a STH for the Thrashers, so we spend a good amount of time down in that area. As the game gets closer, feel free to PM me. I don't 'know it all' about the area, but I'll help out if I can!

 

[kfo9494]

If you are heading from Alabama. Take the exit right past the I285 exchange. I think it is the Holmes or MLKing Exit. At the bottom of the ramp they have a Marta Station. They have free parking, on weekends, and five stops later you are at the Dome/CNN station. And I mean you are there! it is not like you have to walk another three blocks-- you are a short walk to the doors.
I will say that Atlanta's Marta system are usually up to date about any special event. They will run trains past the normal hours if there is a special event or late time. (Unlike Bham). It is the only way to go to the Dome. And there will be tons of Bama fans riding the train so it makes you feel safe
>
As others have said---DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR NEAR, OR CLOSE TO THE DOME AREA. Oustside the dome/Cnn block - it is a slum. Five times worse than Legion Field (if that is possible).

Got a co-worker that is a Ga Tech fan. He goes to many games at BDS(Bobby Dodd Stadium). Due to the limited parking on the Tech campus and the $30 parking fee, they tailgate at the Marta station with other Tech fans the ride the Marta to the game.

 

[BocaLance]

If you're not staying in hotel near the dome, my recommendation is to park in a parking deck near a major hotel and take a cab to and from the hotel and dome. It'll cost a few more bucks, but the headaches will be minimal. We went to this past year's SECCG and parked in the deck next to the Atlanta Hilton, which is right near the I-85/75 exchange, which is a quick skip over to I-20.

 

[RT3413]

If you want to take the high-end route, try the Grant Park Summer Shade festival.

For those of you who don't know, Grant Park is where the Atlanta Zoo is located - about a $15 cab ride to/from the stadium OR you can take Marta to and from.

The Summer Shade Festival has a section called "Corks and Forks" where for about $25/head you get to taste food from ~10 different top-notch restaurants around Atlanta AND there is unlimited wine and beer offered from two different distributors. It's a great festival and takes place the weekend of the Alabama-Clemson game.

We live in the area and have 10 guests coming in and we're all going to start our day off there....

Details

If you wanted the more traditional tailgate, good luck. As has been noted here before the Dome is not the best place to tailgate....

 

[Bama Reb]

This is what comes to mind when I think about tailgating in Atlanta.

 

[tru2thaduce]

I was lucky and found the ''gulch'' area a couple of years ago for the Steelers/Falcons game.It wasn't all bad but I didn't feel real safe going into the dome leaving my car there with nobody around.I didn't tailgate but there were several that were.

 

[rhYno]

If you're not staying in hotel near the dome, my recommendation is to park in a parking deck near a major hotel and take a cab to and from the hotel and dome. It'll cost a few more bucks, but the headaches will be minimal. We went to this past year's SECCG and parked in the deck next to the Atlanta Hilton, which is right near the I-85/75 exchange, which is a quick skip over to I-20.

My recommendation is to stay as far away from ATL as you possibly can. We stayed at a NICE hotel near downtown one night, after a Braves game (too drunk and tired to drive home), the next morning our windows were busted out and the hotel claimed they could do nothing about it, though, oddly enough, nothing was stolen. I honestly hate ATL and Alabama is the only reason I'll ever go back!

 

[ga_tide_fan]

Stone Mountain Park has a good camping / RV area and is convenient to MARTA. I would not tailgate around the Dome. There are not many spots to do so either. I live in Griffin and attend sporting events at the Dome, Turner Field, and Phillips. I always drive to East Point and take MARTA in. It is just more convenient.

 

[Bamafan23]

I'll just go to the Varsity. But the Marta is the way to go, it drops you off right at the stadium.

 

[Just Win]

I'm slightly disappointed that none of my Crimson brethren have suggested "tail" gating at the "Spring Street Ballet" (AKA - The Cheetah). It's only a short cab ride from the Dome, but can get quite expensive. It would be a great way to eliminate the pre-game jitters that I know (like me) some of you suffer from. For some reason, while you're there, you forget about football for a while.


Roll Tide Roll!