Turner Field

From Olympic glory to Braves home: Turner Field's legacy in Atlanta.

Turner Field was a baseball stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1997 to 2016, it served as the home ballpark to the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics, it was converted into a baseball stadium to serve as the new home of the team. The Braves moved about one mile from Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, which served as their home field for 31 seasons from 1966 to 1996.

Quick Facts

Nickname: The Ted
Address: 755 Hank Aaron Drive
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Groundbreaking: July 10, 1993 (as Centennial Olympic Stadium)
Opened: 29 March 1997
Closed: 2 October 2016
Renovated: 2017 (reconstructed as Center Parc Stadium)
Demolished: 2016–17 (added concrete)

Lore & Background

The stadium was originally constructed as the 85,000-seat Centennial Olympic Stadium and used for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Immediately after the 1996 Summer Paralympics, much of the north end of the stadium was removed to convert it to a 49,000-seat baseball park. Private entities, including NBC and other Olympic sponsors, agreed to pay a large sum of the cost to build Centennial Olympic Stadium (approximately $170 million of the $209 million bill).

The conversion to Turner Field was paid for by the Atlanta Braves and the city of Atlanta. The most popular name choice among Atlanta residents for the new stadium was Hank Aaron Stadium, but it was named after Ted Turner. The city renamed the section of Capitol Avenue on which the stadium sits Hank Aaron Drive, giving Turner Field the street number 755, after Aaron's home run total. The section of the outfield wall with the monument marking where Hank Aaron's 715th home run went over it was moved to a new location at Turner Field (not the original spot) and was later removed to Truist Park.

Reader's Guide

Turner Field hosted the NLDS a total of 11 times (1997–2005, 2010, 2013), the NLCS four times (1997–1999, 2001), one World Series (1999), one NL Wild Card Game (2012, the first in baseball history), and the 2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The Braves played the final game at Turner Field on October 2, 2016, a 1–0 win over the Detroit Tigers. The franchise allowed its lease on the facility to expire at the end of the calendar year. In 2017, the team moved to the newly constructed SunTrust Park (now called Truist Park), located in nearby Cobb County. The stadium was reconfigured for college football in 2017 as Center Parc Stadium for Georgia State University. Architecture firm Heery was responsible for both stadium conversions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Braves play at Turner Field?

The team called this ballpark home for twenty seasons, spanning from 1997 through the end of 2016. It served as their headquarters until they relocated to SunTrust Park in Cobb County.

Did the Braves win a World Series at Turner Field?

No championships were won by the franchise during their tenure at this specific location. Although the site hosted the 1996 World Series, the team did not capture a title while playing there as residents.

What is the current status of Turner Field?

After renovations, the property was handed over to Georgia State University and now operates as their football stadium. It no longer hosts professional baseball games but remains an active sports complex.