The Sports Scene – Sports and Recreation

Sports
Atlanta, named among the top 10 “Best Sports Cities”,* is home to five professional sports franchises:
Atlanta Braves (MLB) at Turner Field
Atlanta Hawks (NBA) at Philips Arena
Atlanta Dream (WNBA) at Philips Arena
Atlanta Falcons (NFL) at the Georgia Dome
Georgia Force (Arena football) at The Arena at Gwinnett Center

Atlanta continues to host major sporting events including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Course, Final Four of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament and the 10K Peachtree Road Race.

For fans of college sports, metro Atlanta is home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and also annually hosts the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Parade and the SEC Championship.

*Sporting News magazine, October 11, 2010
**Information courtesy of Metro Atlanta: An Executive Profile

Recreation
Metro Atlantans have ample opportunities for both indoor and outdoor recreation with more than 100 public, private and semi-private golf courses and approximately 300 golf days per year. The area offers several lakes– Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona being the largest– for fishing, swimming, and boating. There is also an abundance of recreation leagues and clubs for popular sports, such as tennis, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, cycling and running. The Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA), the second largest local tennis association in the nation with more than 80,000 members playing on over 200 public tennis courts, and the Atlanta Track Club (ATC), the second largest running organization in the United States serving runners and walkers of all ages and paces, are just two of the opportunities available to metro Atlanta residents.
Piedmont Park
Lookout Mountain
Centennial Olympic Park
Chattahoochee Nature Center
**Information courtesy of Metro Atlanta: An Executive Profile

Lovers of tennis will find an abundance of courts, both free and fee-based, and an especially strong organization for league play, the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association. Registered with the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association in 1934, ALTA is affiliated with the U.S. Tennis Association through membership in the Southern Tennis Association and abides by the rules of the USSTA rules of tennis and code of play. It hosts leagues for men, women and juniors. For more information, visit the ALTA website, www.altatennis.org.

Under the auspices of the Atlanta Track Club, the city is a prime venue for five-and 10-kilometer foot races, most notably the 33-year-old Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10,000-meter road race in the world. Held every Fourth of July in hot and humid weather on a course that traverses hills and plateaus extending from Buckhead’s Lenox Mall to Piedmont Park in Midtown, “the Peachtree,” as natives like to refer to it, attracts runners from as far away as Africa, Europe and Indonesia, along with a cadre of loyal natives who make it a point of pride to run the race every year. For more information on the Peachtree and other Atlanta Track Club-sanctioned foot races, go to www.atlantatrackclub.org.

As area residents look for safer ways to exercise and avoid congested roadways, the demand for a metro wide trail system has increased dramatically. The PATH Foundation, a non-profit organization, has stepped in to help create a network of trails throughout Georgia and the metro area that are used each day by thousands of joggers, walkers, bikers and skaters. Currently there are over 80 miles of trails throughout Atlanta. To find the nearest trailhead go to www.pathfoundation.org.

Like most metropolitan centers, Atlanta also has its share of health clubs and fitness centers with extensive equipment and programs ranging from standards such as Nautilus programs and aerobics to newer programs including Bikram yoga and Pilates workouts. Metro YMCAs offer family fitness programs and facilities as well as workouts geared specifically for youth and the elderly. Leading national franchises with multiple Atlanta locations include Australian Body Works, Bally Total Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Fitness International, Gold’s Gyms, L.A. Fitness Sports Clubs and Ladies Workout Express. In addition, most medical centers offer  fitness programs such as the Piedmont Hospital Health and Fitness Club. Of course any list of local gyms and health clubs would include the Concourse Athletic Club in Dunwoody, downtown’s Peachtree Center Athletic Club and the Carl E. Sanders Family YMCA Fitness Center in Buckhead. Also, most county parks and recreation departments offer low-cost fitness facilities ranging from fitness par courses at many parks to full gymnasiums and outdoor tracks.

Sports in North Fulton

In addition to the many parks and recreational facilities around the county, North Fulton also has myriad other ways for residents to stay active. From adult and children’s organized sports leagues run by the county Department of Parks and Recreation to chain fitness gyms and the country’s largest recreational tennis league, the options are limitless.

ALTA
www.altatennis.org
Multiple locations
With 82,000 members, ALTA is the country’s largest recreational tennis league. Visit the website for league and season information.

Andretti Indoor Karting and Games
11000 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell
(770) 992-5688
Enjoy go-karts, food and games at this facility named after racing legend Mario Andretti.

Anytime Fitness
270 Rucker Road, Alpharetta
(770) 751-1837
5905 Atlanta Highway, Alpharetta
(678) 513-2448
670 N. Main St., Alpharetta
(678) 513-2448
9420 Willeo Road, Roswell
(770) 241-1086
In addition to being open 24 hours, a membership at Anytime Fitness allows patrons access to all of the gym’s locations.

Atlanta National Golf Club
350 Tournament Players Drive, Milton
(770) 442-8801
Membership at this private club also includes access to White Columns Country Club and The Manor Golf & Country Club.

Brunswick Zone Roswell
785 Old Roswell Road, Roswell
(770) 998-9437
Enjoy bowling, laser tag, arcade games and party space all in one location.

Curves
653 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell
(770) 657-0351
6305 Roswell Road NE, Atlanta
(404) 705-9025
The world’s largest women-only fitness center also includes nutrition and weight management solutions.

Dynamo
5075 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek
(770) 772-6007
The metro area’s go-to facility for competitive swimming lessons, meets and competitions.

Ed Isakson/Alpharetta Family YMCA
3655 Preston Ridge Road, Alpharetta
(770) 664-1220
Enjoy summer camps, a swimming pool, workout facility and a variety of fitness classes and other family-friendly activities.

Golf Club of Georgia
1 Golf Club Drive, Alpharetta
(770) 664-8644
Founded in 1990, this club has hosted a wide range of tournaments and events, including the Senior PGA Tour’s Nationwide Championship.

LA Fitness
5530 Windward Parkway, Suite H, Alpharetta
(678) 393-2733
1475 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 189, Roswell
(770) 640-8137
4905 Alabama Road, Roswell
(678) 494-6464
6690 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
(404) 478-4161
Enjoy state-of-the-art facilities in convenient locations.

Martin’s Landing River Club
1221 Riverside Road, Roswell
(770) 642-2123
This private swim and tennis club sits on 8.5 acres of pine forest in Roswell and has been in operation for more than 40 years.


Morgan Falls Athletic Complex

450 Morgan Falls Place, Sandy Springs
This complex has baseball fields, T-ball fields, football fields, picnic pavilions, playgrounds and a concessions stand, and hosts youth baseball and football leagues.

Orangetheory Fitness
3450 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 210, Alpharetta
(770) 686-5352
625 W. Crossville Road, Suite 108, Roswell
(770) 625-6122
5975 Roswell Road, Suite A113, Sandy Springs
(770) 905-2600
This innovative workout uses the science of heart-rate-based treadmill interval training in a group setting for maximum weight loss.

River Pines Golf
4775 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek
(770) 442-5960
Located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, this championship course was founded in 1990.

Sandy Springs Tennis Center
500 Abernathy Road, Sandy Springs
(404) 303-6182
This recently-renovated facility includes a clubhouse, pro shop, 24 lighted tennis courts and jogging trail.

Seaventures
2880 Holcomb Bridge Road, No. 136, Alpharetta
(770) 992-3772
It’s a one-stop shop for swimming lessons, scuba and snorkel instruction and gear.

24/7 Workout
9945 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta
(678) 205-2667
13800 Highway 9 N., Milton
(678) 566-3080
4401 Shallowford Road, Suite 144, Roswell
(678) 277-8119
Fit in a workout any time at this 24/7 exercise facility.

Windward Soccer Complex
6435 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta
Youth soccer leagues play at this complex.

Sports in Cobb

In addition to the many parks and recreational facilities around the county, Cobb also has myriad other ways for residents to stay active. From adult and children’s organized sports leagues run by the county parks and recreation department to chain fitness gyms and the country’s largest recreational tennis league, the options are limitless.

24/7 Workout
800 Whitlock Ave. NW, Suite 106, Marietta
(678) 355-5530
Fit in a workout any time at this 24/7 exercise facility.

Acworth Sports Complex
4000 S. Main St., Acworth
(770) 917-1234
This 42-acre park includes batting cages and multiple football and baseball fields. It is home to the Acworth Baseball, Acworth Football and Acworth Cheerleading Associations.

Al Bishop Softball Complex
1082 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta
(770) 528-8860
This county park includes five softball fields.

ALTA
www.altatennis.org
Multiple locations
With 82,000 members, ALTA is the country’s largest recreational tennis league. Visit the website for league and season information.

AMF Marietta Lanes
565 Cobb Parkway, Marietta
(770) 427-4696
Try your hand at bowling in one of AMF’s 32 lanes.

Anytime Fitness
1625 Ridenour Blvd., Suite 305, Kennesaw
(678) 275-2021
4500 West Village Place SE, Suite 2011/2013, Smyrna
(770) 431-9470
3721 New Macland Road, Powder Springs
(770) 222-0277
1727 Mars Hill Road, Suite 13, Acworth
(770) 421-6000
In addition to being open 24 hours, a membership at Anytime Fitness allows patrons access to all of the gym’s locations.

The Bar Method
1281 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 112, Marietta
(770) 578-4655
A comprehensive cardio and core workout that uses a wall-mounted bar and floor exercises.

Brunswick Zone Austell
2750 Austell Road SW, Marietta
(770) 435-2120
Enjoy bowling, laser tag, arcade games and party space all in one location.

Central Aquatic Center
520 Fairground St., Marietta
(770) 528-8465
One of the county’s four indoor aquatic centers; open year-round.

Cobb Gymnastics Center
542 S. Fairground St. SE, Marietta
(770) 528-8475
Classes for kids begin as early as age 2.

Cobblestone Golf Course
4200 Nance Road, Acworth
(770) 917-5151
Located on the banks of Lake Acworth, this course has been highly rated by Golf Digest magazine.

CrossFit East Cobb
4696 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 700, Marietta
(770) 977-8575
CrossFit South Cobb
1600 Roswell St., Smyrna
(404) 310-5332
Crank up your workout with CrossFit, which combines functional movements with high intensity.

Curves
3600 Cherokee St. NW, Suite 102, Kennesaw
(770) 426-0033
5330 Brookstone Drive NW, Suite 240, Acworth
(770) 422-9744
2960 Shallowford Road NE, Suite 103, Marietta
(770) 977-7769
2209 Roswell Road, Suite 100, Marietta
(770) 977-7187
2810 Paces Ferry Road SE, Suite 216, Atlanta
(770) 434-9034
The world’s largest women-only fitness center also includes nutrition and weight management solutions.

Gold’s Gym
2840 East West Connector, Suite 200, Austell
(770) 432-8688
5505 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth
(770) 592-4950
Founded in 1965, this gym chain offers classes, corporate wellness and personal training.

L.A. Fitness
2995 Cobb Parkway, Atlanta
(770) 956-9093
1025 East West Connector, Building 2, Austell
(770) 432-4262
State-of-the-art facilities in convenient locations.

Legacy Links

1825 Windy Hill Road, Smyrna
(770) 434-6331
This par 58 course was designed by senior PGA tour star Larry Nelson.

Midtown Athletic Club at Windy Hill
135 Interstate N Parkway SE, Atlanta
(770) 953-1100
This state-of-the-art facility includes tennis, a spa, pool, personal training and a pro shop.

Mountain View Aquatic Center

2650 Gordy Parkway, Marietta
(770) 509-4925
One of the county’s four indoor aquatic centers; open year-round.

Mud Creek Soccer Complex
5600 Ernest Barrett Parkway, Powder Springs
(770) 528- 8816
Youth soccer leagues play at this park, which includes three full-sized and two half-sized soccer fields.

Orangetheory Fitness
1401 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 320, Marietta
(678) 920-9455
This innovative workout uses the science of heart-rate-based treadmill interval training in a group setting for maximum weight loss.

Powder Springs Pool (outdoor)
3899 Brownsville Road, Powder Springs
(770) 439-3615
Season passes are available, or pay the nominal admission fee.

Sewell Park Pool (outdoor)
2055 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta
(770) 509-2741
Season passes are available, or pay the nominal admission fee.

South Cobb Aquatic Center
875 Six Flags Drive, Austell
(770) 739-3180
One of the county’s four indoor aquatic centers; open year-round.

West Cobb Aquatic Center

3675 Macland Road, Powder Springs
(770) 222-6700
One of the county’s four indoor aquatic centers; open year-round.

Professional Teams

Atlanta has seven major sports teams that provide year-round live, televised, and radio-broadcast entertainment for thousands of fans. Atlanta’s teams play at first-rate venues that have hosted the World Series, Super Bowls, NCAA Regional and Final Four basketball tournaments, the Peach Bowl, Major League Baseball’s All Star Game, and the SEC Championship Game.

Below are the major sports teams in Atlanta and their websites where you can find detailed information about each of the teams.

MLB Atlanta Braves

www.atlanta.braves.mlb.com

NFL Atlanta Falcons

www.atlantafalcons.com

NHL Atlanta Thrashers

www.atlantathrashers.com/

NBA Atlanta Hawks Basketball

www.nba.com

WNBA Atlanta Dream

www.wnba.com

NASL Atlanta Silverbacks

www.atlantasilverbacks.com

USL W Atlanta Silverbacks Women

www.atlantasilverbacks.com