How to hit a home run at The Battery Atlanta
No one is counting down the days to the Brave’s home-opener louder than super-fan Karen Makepeace. The Greenville transplant lived in Atlanta for more than 30 years and returns for baseball games as frequently as she can. “I raised three boys in Atlanta,” the avid sports fan shares. “They all played baseball. They love the Braves. We love the Braves. It’s fabulous.”
Even more fabulous? The Braves’ new home at Truist Park, connected to The Battery Atlanta. “The beauty of The Battery is that a family can go, and there’s so much going on. Even if you don’t have tickets to the game, it’s a great day,” Karen explains. “They have huge TV screens, a marching band, the mascot, the game commentators’ booth, fun restaurants, and shops. You can do all of that and never go inside the stadium. It’s a wonderful experience.”
And while she loved Turner Field, The Battery Atlanta and Truist Park in Cumberland are closer to the Upstate. “It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive,” she says. “Before, when the stadium was all the way downtown, it was an ordeal. Now, it’s so big, but so much easier to get in and out, parking is more than adequate, it’s affordable, and walkable. To me, it’s better than Disneyland. It’s heaven on Earth.”
Running the Bases at The Battery Atlanta
First Base: The Battery Atlanta is a 2.25-million-square-foot, mixed-use development at the intersection of I-75 and I-285 in Cumberland, an unincorporated area northwest of Metro Atlanta. Family-friendly, the complex is open 365 days a year, not just game days. The Battery Atlanta includes Truist Park as well as fountains, restaurants, recreational space, retail, and hotels.
Second Base: As you make your way around the infield, don’t miss the many shops and restaurants. Braves fans will want to linger inside the Clubhouse Store and Baseballism. Sugarboo & Co. is filled with unique items for the home, while South End Trading Company features gifts “for those who love the South.” Grab some protein and carbs before the game at The Punch Bowl, a diner-inspired craft kitchen with parlor games. Celebrate big wins at the Garden & Gun Club with a proper old-fashioned, Hemingway daiquiri, or Oaxaca toddy.
Third Base: The Battery Atlanta features every entertainment imaginable from bowling to bull-riding. A game-winning strategy must include the Coca-Cola Roxy. Originally demolished in the early ’70s, Atlanta’s Roxy Theatre has found rebirth with this 53,000-square-foot venue that hosts live music and private events. PBR Atlanta combines cowboy cool with urban chic. Look for special events, including silent discos, drag shows, and UFC fight nights.
Home Run: Slide into home plate by booking a luxurious resting place. The Aloft Hotel and Omni Hotel bookend The Battery Atlanta. The latter looks down upon Truist Park, with 236 rooms and 28 suites. As a cornerstone of the mixed-use community, The Omni offers a special package that includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the home of the Braves, as well as a Park & Play package with valet service. At the other end of the complex, Aloft features the on-trend art and design the hotel is known for, while delivering a vibrant and lively environment for pre- and post-game fun.
Easy links to parking, entertainment, and more can be found at BatteryATL.com.
