Gas South Arena Breaks Ground on $175 Million Transformation

DULUTH, Ga. — Gas South Arena is officially entering a new era.

Officials broke ground Thursday on a $175 million renovation and expansion project designed to modernize the 23-year-old arena while strengthening its position as one of Metro Atlanta’s leading sports and entertainment destinations.

The multi-year project will touch nearly every part of the building, from the entrance plaza and seating bowl to concessions, premium hospitality areas, production technology and parking. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2028.

Gas South Arena opened in 2003 and has welcomed nearly 20 million guests during its first two decades. The approximately 13,000-seat venue is home to the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators, the National Lacrosse League’s Georgia Swarm and Major League Volleyball’s Atlanta Vibe. It also hosts concerts, family shows, graduations, community events and national sporting competitions.

The goal of the renovation is not to create a larger arena but to give fans a more modern experience from the moment they arrive on the Gas South District campus.

One of the most visible additions will be a new 1,000-space parking deck, which will replace some of the surface parking surrounding the arena and improve access for fans attending events. The project will also redesign the arena’s main entrance and turn the plaza into a permanent gated security area.

New screening technology is expected to allow groups of guests to pass through security more efficiently without the traditional stop-and-wait process created by individual metal detectors and handheld screening. The revamped entrance will also include digital features, permanent merchandise locations, food and beverage areas and a separate ticketing facility.

Once inside, fans will see expanded concourses, modernized restrooms and completely new seating throughout the arena bowl.

The renovation will introduce new loge seating, private premium spaces and a club featuring Personal Seat Licenses. The PSL structure will give purchasers the exclusive right to buy season tickets for designated premium seats.

Although the type and location of premium seating will change, officials have said the arena’s overall capacity and total number of suites are not expected to increase. Gas South Arena currently has 30 corporate suites and two party suites.

The new hospitality areas will include custom bars, upscale food options and gathering spaces designed to allow fans to socialize without becoming disconnected from the event. Officials are also planning more flexible seating options closer to the arena floor, reflecting a broader shift in the industry toward premium spaces with better views and easier access.

Food and beverage service will receive a major overhaul as well.

Gas South Arena is already a cashless venue, but the renovation will expand grab-and-go concession technology throughout the building. The system is designed to shorten lines by allowing guests to select their items, pay electronically and quickly return to their seats.

Behind the scenes, the arena will receive an extensive technological and structural update. Plans include a complete overhaul of the audio and video production infrastructure, larger high-definition LED displays, new digital signage and upgraded network and security systems.

The project also includes a new energy-efficient roof along with improvements to the arena’s HVAC and electrical systems. Those upgrades are intended to improve guest comfort while extending the useful life of the building.

The renovation will be completed in phases, allowing the arena to continue hosting most of its scheduled events during construction. Gas South District President and CEO Stan Hall said the building is expected to close for approximately 10 weeks during summer 2027 while all the seats in the arena bowl are replaced.

Outside of that period, the Atlanta Gladiators, Georgia Swarm, Atlanta Vibe, touring artists and other scheduled events are expected to continue using the building.

The project’s financing includes $140 million in revenue bonds issued through the Development Authority of Gwinnett County. Gwinnett County approved the bonds in June at a 5.31% interest rate after maintaining AAA ratings from the nation’s three major credit-rating agencies. The remaining project cost is expected to come from Gas South District’s internal cash reserves.

The final $175 million figure falls within the $170 million to $176 million range presented to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners before it approved the financing partnership in July 2025.

Perkins&Will led the project’s architectural planning, while Brasfield & Gorrie is serving as the general contractor. Atlanta-based IMPACT Development Management is also providing project consulting.

The arena renovation represents the latest stage of a much larger transformation across the 118-acre Gas South District campus. The convention center has more than doubled its original size, the existing convention space was renovated, the Gas South Theater received improvements and the Westin Atlanta Gwinnett opened in 2024.

Those projects are part of an effort to turn the campus into a complete destination where visitors can attend an event, stay overnight and access nearby dining and entertainment.

Gas South Arena has reportedly generated more than $1 billion in economic impact for Gwinnett County over the past decade and contributes to a district that attracts more than one million visitors annually.

With newer venues and proposed arena projects increasing competition throughout Metro Atlanta, the $175 million investment is also about keeping Gas South Arena relevant in a rapidly changing entertainment industry.

Instead of replacing the arena, Gwinnett County and Gas South District are betting that a floor-to-ceiling transformation can prepare the building for another generation of sports, concerts and community events.

By early 2028, the familiar arena on Sugarloaf Parkway will remain in the same location—but the experience inside is expected to look and feel completely different.