MARTA renames key station as nod to evolving downtown

Tucked between Atlanta’s marquee sports stadiums, across the street from a rising section of the Centennial Yards megaproject, a MARTA station familiar to millions of Atlantans and visitors officially has a new name.

It’s out with GWCC/CNN Center station. And in with… Sports, Entertainment, and Convention District station—or SEC District station, for short.

MARTA leaders announced the official station renaming Monday as part of an effort to reflect the evolution of the city’s downtown core and the rail system that courses through it. CNN, after all, has departed its namesake building next door. And locals have referred to the transit stop by different names—Omni, Dome, Phillips, and CNN Center among them—for generations.

MARTA’s Board of Directors approved the station renaming in May, in hopes of updating signage, maps, and digital tools months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off downtown next summer.

According to MARTA officials, the revised name “captures the full range of destinations that exist in this modern era and provides immediate clarity for riders who may be unfamiliar with historic facility names.”

A revised MARTA pylon sign outside the Atlanta Hawks' arena. Courtesy of MARTA

In the heart of college football country, where the slightest gameday advantage can feel monumental, the new station name could seem foreboding for fans of Georgia Tech and other ACC schools—or adherents to any conference that isn’t the perennially strong SEC. (We jest. Sort of.)

Since it opened at the front door of the Omni Coliseum, SEC District station has been the primary stop for big sports contests, the 24/7 news headquarters, cultural attractions, and downtown concerts. Today it’s also the main stop for Centennial Yards and most destinations around Centennial Olympic Park.

“This station has been at the heart of Atlanta’s biggest moments for decades, and its new name reflects the district it serves today,” Jonathan Hunt, MARTA’s interim general manager and CEO, said in the announcement. “As our city continues to grow and attract global events, it is essential that our system is clear, intuitive, and ready to welcome every rider.”

Roof repairs described as “significant” were completed at SEC District station earlier this year, reinforcing the structure for customer safety and comfort, according to MARTA.

The changes join broader modernization efforts at MARTA that include NextGen Bus Network and Better Breeze fare collection system updates—alongside a sleek, high-tech new railcar fleet that’s scheduled to start rolling out next year.

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