Atlanta, December 1, 2025 — In a move that acknowledges decades of urban transformation, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority announced this week it will rename one of its busiest downtown stations to better reflect the thriving entertainment corridor it serves.
The GWCC/CNN Center Station will become the Sports, Entertainment, and Convention District Station — or SEC District Station for short — marking the latest chapter in the transit hub's long history as a gateway to some of Atlanta's most iconic venues.
The decision comes as the area around the station has evolved into one of the Southeast's most vibrant urban districts, drawing millions of visitors each year to State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park.
For generations of Atlantans, the station has been a shape-shifter of sorts, its identity tied to whatever landmark loomed largest in the city's consciousness at any given moment. Longtime residents have called it the Omni stop, the Dome stop, the Philips stop — each name a timestamp of the city's growth and the changing face of downtown.
When the station first opened, it primarily served the Omni Coliseum, later becoming synonymous with CNN Center as the news network's global headquarters became a downtown anchor. Over the years, the stop has welcomed fans heading to championship celebrations, concertgoers rushing to catch opening acts, and conventioneers navigating the sprawling Georgia World Congress Center complex.
But the landscape has shifted dramatically. CNN has departed its longtime home, and the surrounding blocks now house a constellation of attractions that extends well beyond any single facility. Development projects like Centennial Yards promise to further reshape the area, while the College Football Hall of Fame and other destinations have cemented the district's reputation as an entertainment powerhouse.
Transit officials say the new name eliminates confusion for visitors unfamiliar with Atlanta's architectural history and provides clearer direction during major events that can draw tens of thousands of people through the station in a single day.
The renaming is part of a broader push by MARTA to modernize its wayfinding systems across the network. Updated signage, maps and digital information tools will carry the new designation, creating what officials hope will be a more intuitive experience for riders.
“This station has been at the heart of Atlanta's biggest moments for decades, and its new name reflects the district it serves today,” said Jonathan Hunt, MARTA's interim general manager and CEO. “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.”
The announcement comes alongside other improvements at the station. Earlier this year, MARTA completed substantial roof repairs, addressing structural concerns and enhancing passenger safety and comfort. Those upgrades complement broader modernization efforts across the system, including the NextGen Bus Network and the rollout of the Better Breeze fare collection system.
For a transit agency that has struggled at times with public perception, the moves represent an effort to signal investment in infrastructure and customer experience — areas that have drawn criticism in recent years as Atlanta's population has surged and demand for public transit has grown.
The station rename also offers a reminder of how rapidly Atlanta's downtown has changed. What was once a scattered collection of single-purpose venues has coalesced into a dense entertainment district that rivals those in cities far older and larger. The shift reflects not just changing real estate but changing expectations about what urban cores should offer — a mix of sports, culture, convention space and, increasingly, residential life.
Whether riders will embrace the new name remains to be seen. Atlantans have a history of clinging to familiar designations long after official changes take effect, and some may continue calling the stop by the names they've used for years. But for newcomers and visitors, the SEC District branding may finally offer the clarity that has long been missing.
MARTA officials say the updated signage will begin appearing in the coming months, part of a phased rollout designed to minimize confusion during the transition.
