Sports
Sports

College football’s championship game set a few Atlanta records

First presidential visit to a college football championship since 1980 First All-SEC College Football Playoff national championship matchup First College Football Playoff national championship overtime finish Highest-rated college football game in Atlanta (47.8 rating) to air on ESPN Highest-attended college football game in Atlanta with 77,430 fans
By
Jan 30, 2018

Alabama's overtime victory over Georgia in the College Football Playoff championship game Jan. 8 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium drew 77,430 fans, a record for a college football game in Atlanta.

And that’s not the only record it set for Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s championship debut.

Organizers of the four-year-old College Football Playoff say previous attendance records were broken for several of the ancillary events: Playoff Fan Central, a three-day, 300,000-square foot interactive fan festival in the Georgia World Congress Center; Media Day, held in Philips Arena two days before the game; and the Extra Yard 5K race, held one day before the game.

About the Author

Tim Tucker, a long-time AJC sports reporter, often writes about the business side of the games. He also had stints as the AJC's Braves beat writer, UGA beat writer, sports notes columnist and executive sports editor. He was deputy managing editor of America's first all-sports newspaper, The National Sports Daily.

Follow Tim Tucker on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Tony Barnhart speaks into the microphone during a broadcast of his and Wes Durham's radio show in the 790/The Zone studios in Buckhead. Barnhart, a journalist for more than four decades, announced Thursday that he will retire after this upcoming football season. (AJC 2010)

Credit: Special

Tony Barnhart, ‘Mr. College Football,’ retiring after 50 years in sports media

Tony Barnhart, known as "Mr. College Football," is retiring from sports media after 50 years in the business — including roles at the AJC, ESPN, CBS and the SEC Network.

Norvell and Meyer repeat as champions of Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge

The team of Florida State head football coach Mike Norvell and former Florida head coach Urban Meyer captured their second straight championship at the charity golf tournament

Kelly sets scoring record in winning Mitsubishi Electric Classic

The Latest

Placeholder Image

Georgia lands another large in-state OL for 2026 recruiting class

Sports Daily: The hater’s guide to Kentucky Derby horse names

Tony Barnhart, ‘Mr. College Football,’ retiring after 50 years in sports media

Featured

A new poll from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution explored what Georgians thought about the first 100 days in office of President Donald Trump’s second term. Photo illustration by Philip Robibero/AJC

Credit: Philip Robibero/AJC

Interactive: What Georgia voters think about Donald Trump’s first 100 days, the issues and 2026 election

Explore the AJC's interactive poll results to see how Georgians' opinions differ about politics based on their gender, age, race, education, income and political leaning.

Dickens administration aims to wipe out $33M deficit before budget cycle begins

According to the mayor’s office, the original $33 million deficit — about 3% of last year’s general fund budget — has already been reduced by half.

Gwinnett judge won’t apply Kemp’s new lawsuit limits to landmark trial

The judge overseeing a landmark trial in Gwinnett County refused to apply Gov. Brian Kemp’s new lawsuit-limiting legislation to the case.