2025 College Football Playoff Announces Atlanta Events

Plans were revealed Tuesday for events surrounding the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta, including the launch of a “Championship Campus” experience that will transform the region into a three-day celebration of college football.

More than 100,000 local residents, plus visitors from across the country, are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff of the 2025 CFC National Championship.

"An entire weekend of fun activities will precede Monday, January 20,2025, when the College Football Playoff National Championship will be decided," Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP, said during a news conference at Atlanta's M. Agnes Jones Elementary School. "It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it. We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January."

The 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship will be decided at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday, January 20, but the celebration will get started Saturday, January 18, with the opening of Playoff Fan Central at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free family-friendly interactive experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history.

"We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP National Championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January," said Dan Corso, president, Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city and the event's impact will be felt long after the final whistle blows through the work of teachers across our state who work tirelessly to guide students to brighter futures."

Downtown Atlanta will be home to one of the country's largest annual traveling music festivals, AT&T Playoff Playlist Live!, which will also begin on Saturday, January 18. Each year, the star-studded event attracts some of music's top acts. Past talent has included Jack Harlow, Latto, the Jonas Brothers, Saweetie, Pitbull, Twenty One Pilots, Doja Cat, Meghan Trainor, Usher, The Chainsmokers, Darius Rucker, Flo Rida, John Mellencamp, Sting and Lenny Kravitz, among others. This year's talent lineup and dates will be announced at a later date. 

On Saturday, January 18, fans are also invited to attend Media Day within Playoff Fan Central at the Georgia World Congress Center. A free event, Media Day will feature one-hour interview sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff National Championship participating teams, where fans are provided with the unique opportunity to watch and listen in. 

On Sunday, January 19, the Trophy Trot will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. The Trophy Trot will feature races at both the 5K and 10K distances, offering a chance for locals as well as out-of-town fans to take part in national championship weekend. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. More information, including how to register, will be made available soon. 

Sunday evening, Taste of the Championship will serve up a foodie's delight at the Georgia Aquarium, offering attendees the opportunity to indulge in gourmet food and drink prepared by chefs local to Atlanta and the community hosting the 2025 national championship game. This premium dining experience serves as a unique and elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship game More information, including how to buy tickets, will be made available in the fall. 

In addition to all the fan activities taking place in Atlanta around the national championship game, the CFP Foundation is already hard at work making an impact in classrooms across the state. Each year, the CFP Foundation develops a comprehensive strategy to support teachers within the local community of the CFP National Championship host. The CFP Foundation and its Extra Yard for Teachers platform works in partnership with local institutions of higher education, sports organizations, corporations, and nonprofits to elevate the teaching profession by supporting educators and helping improve student outcomes. 

The CFP Foundation will put Georgia teachers in the spotlight throughout national championship weekend with a series of events and activities aimed at honoring and empowering educators. The Extra Yard for Teachers Summit, slated for Saturday, January 18, is a gathering of teachers from across the state who come together for high energy and relevant professional development and to hear inspiring speakers who recognize the hard work of those on the front lines of educating students. Past speakers and presenters have included Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education; Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State; Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org; Desmond Howard, ESPN college football analyst; Holly Rowe, ESPN college football sideline reporter; Carl Lewis, nine-time Olympic gold medalist, and many more. The 2025 event will offer in-person for local educators and virtual live and on-demand options for teachers across the country to attend the event at no cost. Registration for both the in-person event and online options will open in the coming months at CFP-Foundation.org. 

The CFP Foundation and Atlanta Football Host Committee have also launched the Georgia Teachers Initiative to celebrate, support, engage, connect and provide resources to PK-12 teachers through a newly-developed statewide platform and community. Together with GTI, the city of Atlanta and the CFP Foundation look to build on the $4 million collective investment since the 2018 national championship game while expanding the legacy impact to teachers across the state of Georgia with a goal of reaching one-third of all educators statewide (over 100,000) by kickoff of the 2025 national championship game.

The 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship will take place on Monday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. The game will air live on ESPN. 

For more information on the College Football Playoff and the 2025 CFP National Championship, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com. To learn more about supporting local efforts and the Atlanta Sports Council/Atlanta Football Host Committee, visit ATLCFP2025.com.

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