Atlanta, GA
Worried about World Cup traffic? Planning, technology should help ease jams.
As Atlanta gets set to host the World Cup, commuters should rest easy, as the city has handled this kind of pressure before.
A MARTA billboard about World Cup traffic stands outside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)
Atlanta hosts its first of eight FIFA World Cup games June 15 and is among 16 North American cities with this honor.
An event of this magnitude requires significant planning, personnel, equipment and cooperation to go smoothly. And while Atlanta is notorious for slow traffic, the city says it is ready to host the world and has the receipts to prove it.
I sat down with Georgia Tech professor of environmental and civil engineering, Michael Hunter, to get a read on how well Atlanta should be able to move people.
“Georgia had a lot of foresight and it is paying dividends now, because they can hold an event like the World Cup, which is going to involve state coordination, city coordination, local county coordination, and they can do that,” he said.
One wise strategy was implemented at the state level in the last 10-15 years, Hunter said, as the Georgia Department of Transportation incentivized local governments to buy the same traffic signal equipment. That allows traffic lights to “talk” to each other and adjust priorities for vehicles, transit or pedestrians, based on traffic flow. Flanked by a bank of his own traffic signal boxes and test modeling computers in his lab, Hunter explained the Summer Olympics were a turning point for Atlanta. While the 1996 Games were far from perfect, the city proved it could host the world.
The 2019 Super Bowl proved to be another revelation in A-Town.
“They learned at the Super Bowl how to get everybody to talk,” Hunter explained. “It is about the coordination.”
And, he noted, reflecting on his nearly 30 years in the field, Georgia does this better than other places he has studied.
The Atlanta Police Department recently met with reporters to detail its World Cup efforts. Officers will not be allowed to take vacation during the weeks of World Cup activities. Millions of dollars are approved for overtime. And Atlanta has a flexible and coordinated transportation plan, officials said. Police will be at GDOT’s Traffic Management Center and at the Georgia World Congress Center ops center.
“We will also rely on Atlanta DOT, their new integrated command center, to also give us real-time information visually from the cameras around to make sure that we can make real-time decisions in a timely manner to best move traffic,” Charles Hampton Jr., deputy chief of the Atlanta police special events division, said at the Tuesday presentation.
Hampton noted that while there are no scheduled road closures for the World Cup around Mercedes-Benz Stadium, they could block streets if large crowds spill over.
Hampton said the city conducted a training exercise among multiple departments in late March and gleaned good feedback. And he said any plans have to be flexible as circumstances change.
Hunter explained the biggest World Cup traffic challenge could be the arrivals of VIPs. “You’re going to have presidents, prime ministers, royalty — all these people coming in who don’t usually come to all these events. And they all are going to have special needs,” he said.
This could require unplanned road closures or even the removal of pedestrians from certain areas at peak times.
Navigating the events or the city itself during this unique period requires patience from all, Hunter said.
The city performed well for the 2019 Super Bowl (it is set to host it again in 2028), the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, the College Football Playoff National Championship game (2018, 2025), multiple NCAA Final Four events and multiple megabanger concerts at the Benz.
Atlanta basically has eight of these events this summer, but the city did not implode under the former examples. If drivers who do not need to be near the stadium and Centennial Olympic Park stay away, things will move even better. Doug Turnbull covers the traffic/transportation beat for WXIA-TV (11Alive). His reports appear on the 11Alive Morning News from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and on 11Alive.com. Email Doug at dturnbull@11alive.com. Subscribe to the weekly “Gridlock Guy” newsletter for the column here.
Doug Turnbull has covered Atlanta traffic for over 20 years.
Caitlin Clark talks her signature shoe, Indiana Fever player of the week, more
Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has had social media buzz about her signature shoe, and she spoke about the technology, being a role model and more.
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever continued their 2026 WNBA regular season with a 113-96 loss against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, June 20.
Clark, a former Iowa women’s basketball star, and the Fever are 9-7 after the first 16 games of the regular season.
Here’s a look at how Clark fared in Saturday’s game in Atlanta:
Caitlin Clark stats today in Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream
- Minutes: 34
- Points: 26
- Rebounds: 3
- Assists: 7
- Blocks: 0
- Steals: 1
- Turnovers: 7
- Fouls: 3
- FG shooting: 11-18
- 3-point shooting: 3-7
- Free throws: 1-2
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever upcoming games
- June 22: vs Phoenix Mercury, 7 p.m. CT, USA Network
- June 24: vs Phoenix Mercury, 6:30 p.m. CT, USA Network
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Ballet Returns to the Fox Theatre to Present Cinderella for One Weekend Only This Fall
Photo above: Glass slipper scene from a past Atlanta Ballet production of Cinderella, provided by the Atlanta Ballet
Tickets on sale for Atlanta Ballet 2’s limited three-performance run of the beloved fairytale at the city’s iconic theatre
ATLANTA (June 19, 2026) – Atlanta Ballet is set to return to the Fox Theatre for the first time since 2019 as Atlanta Ballet 2 presents three performances of Cinderella. For one weekend only, Oct. 16-17, dancers from Atlanta Ballet 2 and the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education will perform one of the world’s most beloved fairy tales on the city’s iconic stage, marking an exclusive homecoming for the company.
Cinderella tells the timeless story of kindness, perseverance and the search for true love. Part of Atlanta Ballet’s family ballet series, the one-hour, family-friendly production is designed to introduce young audiences to the art of ballet, transporting them into a world of enchantment through immersive storytelling, vibrant costumes, imaginative sets and beloved characters.
“Having the opportunity to perform at The Fox is very meaningful for our Atlanta Ballet 2 dancers,” said Gennadi Nedvigin, artistic director of Atlanta Ballet. “The theatre with its whimsical decor is deeply rooted in Atlanta’s cultural history and returning there with Cinderella allows us to share a timeless story with new generations in the magical environment.”
Choreographed by Bruce Wells, this version of Cinderella blends classical choreography with narration to suit audiences of all ages. Wells is internationally acclaimed for his role as a former soloist with New York City Ballet, where he performed works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Frederick Ashton and Anthony Tudor. Audiences may also recognize Wells’ previous Atlanta Ballet 2 works, including Beauty and the Beast, Swan Princess and Snow White.
While the Fox Theatre engagement offers audiences an opportunity to see Atlanta Ballet perform on one of the city’s most iconic stages, the company’s primary performance home will remain the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Following the October performances, all Atlanta Ballet productions, including the annual Nutcracker, will continue to be presented at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
For more information and to purchase Fox Theatre pre-sale tickets, visit www.atlantaballet.com
Public ticket sales begin June 19.
About Atlanta Ballet:
Founded in 1929, Atlanta Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the country and the official state Ballet of Georgia. Atlanta Ballet’s eclectic repertoire spans ballet history, highlighted by beloved classics and inventive originals. After 96 seasons, Atlanta Ballet continues its commitment to share and educate audiences on the empowering joy of dance. In 1996, Atlanta Ballet opened the Centre for Dance Education, which is dedicated to nurturing young dancers while providing an outlet for adults to express their creativity. Atlanta Ballet’s roots remain firmly grounded in the Atlanta community and continue to play a vital role in the city’s cultural growth and revitalization. For more information, visit www.atlantaballet.com, follow us on Instagram @atlantaballet, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlantaballet.
About the Fox Theatre:
The Fox Theatre is one of Atlanta’s premier venues for live entertainment, welcoming more than 200 performances a year in its 4,665-seat theatre. From concerts to ballets, comedy, and movies, the historic venue attracts more than 500,000 visitors annually. The theatre also hosts over 100 annual private events such as wedding receptions, trade shows, corporate meetings, and association functions in two stunning ballrooms. The Fox’s premium Marquee Club presented by Lexus is a 10,000 sq. ft, three-story luxury lounge accessible to all Club Level ticket holders or annual members of the Fox Theatre.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization, the Fox Theatre stands today as a fiercely protected landmark and a nationally acclaimed theatre. In alignment with its guiding principles, the Fox Theatre is committed to fostering an environment rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion—onstage, backstage, and throughout the staff and guest experience.
The Fox Theatre proudly acknowledges its partners’ generous support: Coca-Cola, Georgia Natural Gas, Georgian Terrace Hotel & Livingston Restaurant, Humana, Lexus, Northside Hospital, Regions Bank, and Casamigos Tequila. Tickets for all events are available at FoxTheatre.org, or toll-free at 855-285-8499. Stay connected by following the Fox Theatre on social via @theFoxTheatre on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters prior to tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers that center fielder Michael Harris II could go on the IL with lower back issues if it doesn’t improve in the coming days.
The team is hopeful an IL-stint can be avoided as he is semmingly doing better and he is receiving treatment and could be available tonight, but Mauricio Dubón is starting in place of Harris II in center field.
Harris II left the June 16 game and also missed time earlier this month with lower back tightness. With monsoon season hitting the Atlanta-area, the wet conditions have wrecked the team’s schedule, but also created non-ideal conditions on the field, including on the 16th when Harris II left the contest.
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