Summer's almost over, bringing us closer to Week Zero for college football. Which means it’s time for the annual Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off Presented by Toyota. Launched in 2005 as a way to highlight teams from two HBCUs in a friendly rivalry between the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The annual game offers a chance for players, alumni, supporters, and fans to all interact in the twilight of the pre-season. This year, the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs (AAMU) take on the Howard University Bison.
Since 2017, the game has been played at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, home to the Georgia State Panthers, and former home to the Atlanta Braves. It’s more than just a game -- it’s a three-day experience full of events, live performances, and opportunities to connect. We have all the details on the 2026 Fan Experience that you’re not gonna wanna miss, plus we included a guide below so you can find the best places to stay, eat, and play between the main events, right here in the ATL Airport District.
✈️ Flying in to the District for the big game? Take a complimentary airport shuttle straight from Hartsfield-Jackson to many of our amazing hotels. Less traffic. Less stress. 30% more savings than staying in Downtown Atlanta.
🏈 2026 Fan Experience: Three Days of HBCU Celebration
DAY ONE: Thursday, August 27th
📢 Atlanta AAMU Take Over Kick-Off Pep Rally
7 PM – 10 PM | Westside Motor Lounge
725 Echo St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Kick off the kick-off with fellow fans, alumni, and supporters at an evening filled with high-energy fan entertainment, including: a live performance by the dynamic AAMU Cheerleaders, a special appearance by Butch the Bulldog Mascot, music, games, giveaways, and more. The first 200 alumni to RSVP receive free admission!
RSVP HERE
DAY TWO: Friday, August 28th
The morning of Day Two brings three opportunities to swing by a fundraising golf tournament to show your support for the Bulldogs and the Bison. Register as a sponsor, a team, or an individual player to invest in the future of these star athletes and scholars.
⛳ AAMU “Ernest J Clements” 21st Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
7:30 AM check-in, 9 AM Shotgun Start | Heron Bay Golf & Country Club
5100 Heron Bay Blvd, Locust Grove, GA 30248
Join AAMU for a day of golf, fellowship, and scholarship support at the 21st Annual Bulldog Scholarship Golf Tournament. This event brings together Alabama A&M University alumni, supporters, and friends to raise funds for students from the metro Atlanta area.
REGISTER HERE
🏌🏿♂️Howard Alumni Golf Tournament hosted by the 1867 Flight Club Collective
8:30 AM | Sugar Creek Golf & Tennis Club
2706 Bouldercrest Rd, Atlanta, GA 30316
Come swing your clubs with Howard University Alumni, friends, and family. Your tax-deductible registration and proceeds from this event go back to the Howard University Football team. Sign up, play a round, and help the next generation of Howard University Bison Football players and Community.
REGISTER HERE
🏆 MEAC/SWAC Golf Challenge
8 AM Registration, 10 AM Shotgun Start | Chapel Hills Golf Club
3300 Golf Ridge Boulevard, Douglasville, GA 30135
Register as an individual or a team of 4 to compete in 18 holes of official play, plus games and challenges along the way. Proceeds from this celebrity event benefit both universities. Sign up to invest in impact.
REGISTER HERE
⚾ Bulldogs at the Battery
5:30 PM | Pregame party | Coca-Cola Roxy
800 Battery Ave SE #500, Atlanta, GA 30339
7:15 PM | Braves vs. Rockies | Truist Park
755 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30339
In the evening, it’s time to root for another home team as the Atlanta Braves host HBCU Night, in partnership with the Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance. When you purchase the HBCU ticket package you don't just get a ticket to the game, you get access to a pre-game party in the Coca-Cola Roxy, plus an exclusive Atlanta Braves snare drum bobblehead and most importantly, $4 of every ticket package sold will go back to the Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance. Seats are based on availability, so lock in your HBCU ticket package before they sell out!
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
DAY THREE: GAME DAY Saturday, August 29th
🎉 Coca-Cola Fan Experience
An afternoon full of food, fun, live music, and all the fuel you need to get hyped for the first play. Nothing says college football like a parking lot full of fans.
Center Parc Stadium | Summerhill Parking Lot A
755 Hank Aaron Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
🌭 Official AAMU Tailgate Experience | 3PM - 7PM
Welcome to the largest HBCU tailgate in the country. Entry to this event gets you two meal tickets for a full meal with dessert and non-alcoholic beverages, an open bar with premium spirits, entertainment, and Front Row View inside the ESPN/Coca-Cola Fan Zone, plus giveaways, prizes, and Bulldog spirit items.
Alumni chapters set up their tents and have their own areas to gather and tailgate their way, and there will be plenty of food trucks and vendors, plus celebrity chef, Camerron Dangerfield, AKA @cookingwithcam, will be on-site. DJ Immaculate will be on location to keep the vibes high and the dance floor open. Plus a special musical guest will be announced soon 👀.
🎷 Band Jamboree | 4PM - 5PM
Local high school bands strut their stuff and warm up the crowd and bring the hype to a crescendo before the Alabama A&M University Band officially goes head-to-head with the Howard University Band in front of fans pre-game. This is one of the most anticipated spectacles of the entire tailgate! Stay for the 5th quarter post-game battle, live on the field.
🎟 Gates Open | 6PM
The party keeps going until 7PM, but if you’re ready for the In-Game Fan Experience, you might want to get to your seats early. You can select the best premium seats available for any budget ahead of time.
🏈 Kick-Off | 7:30PM
This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Nothing left to do now but sit back, relax, and scream your face off for your favorite team.
REGISTER HERE FOR THE AAMU FAN TAILGATE EXPERIENCE
PURCHASE GAME TICKETS HERE
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✈️ The ATL Airport District
Close to the teams, close to the action
Both football teams and university bands are staying right here in the ATL Airport District. We're close to all the MEAC/SWAC events without all the traffic, and without the added expense of staying in Downtown Atlanta. Many of our hotels are within 7-10 miles of Center Parc Stadium, and easily accessible by all the major interstates to get you there. Below are some of our favorite Black-owned places to eat, the comfiest places to stay, and unique things to do in the District in-between all the official fan-based fun. Welcome to Fairburn, Hapeville, South Fulton, and Union City.
Where to Eat
50 Yard Line Sports Bar & Grill
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 50 Yard Line Sports Bar & Grill keeps the vibes high with different specials every day of the week, from Feel Good Monday to Soul Food Sunday, plus R&B Bingo Wednesday to get you through the mid-week slump. With incredible crab legs, juicy burgers, and a killer happy hour, this is the perfect spot to pull up to pre-game and stay until the 5th quarter.
Convo Restaurant + Lounge
An elevated tapas dining experience, featuring delicious cocktails and small plates in a chic atmosphere. With multiple TVs, it's an elevated sports bar feel. Come here to pre-game at happy hour with a boozy Breezy Lemonade, or dine on their steak kabobs and honey hot lemon pepper wings.
Gocha's Breakfast Bar
Residents and visitors to South Fulton flock to this Southern-style pescatarian and vegan-friendly eatery. Their unique brunch experience offers top-notch friendly service alongside some unexpected dishes. Try a breakfast skillet, the cinnamon roll Nutella stacked pancakes, pan-seared salmon, egg, and cheese croissant, or the black bean energy bowl to kick-off your day.
Grown & Sexy Tavern
When it's time to celebrate your team's big win with something extra special, you can head to this South Fulton tavern. It's the only place on the Southside connected to its own humidor, so you can puff on a premium cigar or even share a hookah. This distinctive lounge serves sophisticated and fresh foods made with local ingredients.
Hapeville Pizza Co.
Locally loved pizzeria with artisan pies and fresh dough prepared in-house. For something fun to bring back to your hotel room that offers a true taste of Atlanta flavors, try the Lemon Pepper Chicken Pizza or Hapeville Hottie Buffalo Chicken.
Jake's Ice Cream
Cool off from the Atlanta summer sun with over 200 flavors on rotation and creamy dreamy favorites like the best-selling "Chocolate Slap Yo Mama."
J.R. Crickets Union City
With huge screens, a relaxed vibe, and famous chicken wings, J.R. Crickets is the choice for sports fans in Union City. They offer an impressive array of 21 different sauces. Available in orders as appetizing as a small 6-piece boneless basket, all the way to a party tray of 150, this is the place to feed any crowd.
Sandtown Pub
Calling all football fans, brunch fans, karaoke fans, classic pub food fans, fans of $5 house shots, and anyone who generally loves to have a good time. Sandtown Pub has earned the loyalty of their regulars by having consistently delicious food, a lively atmosphere, and welcoming staff.
Where to Stay
Kimpton Overland Hotel
The Kimpton Overland Hotel in Hapeville is an impressive boutique hotel that has many amenities, including a 24/7 state-of-the-art fitness center, an indoor pool, and free bicycles to use during your stay. The onsite restaurant, Apron, and rooftop bar offer panoramic views perfect for overlooking the Porsche test track next door. This 8-level hotel is very pet-friendly, so there's no need to hire a sitter or leave your fur friend at home.
Hampton Inn Atlanta Fairburn
This Fairburn hotel offers guests a clean and comfortable stay with plenty of amenities like free hot breakfast, an outdoor pool, in-suite refrigerators, microwaves, and coffeemakers, as well as a small pantry in the lobby that's stocked with snacks, cold beverages, and meals that you can enjoy in your room or on your way to the pep rally!
Home2Suites Hilton
The perfect place to stay in South Fulton where you can rise and shine after a restful night and take advantage of their complimentary hot breakfast. Other amenities include a combined fitness and laundry facility, outdoor saline pool, connecting rooms, free WiFi, streaming entertainment, and more.
Days Inn & Suites Wyndam Union City
This Union City stay is for travelers ready to splurge on experiences but save on lodging. Enjoy friendly Southern hospitality and handy amenities like free breakfast with plenty of healthy options, complimentary WiFi, an outdoor pool, room service options, and ample free parking for large vehicles. King suites with kitchens and accessible rooms are available.
What to Do
Chick-fil-A Dwarf House
Visit the world's first Chick-fil-A is right here in Hapeville, complete with their original diner-style counter service and menu, plus handmade lemon, coconut, and chocolate pies! Grab a hand-spun shake and waffle fries on your way to the tailgate.
Delta Flight Museum
Explore two hangars with real aircrafts, experience a pilot Flight Simulator inside a Boeing 737, or try an immersive VR experience.
Hapeville Depot Museum
Learn about the history of aviation in Hapeville, catch a free walking tour of downtown, and sit on the Worry Rock.
Porsche Experience Center Atlanta
This high octane venue offers speedy thrills and and bragging rights for anyone who gets behind the wheel of an iconic Porsche vehicle on one of their Demonstration Laps. Enjoy a tour of the museum, a stint in the Simulator Lab, or a fine dining experience at on-site Restaurant 356 .
Ronald Bridges Park and Nature Trail
Get lost in nature exploring the tranquil trails in Union City. With two pavilions, basketball courts, tiered seating for picnics, and a playground complete with a zipline, the park combines recreation and relaxation.
Southwest Arts Center
Peruse the studio's visual arts gallery or see a professional show on the mainstage.
Swing ATL
For more casual putters, or a place to warm-up before joining one of the MEAC/SWAC golf tournaments, Swing ATL is a vibrant mini-golf course that also offers axe throwing.
Wolf Creek Amphitheater
This outdoor venue hosts several summer concerts in their incredible space that accommodates up to 5000 people. BYOB and get ready to boogie.
The 2026 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off Presented by Toyota takes fandom to a whole new level, and when you stay in the ATL Airport District, you'll be ready to make the most of every moment. Check out the full event schedule, book your stay, and tag us in your #ATLDistrict fan photos!
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