Mayor Kasim Reed announced that the City of Atlanta has officially been given the College Football Playoff National Championship host city rights. At a press conference following the national championship game in Tampa, Florida, the College Football Playoff put Atlanta “on the clock.” The handoff begins a full year of celebrations and events surrounding the national championship game throughout the year led by the Atlanta Football Host Committee. The events will culminate on Monday, January 8, 2018, when the game is held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“The City of Atlanta is proud to be hosting the 2018 College Football Championship in our new Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” said Mayor Reed. “College football is a way of life in the South, and especially in Atlanta. We look forward to welcoming college football players, fans and sponsors to our great city. Atlanta has nationally-renowned attractions, is home to the busiest passenger airport in the world, offers premier shopping experiences and is famous for its southern cuisine and hospitality.”

At the event, College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock gave Mayor Reed and the Atlanta Football Host Committee a College Football Playoff helmet, symbolizing that the national championship game will call Atlanta home for the upcoming year. The game will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and will showcase the NFL’s newest stadium in a city known for its passion for college football.

“We look forward to continuing Tampa’s momentum and carrying it forward to Atlanta,” said Dan Corso, President, Atlanta Sports Council and President, Atlanta Football Host Committee. “Downtown Atlanta is built to host events like this. The walkable, compact district around Mercedes-Benz Stadium sets up perfectly for the College Football Playoff. Plus, Atlanta has a passion every day for college football.”

“We will welcome you next year to Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” said Rich McKay, President and CEO, Atlanta Falcons. “We feel we are setting the bar when it comes to stadiums, not just in design, but in the way fans will experience the game and venue. Our stadium will be second to none and was built for events like this.”

In December 2016, Atlanta hosted the University of Alabama and the University of Washington for the SEC semifinal playoff game at the Georgia Dome.

The College Football Playoff National Championship is a post-season college football bowl game used to determine a national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The participating teams in the College Football Playoff National Championship are determined by two semi-final bowls. The game is played at a neutral site, determined through bids by prospective host cities.