The Classic City will have a new entertainment venue come Summer of 2024.

Danny Bryant, Athens Arena General Manager, began his successful career at The Classic Center in 2010. Danny has served in multiple operational roles during his time at The Classic Center, but since 2015, he has primarily focused on the development of The Classic Center Arena, which is set to open in 2024. He joins Rick.

The Arena is slated to have 5,500 permanent seats with the capacity to hold up to 8,500 people along with the ability to transform for any occasion from concerts and sports tournaments to banquets and general sessions. Built into the fabric of downtown Athens, The Classic Center Arena will echo the energy of the college town with its rich music history, outstanding clubs, restaurants, and breweries, along with walkable access to hotels.

The arena will be home to The UGA Ice Dawgs, an ECHL team and used as a learning lab. The Georgia Music Hall will also open in The Classic Center, bringing the state’s collection of memorabilia to life in The Classic Center Arena through an interactive, museum-quality experience.

For the past 25 years, The Classic Center’s mission has been to enhance the quality of life in Athens-Clarke County by serving as the cultural, civic, and social center of the Southeast and by generating maximum economic impact. The new LEED-certified arena will continue The Classic Center’s mission along with generating more jobs for the Athens area while focusing on sustainability and green energy.

In 2015, Danny was inducted into the inaugural class of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) 30|UNDER|30. He earned his Certified Venue Professional certification in 2019, received an IAVM Chair Citation in 2023, and now serves on the IAVM Foundation Board.

Danny is a graduate of Central Michigan University. He and his wife Beth proudly call Athens, Georgia, their home and enjoy spending time with their zoo of animals.