Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

What Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre does

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, operated by the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority (a Georgia state government body politic), is a 2,750-seat proscenium stage venue and adjacent 10,000-square-foot ballroom in northwest Atlanta at the I-75/I-285 interchange, opened in September 2007 as the first major performing arts facility built in metro Atlanta in five decades. The venue hosts approximately 200+ events per year spanning Broadway tours, opera, ballet, concerts, comedy, family shows, and educational programming, with two resident companies — Atlanta Ballet and The Atlanta Opera — and has accumulated 3,800+ events and 3.8 million guests since opening. The venue's competitive positioning is anchored on being the only fully-seated proscenium theatre in the 2,000-3,000 seat range in metro Atlanta, with technical infrastructure including a Meyer Sound audio system and 1,000 on-site parking spaces.

Revenue is generated through six streams: ticket sales via Ticketmaster and the on-site Synovus Box Office, venue and ballroom rentals to promoters and corporate clients, in-house custom food and beverage catering, parking at $20 per vehicle, premium VIP experiences including the $55 Skyline Lounge, and corporate sponsorship packages with brand visibility on signage, website, and the new I-75 LED marquee. The venue is ranked #36 in Pollstar's mid-year 2024 Top 200 worldwide theatres, up from #45 at end-2023, and operates a non-profit subsidiary, ArtsBridge Foundation, which runs the Southeast Emmy-winning Shuler Awards high school musical theatre competition reaching 67 schools across 30 Georgia counties in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting. The facility is connected to the Cobb Convention Center Atlanta, which began a $190 million renovation and expansion in September 2025 with full completion targeted for early 2027.

Name

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Legal name

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Website

https://cobbenergycentre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is a 2,750-seat government-owned performing arts venue in Atlanta hosting concerts, Broadway, opera, ballet, corporate events, and weddings, with a 10,000 sq ft ballroom, F&B catering, parking, and the ArtsBridge Foundation education arm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue & Live Event Hosting

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), VIP Hospitality & Client Entertainment (Boxes, Suites, Hosted Experiences) (MPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live event hosting
• Corporate event planning
• Theater rental services
• Event catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaussan

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from ticket sales through Ticketmaster and Synovus Box Office at Cobb Energy Centre. Tickets available online and at box office on performance days.
2. Venue Rental and Event Space Leasing: Revenue from leasing John A. Williams Theatre to promoters and agents for concerts, shows, and performances. Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom rented for corporate meetings, weddings, galas, and private events.
3. Food and Beverage Services: Full-service in-house catering for events including custom-tailored menus, gourmet selections, and banquet services. Revenue from pre-show parties, banquets, receptions, and bar services.
4. Parking Services: On-site parking revenue at $20 per vehicle for performances and events. Venue has 1,000 on-site parking spaces including 700-space parking deck.
5. Premium VIP Experiences: Skyline Lounge premium experience at $55 per person offering exclusive lounge access 90 minutes before showtime, dedicated bar, chef-prepared hors d'oeuvres, and intermission access.
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partnership packages including branding, category exclusivity, on-site product display, logo recognition in signage and publications, website hyperlinks, and hospitality benefits including complimentary tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre operates a 2,750-seat John A. Williams Theatre and a 10,000 sq. ft. Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom in northwest Atlanta, hosting Broadway shows, concerts, opera, ballet, comedy, family programming, corporate meetings, weddings, galas, and private events. Complementary services include in-house catering, audiovisual staging through ONsite, 1,000 on-site parking spaces, and the Skyline Lounge premium VIP experience.

Product overview

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre operates as a multi-purpose entertainment and events venue offering a portfolio of distinct products and services. The core venue consists of the John A. Williams Theatre, a 2,750-seat fully-seated proscenium stage (the only theatre of its size in metro Atlanta), and the adjacent Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom, a 10,000 sq. ft. divisible event space. The venue generates revenue through three primary channels: (1) performance rentals and ticketed events in the theatre hosting concerts, opera, ballet, and Broadway shows; (2) private event bookings in the ballroom for weddings, galas, corporate meetings, and celebrations; and (3) ancillary services including the Skyline Lounge VIP experience, in-house food and beverage catering, audiovisual staging via ONsite, and parking. A distinct non-profit subsidiary, ArtsBridge Foundation, operates separately to provide arts education outreach and administers the annual Shuler Awards program for Georgia high schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• John A. Williams Theatre A 2,750-seat fully-seated proscenium stage theatre— the only venue of its kind in the 2,000–3,000 seat range in metro Atlanta—accommodating opera, Broadway shows, comedy acts, ballet, educational programming, family performances, and popular music concerts. Equipped with a Meyer Sound cutting-edge audio system and orchestra pit capability.
• Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom A 10,000 sq. ft. ballroom divisible into three sections, accommodating up to 630 seated meals, 800 in theatre setting, and up to 650 for receptions, designed for weddings, galas, corporate meetings, and private celebrations, equipped with high-speed Internet and fibre optic infrastructure.
• Theatre Rental Service Multi-purpose venue rental of the John A. Williams Theatre to promoters, agents, and resident performing arts companies for concerts, comedy, opera, ballet, Broadway shows, and educational performances, with formal application and lease process requiring a 60-day advance notice.
• Private Events & Weddings Full-service event hosting for weddings, rehearsal dinners, galas, bar/bat mitzvahs, proms, quinceañeras, graduations, holiday parties, and birthday celebrations in the Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom with custom catering and dedicated event planning.
• Meetings & Conventions Corporate meeting and convention services featuring the ballroom wired with high-speed Internet access and state-of-the-art technology for shareholder meetings, seminars, client conferences, training sessions, product launches, and sales rallies.
• Food & Beverage Catering Full-service in-house catering with custom-tailored menus, gourmet selections, and exquisite presentations featuring seasonally changing menus sourced from local farms, serving events from intimate breakfasts to banquets of 630+ guests.
• Audiovisual Services Full-service audiovisual rental and staging provided through partner ONsite, including audio, video, computer services, high-resolution switching, conventional and intelligent lighting, projection, broadcast video, and complete event staging for meeting planners and production companies.
• Parking Services On-site parking with 1,000 spaces, including a 700-space parking deck. Performance parking rate is $20 per vehicle (credit card only, cashless facility); no pre-paid parking is available.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hosted over 3,800 events and 3.8 million guests since 2007 opening
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cobb EMC (Cobb Electric Membership Corporation)minorOthersCorporate sponsor of Cobb Energy Centre. Cobb EMC is a not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to over 175,000 residential and commercial members in Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Fulton, and Paulding counties. Logo displayed on sponsor page.
• Kia AmericaminorOthersOfficial Automotive Partner of Cobb Energy Centre. Headquartered in Irvine, California. Kia serves as 'Official Automotive Partner' of NBA and offers complete vehicle range through 750+ dealers in U.S. vehicles assembled in West Point, Georgia.
• Marietta Daily JournalminorOthersLocal newspaper sponsor. The Marietta Daily Journal traces roots to 1866 and is published by Times-Journal Inc., owned and operated by Brumby family in third generation.
• Gas SouthminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Cobb Energy Centre. Gas South logo displayed on sponsor page alongside other corporate partners.
• ArtsBridge FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtsBridge Foundation is the education outreach arm of Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization charged with securing financial resources for ArtsBridge education and community engagement programs. Operates Shuler Awards high school musical theatre competition.
• ONsite (Audiovisual)coreTechnology or IntegrationRecommended in-house audiovisual company for Cobb Energy Centre since 1985. Full-service audiovisual rental and staging company supporting meeting planners, associations, conventions, production companies, and corporate community. Specializes in audio, video, lighting, projection, and event staging.
• TicketmastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial ticketing provider for events at Cobb Energy Centre alongside Synovus Box Office. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.com. Venue warns against unauthorized ticket sources.
• SynovuscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSynovus Box Office is the official on-site ticketing location at Cobb Energy Centre, open on performance days starting at 2 pm. Cashless operations accepting credit/debit only.
• Clear Channel OutdoorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor advertising partner for 40' x 20' LED marquee overlooking I-75 at Akers Mill Road. Contact provided for availability inquiries on four eight-second spots per 90-second rotation.
• Cobb Convention Center AtlantacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected venue under Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority. Currently undergoing $190 million renovation and expansion. Connected to 522-room Renaissance Waverly Hotel and accessible to Cumberland Mall and The Battery Atlanta.
• Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBroadcast partner for Shuler Awards (Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards). Annual awards ceremony broadcast statewide on GPB with online streaming. GPB is a major public broadcasting network in Georgia.
• Georgia LotteryminorOthersPresenting sponsor of Shuler Awards program. Major scholarship donor to ArtsBridge Foundation supporting arts education for Georgia students.
• SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design)minorOthersScholarship sponsor for Shuler Awards program, providing educational opportunities for high school theatre students in Georgia.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ryman Auditorium: Iconic 2,366-seat Nashville performing arts venue and Pollstar-ranked theatre with similar Broadway, concert, and event rental model. Comparable seat-class and operating model make it one of the closest US analogues for Cobb Energy Centre.
• Saenger Theatre (New Orleans): Restored 2,700-seat proscenium theatre hosting Broadway tours, concerts, and comedy in a similar Southeast US market. Closest analog by seating class and programming mix to Cobb Energy Centre.
• Atlanta Symphony Hall: Mid-size (~1,800 seat) classical and contemporary performance venue at the Woodruff Arts Center. Shares Cobb Energy Centre's performing arts programming focus and Atlanta-metro audience, with overlap on classical music, family, and educational programming.
• Fox Theatre (Atlanta): Historic 4,665-seat performing arts venue in midtown Atlanta, the most direct in-market competitor for touring Broadway, concerts, and family programming. Comparable proscenium-stage product and overlapping resident programming with Cobb Energy Centre.
• The Tabernacle: Live music and event venue in downtown Atlanta with comparable rental, ticketing, and event hosting model. Smaller capacity (~2,600) but competing for similar touring concerts and corporate bookings in the same metro.
• Radio City Music Hall: Iconic 5,900-seat New York performing arts venue operated by MSG Entertainment. Comparable Broadway, concert, and event rental product at a larger scale, with a similar operating model combining ticketed performances with private event rentals.

Broad incumbents

• Kennedy Center: National performing arts center in Washington, DC operating multiple theatres (1,600-2,400 seat range) with Broadway, opera, ballet, and educational programming analogous to Cobb Energy Centre but at significantly larger scale and federal backing.
• Gas South District: Multi-venue campus in suburban Atlanta (Gas South Arena, Gas South Theater, convention center) with overlapping performing arts, arena concerts, and convention programming. Broader portfolio but smaller individual theatre capacity.
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Multi-venue performing arts complex in New York City hosting resident opera, ballet, symphony, and Broadway productions. Comparable combination of resident companies, educational programming (Shuler-style), and venue rental model at materially larger scale.
• State Farm Arena: Multi-purpose ~17,000-seat arena in downtown Atlanta operated by the Hawks. Competes for large touring concerts and corporate events, with broader portfolio (NBA team, arena, entertainment district) giving it operational and capital advantages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cobbenergypac
• Facebookfacebook.com/CEPAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cobb-energy-performing-arts-centre
• Instagraminstagram.com/cobbenergypac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre