Just 20 minutes south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, Fayetteville--a city once known mainly for its historic small-town charm--is quickly becoming Atlanta's next big hub for sports and entertainment. With a growing population, top-tier schools, a world-class hospital and one of the most educated workforces in the region, Fayetteville is now strategically redefining itself as a premier destination for sports tourism, world-class film and television production, live entertainment and business travel.

The U.S. Soccer Game Changer

Sports fans, take note: U.S. Soccer is building its new National Training Center and headquarters right here in Fayetteville. Set to open in the spring of 2026, the $200-million, 200-acre complex will feature more than a dozen outdoor fields, 100,000 square feet of indoor and high-performance training facilities and host over 200,000 visitors a year for tournaments with the 27 national U.S. Soccer Federation teams. For athletes, fans and coaches from across the country and the globe, Fayetteville will soon be the place where soccer dreams are made. And with construction finishing just in time for the FIFA World Cup, this facility will cement Fayetteville as the heartbeat of American soccer—and sparks opportunities for sports tourism, retail, dining and hospitality.

Where Stories Come to Life

You’ll find another expanding powerhouse in Fayetteville: Trilith. The 700-acre film studios campus includes 34 premium state-of-the-art sound stages that have been home to the production of blockbuster movies. Now it’s preparing for its biggest encore yet: Trilith LIVE, a brand-new entertainment venue opening by year-end that will feature a 2,400-seat concert venue, luxury cinemas, live-studio audience TV sound stages, convention and meeting space and a mix of restaurants and shops. From movie premieres to live music and digital storytelling, Fayetteville is setting the stage—literally—for the next era of entertainment in the South.

Downtown Revitalization: A Destination in Itself

But Fayetteville isn’t just about mega-projects—it’s about creating a community experience.

Downtown Fayetteville is in the middle of a bold transformation. City Center Park and the award-winning new City Hall have already sparked a wave of investment, attracting new housing, restaurants and nightlife. Local hot spots and new businesses—including Line Creek Brewing Bus Barn, The Hummingbird Room, Awkward Brewing and Revival Wine Bar—keep the energy buzzing along with a new upscale Rickshaw Thai rooftop restaurant expanding from Alpharetta and opening soon on the Courthouse Square. On the horizon: The Alley improvement project will create a fresh new gathering spot for historic Main Street, and the 38-acre development will add a new mixed-use downtown destination designed by architect Lamar Wakefield (known for The Battery Atlanta and Avalon). Think boutique restaurants, lush open space a hotel, and downtown living—all right in the heart of Fayetteville.

The Advantage of Location

Ask any business leader why Fayetteville is booming, and one word rises to the top: location. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport isn’t just a gateway to Atlanta—it’s a gateway to the world, connecting Fayetteville to more than 150 domestic destinations and 70 international cities. That means that athletes flying in for tournaments, filmmakers traveling with crews, executives attending conferences or fans arriving for a live concert can land and be in Fayetteville in less than half an hour.

For visitors, proximity to the airport also makes Fayetteville an ideal hub for sports tourism. With the U.S. Soccer National Training Center opening soon, the city is poised to attract more than 200,000 annual visitors, the city is poised to become a regular destination for tournaments and sporting events. Hotels, restaurants, breweries and shops stand to benefit from a steady influx of visitors, creating ripple effects that fuel the local economy.

But it doesn’t stop with sports. Trilith Studios and its upcoming Trilith LIVE venue will draw music lovers and entertainment visitors from throughout the region and across the country. Beyond concerts and entertainment, Trilith LIVE will also feature flexible meeting and convention space, giving Fayetteville a strong foothold in the business travel market. Companies seeking alternatives to downtown Atlanta’s crowded convention scene will find Fayetteville’s blend of accessibility, high-end facilities and small-town hospitality especially appealing. Executives can land at the airport, host a conference or leadership retreat at Trilith and enjoy fine dining or team-building experiences—all without the congestion of the metro core.

This is where downtown Fayetteville’s revitalization shines as a perfect complement. After a day of meetings or events, business travelers can unwind at City Center Park, enjoy dinner at a locally owned restaurant near the historic Courthouse Square or sample craft brews and live music in the downtown Lee Street Arts District. The revitalization projects underway in the downtown area will add boutique hotels, additional restaurants and green gathering spaces—all within walking distance—making it easy for business travelers to mix work with relaxation.

Being positioned just outside Atlanta allows Fayetteville to capture the energy of global travel while offering a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It’s a place where visitors can enjoy world-class entertainment, sports and conferences while still experiencing the warmth, charm and hospitality of a small Southern city. That balance makes Fayetteville not just a prime location for investment, but also rising tourism and business destination in its own right.

Innovation and Infrastructure

While the spotlight shines on sports and entertainment, Fayetteville is also building muscle in other industries, including:

Tech and Data: The QTS Data Center campus, under construction in Fayetteville and slated to be one the largest projects in the country, anchors a growing ecosystem of digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and IT services.

Healthcare: Piedmont Fayette Hospital is planning for a $275 million expansion for a new tower, operating rooms and specialty services—making Fayetteville a regional leader in healthcare.

Together, these investments ensure Fayetteville’s future is dynamic, diverse and resilient.

No Limits on Imagination

Fayetteville’s motto, “No Limits on Imagination,” is more than words—it’s a vision unfolding. With the U.S. Soccer National Training Center and Trilith LIVE on the horizon, downtown revitalization projects underway and a business ecosystem ready to support growth, Fayetteville is quickly becoming the south Atlanta metro’s premier destination where sports, entertainment, tourism and community intersect.

The world is coming to Fayetteville—and Fayetteville is ready.

For more information, visit the Fayetteville Economic Development website.