More DCI Atlanta questions...

[BarryMorgan]

I don't have info regarding rehearsal sites but, keep in mind, the MARTA train system is somewhat limited and serves only a small fraction of the metro area. (It is not, for example, nearly as extensive as the subway systems in NYC, Chicago, LA.)

The MARTA train system doesn't go anywhere you want or need to go.

[GlassFan]

Anyone have any Housing info on the corps?

[oldsoprano]

This is what I ended up getting...it seems like a nice enough place, a tad pricey, but probably makes up for it in terms of atmosphere...or so I hope.

Since you know the area, do you know any good restaurants/bars nearby?

P.S. For anyone interest, I have removed the reserve on my DCI Finals Week tickets...1 pair for all three nights, pretty good seats. Here is the eBay link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=330011174583

Like Barry said earlier, some of the decent restaurants within a really easy walk include McCormick and Schmicks (seafood) and Ruth's Chris for steaks (more pricey than McCormick & Schmicks). Best bet for a bar within walking distance is Jock's & Jills, a sports bar in CNN Center. If you walk out the front door of the Glenn, just turn left and go a block and you'll be at CNN Center. The Dome is on the other side of (and sort of behind) CNN Center from the Glenn.

There's also a pretty good chinese buffet on Cone Street, but I don't know the name of it. If you turn right on Marietta Street out the front door of the Glenn, walk a half-block to Cone Street and take a left, then it's about three or four blocks up Cone Street.

As for corps housing sites, the ones I'm pretty sure of are:

Spirit is staying at home at JSU.

Phantom is at McEachern High School in Powder Springs.

Cavies are at Milton H.S. in Alpharetta.

Boston is at South Cobb H.S. in Austell.

Blue Devils are at Kennesaw Mtn. H.S. in Kennesaw.

[jacquesb]

I'm staying at the Days Inn near the Peachtree centre which is a few blocks from the dome. I do however want to spend friday watching some rehearsals....but since I won't have a car, I'm counting on MARTA. Does anyone know if any of the "non Murfreesboro" are staying at schools accesible by MARTA??

All the housing sites are in outlying counties and not accessible using MARTA.

[chadwick]

I am going to try to answer a lot of questions, but if I don't answer what ya want, send me a PM or just ask it in this thread.

Directions/Parking Info

Directions to the Georgia World

Congress Center/Georgia Dome

From the Airport and the South

Take I-75/85 North to the Andrew Young International Boulevard exit (Exit 248C). Turn left onto Andrew Young International Boulevard. Turn left onto Centennial Olympic Park Drive. Cross Marietta Street and go past CNN Center and the Philips Arena. Turn right onto Andrew Young International Boulevard. Parking in the GWCC Red Parking Deck will be on the right.

From the North

Take I-75/85 South to Williams Street (Exit 249C). Turn right onto Baker Street. At first traffic light turn left onto Centennial Olympic Park Drive. Follow Centennial Olympic Park Drive until you cross Marietta Street and go past CNN Center and the Philips Arena. Turn right onto Andrew Young International Boulevard. Parking in the GWCC Red Parking Deck will be on the right.

From the West

Take I-20 East to Spring Street (Exit 56B). Turn left onto Spring Street and then left on to Marietta Street. Turn left onto Centennial Olympic Park Drive and go past CNN Center and the Philips Arena. Turn right onto Andrew Young International Boulevard. Parking in the GWCC Red Parking Deck will be on the right.

From the East

Take I-20 West to Spring Street (Exit 56B). Turn right onto Spring Street and then left on to Marietta Street. Turn left onto Centennial Olympic Park Drive and go past CNN Center and the Philips Arena. Turn right onto Andrew Young International Boulevard. Parking in the GWCC Red Parking Deck will be on the right.

Parking is $10 in the Red Parking Deck and is good for the whole day...but if you choose to leave during the evening break and come back, you will have to pay again. Keep in mind that this deck is underground, so you won't see a huge deck as you approach it, so don't be confused. This, in my opinion, is the best place to park.

Info on Corps Warm-up/Directions Driving Directions:

From I-75 South:

Right at Exit #252/Northside Drive.

Cross North Ave. and Simpson St.

Dome will be on your left (about 3.3 miles)

From I-85 South:

R at Exit #249-C/Williams St (exit after North Ave)

R on Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd (1st light after exiting highway)

L on Centennial Olympic Park Dr

R on Martin Luther King Jr Dr

R on Northside Dr (Dome will be on your right)

From I-75/85 North (Connector):

Exit #246 Downtown/Central Ave - Take Central Ave to MLK Jr Dr

L on MLK Jr Dr

R on Northside Dr (Dome will be on your right)

From I-20 Eastbound:

L at Exit #56-B Spring St

L on MLK Jr Dr

R on Northside Dr (Dome will be on your right)

From I-20 Westbound:

Exit # 58-A Spring/Windsor St

R on Spring St

L on MLK Jr Dr

R on Northside Dr (Dome will be on your right)

**Corps Parking/warmup is located in the Yellow lot and the Marshalling yards on Simpson St (North of the GA Dome). Equipment trucks will park in the loading dock area on the opposite side of Simpson Street (no entry allowed in this area)from the rest of the corps. Pit warmup will also be in this area.**

Parking in the Blue Lot on Northside Drive or the Yellow Lot on Simpson St. is $8 for the day and not a long walk to the Dome. But, you are not close to CNN Center where most of the fast food restaurants are.

Corps Housing Info

Southwind - Parkview HS

The Cadets - South Gwinnett HS

Glassmen - Star Mill

Spirit of JSU - At JSU

Crown - McIntosh HS

Phantom - McEachern HS

Santa Clara Vanguard - Fayette County HS

Capital Regiment - Meadowcreek HS

Crossmen - Mt Zion HS

Cavaliers - Milton HS

Boston - South Cobb

Blue Devils - Kennesaw Mountain HS

Bluecoats - Whitewater HS

Madison - Alpharetta HS

Blue Stars - Haralson County HS

Still need: Colts, Blue Knights, Madarins, Magic, Seattle, Esperanza

None of these schools are accessible by MARTA. All are in the suburbs, so you would really need a car to get to them.

Restaurant Information

The CNN Center is very close to the Dome and the Red Parking Deck. Here, you will find many fast food options, including Chick-fil-a (Yum!), and a few full service restaurants like Jocks & Jills (sports bar), McCormick and Schicks (rather expensive), Don Juans (Mexican).

The Varsity, very popular restaurant, is not within walking distance to the Dome. It is off North Avenue and I-75/I-85near Georgia Tech.

Many nice restaurants are in Midtown if you are staying in a hotel in this area.

Things to Do

Near the Dome is the CNN Center which has tours, pretty fun. The Georgia Aquarium is also within walking distance (may want to make a reservation) and Centennial Olympic Park is beside the Aquarium.

Shopping is best at Lenox Mall (accessible via MARTA) or Atlantic Station (17th Street exit off I-85/I-75).

MARTA Information

From MARTA's website (www.itsmarta.com): MARTA's rail system runs from 5 a.m. until 1 a.m. Monday through Friday, and from 6 a.m. until 12:20 a.m. on weekends and holidays. Trains run every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

FYI, if you're taking MARTA to the Dome, you'll need to take the East/West line to the CNN Center/Georgia Dome/Georgia World Congress Center station. If you're on the North/South line, get off at the Five Points station and transfer to a Westbound train. Go one stop on the west line and you'll be at the Dome station. Or, if you don't want to wait on a westbound train, you can walk about four or five long blocks from the five points station to the Dome. (Thanks oldsoprano for this info)

Hope this helps!!

[chadwick]

PS I heard that ticket sales have already hit about 10,000....so the remaining seat selection is thinning out. If you are going to buy tickets at the Dome Box Office, I suggest getting there early.

[SkyRyder_FMM]

PS I heard that ticket sales have already hit about 10,000....so the remaining seat selection is thinning out. If you are going to buy tickets at the Dome Box Office, I suggest getting there early.

What he said.

And if Atlanta is anything like San Antonio, people unloading extra tickets (especially for the day show) will be slim pickins. In San Anonio, there were a lot of people trying to sell their extra seats for finals; however, the tickets are for both prelims and finals. Extra tickets for prelims were VERY hard to come by.

[The Tsar]

What he said.

And if Atlanta is anything like San Antonio, people unloading extra tickets (especially for the day show) will be slim pickins. In San Anonio, there were a lot of people trying to sell their extra seats for finals; however, the tickets are for both prelims and finals. Extra tickets for prelims were VERY hard to come by.

A word of warning:

Since you can buy tickets online (they are the paper variety, with a bar code), it might be in your best interest to NOT purchase those tickets from someone outside the Dome. Once that barcode has been scanned, it cannot be used again...

Technically, someone could use that to get inside, then pass the paper ticket to someone on the outside to sell. It wouldn't do you any good. Therefore, if you are going to buy one of those tickets, insist on going up to the ticket scanner and having them scan the tickets before you hand over any money. That way you know that the tickets work.

Just a heads-up.

[SkyRyder_FMM]

A word of warning:

Since you can buy tickets online (they are the paper variety, with a bar code), it might be in your best interest to NOT purchase those tickets from someone outside the Dome. Once that barcode has been scanned, it cannot be used again...

Technically, someone could use that to get inside, then pass the paper ticket to someone on the outside to sell. It wouldn't do you any good. Therefore, if you are going to buy one of those tickets, insist on going up to the ticket scanner and having them scan the tickets before you hand over any money. That way you know that the tickets work.

Just a heads-up.

Yes, very good point.

[Trumpet Pops]

I've booked the Marriott downtown (Spring St.) which, at $109, seems pretty reasonable for a nice hotel near the stadium. Might even be cheaper if you have AAA.

Hopefully, it's not in the middle of crack ho country but it's been a while since I've been to Atlanta so a reality check would be appreciated.

Just be sure to bring your lead pipe when you walk to and from the Dome, homey!