Atlanta and Georgia Sports Events (Fall 2022)

Fall means a lot to many people, and one major reason why is because sports return in earnest in September, October and November. Both professional and college football will be back in the spotlight, and the NBA also begins its season during this time frame.

Fall is usually a beer connoisseur’s favorite season. Aside from the numerous outdoor festivals, sports also return in earnest in September, October and November. Professional and college football is back, and the NBA season also ramps up as well.

Beer lovers love sports, so read on to explore some of the most engaging sporting events this fall.

SEPTEMBER

September 5
Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The Georgia Tech football team will make its debut in the 2022 season with this ACC matchup taking place in the home of the Atlanta Falcons, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With Tech coming off a subpar 3-9 season, head coach Geoff Collins is likely on the hot seat in his fourth year in the lead role.

Either way, Tech fans will get a look at new quarterback Taisun Phommachanh, who actually transferred away from Clemson following a few years backing up future No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Trevor Lawrence.

September 10
Toronto FC vs. Atlanta United
Mercedez-Benz Stadium

The second of three straight highlighted events taking place at perhaps the premier sports venue in the city, Atlanta United is still in the thick of the playoff race in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference as of this writing – with only seven points separating nine teams in the conference for the final three playoff spots (seeds 5-7).

Atlanta United currently ranks 12th of 14 teams in the East, but they are ahead of the team they’ll face in early September – Toronto FC – by a mere two points. While the team is a shell of the one that brought home a championship in 2018, there’s always a chance, and seeing ATL UTD play at Mercedes-Benz is always a wondrous occasion – no matter how good the team is.

September 11
New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons
Mercedes-Benz Stadium

At long last for many ATL residents, the NFL season begins on September 8, and the hometown Falcons welcome (although that might be the wrong word, perhaps “grudgingly allow” would be more apt) the New Orleans Saints to Mercedes-Benz for the first game of the 2022 season.

While the team continues to rebuild after losing franchise cornerstone Matt Ryan via trade to the Indianapolis Colts and Calvin Ridley to a one-year suspension after it was revealed he bet on games in 2021, this game will allow diehard fans a chance to look at what this young team might look like in 2022.

OCTOBER

October 2
New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves
Truist Park

So far, the Atlanta Braves have defended their 2021 World Series title quite capably, and they currently sit with the fifth-best record in the entire MLB behind only the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers, the monolithic New York Yankees, the steady Houston Astros and… their despised rivals, the NL East-leading New York Mets.

As of this writing, the Braves currently sit three games back of the Mets in the NL East standings, but it looks to be a dogfight the rest of the way as both teams made some moves ahead of the MLB trade deadline to shore up what will hopefully be a long run for one of the teams (the Braves, obviously).

This Sunday afternoon game will mark the last game of the season between the top two teams in the NL East, so make sure to scoot on down to Truist Park to catch what will hopefully be a climactic victory for the good guys. Go Braves!

October 19
Atlanta Hawks vs. Houston Rockets
State Farm Arena

Atlanta’s hometown NBA team, the Hawks, are back in action at State Farm Arena for their regular season debut on Wednesday, October 19, against the Houston Rockets. This game kicks off a three-game homestand for the good guys to start the season.

The Hawks have revamped their team following a dispiriting first round playoff exist last season, and with the Hawks going all-in on an All-Star backcourt featuring two young, dynamic guards in Trae Young and former San Antonio Spurs’ point guard Dejounte Murray, the team is sure to be extremely entertaining and (hopefully) terrific on the court as well.

While not in Atlanta per se, the Hawks preseason schedule actually begins with two games in Abu Dhabi against the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the Abu Dhabi games.

NOVEMBER

November 5
Tennessee vs. Georgia
Sanford Stadium

Much like the Braves, the UGA Bulldogs are coming off an extreme high of winning the NCAA Football Championship after coming close for a few years running under the stewardship of head coach Kirby Smart.

On Saturday, November 5 the ‘Dogs take on hated SEC rivals the Tennessee Volunteers, in what has recently been a one-sided affair. Of course, historically, the series is quite close as UGA leads the head-to-head matchup 26-23.

Though Bulldogs fans will surely be feeling confident after five straight victories against UT in which their lowest scoring output was a sturdy 38 points, you never know when an upset can occur – as has happened in the recent past between these two teams.