SUMMERTIME SPORTS LINEUP

The temps heat up as Atlanta brings on the summertime sports. From baseball to soccer, golf, basketball and even Premier League soccer, we’ve got your ticket to the hottest events.

BY DEMETRIUS BELL

Ronald Acuña Jr., Max Fried and Austin Riley are back in action for the Atlanta Braves in 2023. In addition to promotional games (like Riley’s bobblehead night on June 7, Pride Night on June 15, Hank Aaron Weekend from July 28-30 and Michael Harris II’s bobblehead night on Aug. 15), Truist Park has new features this season including five new self checkout concession spots, the Crown Royal Walk-Off Market and Terrapin Taproom Concourse Bar. There are also a handful of featured food creations including www.braves.com

There will be plenty of opportunities to catch World Cup Champion Thiago Almada and Atlanta United FC at the world-renowned Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They’ll be playing seven home matches this summer, including an intense rivalry match against Orlando City on July 15 and an international tilt against Mexican side Cruz Azul in the brand-new Leagues Cup. Even if you can’t make it to a match to partake in the incredible atmosphere at the stadium, Atlanta United FC’s Pub Partner Program makes it so that official Watch Parties for road games are the place to be for soccer fans in the city.

www.atlutd.com

2022 Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard will take the court in 2023 hoping to lead the Dream to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. There will be a record high 20 home games for the Dream this season. With extremely affordable ticket prices and WNBA stars like Brittney Griner and A’Ja Wilson coming in as competition, it’s easy to see why the Gateway Center Arena at College Park figures to once again be the “highest energy arena” in the league. It’s a perfect time to run with the Dream. dream.wnba.com

Peachtree Road Race www.atlantatrackclub.org/peachtree

July 4 in Atlanta means that it’s not only Independence Day but also time for the annual prestigious Peachtree Road Race. The race will go back to a one-day format after being spread over two days for the past two years, and a virtual race will take place as well. In addition to the main event of the race, the Peachtree Health and Fitness Expo will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center on July 2-3, and the Peachtree Junior event will also take place on July 2.

This year’s season-ending TOUR Championship taking place Aug. 23-27 will also be the last chance for golf fans to see the stars of the PGA Tour in action until 2024. Tickets figure to be hotter than in recent years, with Daily Grounds tickets going from $35, $75 and $80 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, respectively, to $90 for each weekend day. Additionally, up to two kids aged 15 and under can receive complimentary admission per adult ticket.

www.tourchampionship.com

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will host three events at Overtime Elite www.pflmma.com

Arena in Atlanta on June 8, 16 and 23. The best Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters in the world will travel to Atlantic Station to compete in the second half of the regular season. PFL is the only MMA league where elite fighters from around the world compete in all three regular season, playoff and championship events.

The annual Cricket MEAC-SWAC Challenge will go down at Center Parc Stadium on Aug. 26 as the MEAC Champions South Carolina State Bulldogs will lock horns with the SWAC Champions Jackson State Tigers.

The Coca-Cola Fan Experience will take place outside of the stadium in Summerhill Lot A from 2-6:30 p.m. with the kickoff at 7 p.m. The end of the game will only be the beginning, as the two schools’ respective bands will engage in a Battle of the Bands known as the “5th Quarter” once the football game ends.

www.meacswacchallenge.com

Rugby ATL tries to finish its season on a high note with two of the final three regular season games coming at home. They’ll be taking on the New England Free Jacks on June 2 while welcoming the New York Ironworkers on June 10. June 2 will be “Dress Your Decade” night at Silverbacks Park where fans are encouraged to dress like the decade in which they were born. June 10 will be a celebration of international culture for Global Night.

www.rugbyatl.rugby

Atlanta Roller Derby routinely takes over the Yaarab Shrine in Midtown as the athletes take to the track in both local and Women’s Flat Track Derby Association action. The three events this summer are all scheduled to follow the same format – one match starts at 5 p.m. and the second starts at 7:30 p.m. Teams from Greensboro, Birmingham and Pensacola will be rolling into town on June 17, July 15 and Aug. 12.

www.atlantarollerderby.com