Georgia School Opens $117M Arena for Students and Community

Clayton County Public Schools just opened a $117 million arena that does something most venues never attempt: it trains the next generation while entertaining the community.

The Arena at Southlake seats 8,000 people and hosts everything from concerts to conventions to sporting events. But unlike traditional venues, it doubles as a classroom where students gain real-world experience in hospitality, event management, and sports marketing before they graduate.

Three high school seniors just became the facility's first interns. Tomilola Olabosinde from Elite Scholars Academy and Lovejoy High School seniors Zavida Hall and Jordan Milner are rotating through different departments, learning what it takes to run a major entertainment venue.

"We want our young people to know that in the entertainment industry, there is more to it than what happens on the stage or on the court," said Shahida Mausi, CEO of The Right Productions, which operates the arena. Her company has successfully run Detroit's Aretha Franklin Amphitheater for years.

The venue already has events lined up, including a WatchFest for the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals this July. District leaders expect the arena to host concerts, graduations, sporting competitions, and private gatherings year-round.

The Ripple Effect

The arena's impact reaches far beyond the school walls. District leaders see it as an economic engine for South Atlanta, keeping entertainment and tourism dollars in the community instead of watching them flow elsewhere.

"The economic impact that it's going to have throughout this region is going to vastly impact our school district," said Dr. Ralph Simpson, deputy superintendent of administration. "We don't want them to leave. It's important that we keep those dollars right here."

For students, the facility offers something priceless: a pathway to careers they might never have known existed. They'll learn that entertainment careers span decades behind the scenes, from technical production to venue logistics to sports marketing.

Interim Superintendent Douglas Hendrix believes the arena will serve generations of Clayton County students, helping them move closer to their dreams through real-world education that follows them throughout life.

A school-owned arena training students while boosting the local economy proves that smart investments can serve multiple purposes at once.