MARTA recently renamed the former GWCC/CNN Center station in downtown Atlanta to the “Sports, Entertainment, and Convention (SEC) Station” or “SEC District Station” to better reflect the nearby stadiums, arena, and convention center ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As Atlanta prepares to welcome the world, we call on MARTA and its partners to go one step further and rename this station “Ted Turner Station” (or “Turner Station”) in honor of one of the visionaries who helped build the very entertainment district the new name is meant to celebrate.

Why Ted Turner deserves this honor

Ted Turner is a globally recognized media pioneer, philanthropist, and Atlanta entrepreneur who helped transform downtown into a national and international destination. He founded CNN and built the CNN Center complex next to this station and was longtime owner of the Atlanta Hawks, whose home arena in this district helped anchor the city’s sports and entertainment identity. Turner’s investments, risk-taking, and civic leadership laid key foundations for the sports-and-entertainment district that now includes Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, the Georgia World Congress Center, and the surrounding attractions served by this MARTA stop. Today, the CNN Center name has been removed, the Hawks’ home has gone through sponsorship changes, and other properties once associated with Turner now carry different branding. As a result, one of Atlanta’s most important builders is gradually disappearing from the physical landscape he helped create. Renaming this station “Ted Turner Station” would restore and preserve that connection and ensure that residents and visitors alike are reminded of his role in shaping Atlanta’s global profile.

How this fits MARTA’s goals and the district

MARTA’s recent decision to simplify the station name was meant to avoid confusion and better convey that the area is about sports, entertainment, and conventions, especially for out‑of‑town visitors coming for major events like the World Cup. Naming the station after Ted Turner does not conflict with those goals: it enhances them by tying the district’s identity to a real person whose life story embodies Atlanta’s creativity, boldness, and hospitality.

“Ted Turner Station – Sports, Entertainment & Convention District” could be used in signage and wayfinding, balancing clarity for visitors with a meaningful local tribute. Many great transit systems around the world honor civic and cultural leaders in this way, and Atlanta should proudly do the same for one of its most influential figures.

What we ask MARTA and partners to do

We, the undersigned:

Urge MARTA’s Board of Directors and leadership to adopt “Ted Turner Station” (or “Turner Station”) as the official name of the current SEC rail station serving Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, the Georgia World Congress Center, and the broader district. Request that the Atlanta Sports Council and Metro Atlanta Chamber support this renaming publicly and work with MARTA to update signage, maps, communications, and marketing materials in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other major events. Encourage local governments, businesses, and community organizations to endorse this tribute as a way to say “thank you” to Ted Turner for his decades of investment, philanthropy, and leadership in Atlanta.

Renaming this station will not only honor Ted Turner’s legacy but also send a clear message to the world: Atlanta remembers and celebrates the people who helped build it. We ask MARTA and its partners to seize this opportunity to align a practical station name with a powerful story about the city’s past, present, and future.