Supported by Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., the City of Atlanta Planning Department, and Invest Atlanta, the Westside Warmup brought community and business leaders together to showcase Southwest Atlanta in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.
 
The purpose of the event was to highlight the unique neighborhoods, rich culture, and growing businesses in the area. “With upwards of $2 billion in tourism dollars anticipated, ABI wanted to help facilitate an event in historic southwest Atlanta for community businesses to take advantage of the Super Bowl economy,” said Clyde Higgs, interim President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
 
The event took place across three locations near the Atlanta Beltline Westside Trail. Activities began at the West End MARTA Station soccer fields, StationSoccer. StationSoccer, a program by Soccer in the Streets, is the world’s first transit soccer league and hosted soccer matches for both children and adults. The South Atlanta High School drumline also performed throughout the beginning of the event to get guests excited for the remainder of festivities.  
 
Following the activities at StationSoccer, the South Atlanta High School drumline led guests down Lee Street to Lee + White, the West End’s newest food and beverage district. In addition to local craft brewery Monday Night Garage hosting happy hour, there were jazz musical performances by the Atlanta Music Project, football skills courses, kombucha tastings from Cultured South, and various food vendors.
 
640 West Café, a community café and event space, was the final stop of the event and featured live music, artists performances, and a vendor market with more than 40 participants featuring local food, artists, businesses, and artisans.

“To get a truly authentic Atlanta experience, you have to come to the westside,” said Higgs.