A conversation with Joe Bocherer of Georgia World Congress Center Authority
As Atlanta prepares to take the global stage as one of the selected host destinations for FIFA World Cup 2026, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) is entering the home stretch of extensive planning for a variety of associated events taking place across its campus, which includes the award-winning 3.9 million-square-foot Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC)—the world’s largest LEED Gold-certified convention center—along with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the soccer matches will be played, as well as the 976-room Signia by Hilton, and Centennial Olympic Park, site of the 1996 Olympic Games. The connected campus puts teams, delegates, fans, and media within walking distance of 13,000 additional hotel rooms and downtown dining, entertainment, and cultural attractions—uniquely positioning Atlanta as a top destination for hosting simultaneous, large-scale experiences across indoor and outdoor spaces.
Joe Bocherer, CCO of GWCCA, is helping lead the coordination of this multi-venue approach. Here, Bocherer shares a behind-the-scenes look at GWCCA’s World Cup 2026 preparations.
How will the GWCCA campus be used for different types of event programming associated with the World Cup, and how are you creating a seamless experience across multiple venues?
The GWCCA campus positions Atlanta as the only FIFA World Cup 2026 host city to offer a fully walkable, multi-venue footprint where each space serves a distinct role. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host matches, while the GWCC will serve as the primary media hub and credentialing center, as well as host an experience produced by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Outdoor areas adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be activated for elevated, ticketed experiences that extend the stadium atmosphere beyond its walls. Centennial Olympic Park will anchor the official Fan Festival with public viewing and sponsor activations, while Signia by Hilton Atlanta will provide premium hospitality for fans and sponsors throughout the tournament within steps of the stadium. Additionally, State Farm Arena, adjacent to the campus, will host a series of concerts throughout the month.
What role will Centennial Olympic Park and green spaces play in expanding capacity and engagement?
As the host of Atlanta’s World Cup Fan Festival, Centennial Olympic Park is set to welcome the world, just as it did 30 years ago for the Olympics. We will be open for 18 days, and the experience will be the next best thing to being inside the stadium. Fans can immerse themselves in live match viewing, participate in interactive experiences and sponsor activations, enjoy music, and explore Atlanta’s local communities, food, and culture that highlight true Southern hospitality. It will be the premier destination for fans to gather, celebrate, and connect.
How are you designing transit zones, plazas, and pathways as intentional parts of the attendee experience?
Through a partnership between the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee and Savannah College of Art and Design, our campus is benefiting from the “Last Mile” project, which introduces custom, student-designed signage and art installations to guide fans through the one-mile area surrounding Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with a focus on managing pedestrian flow between Centennial Olympic Park and the stadium, enhancing wayfinding, improving mobility, and reducing congestion in this critical corridor.
What operational structures are critical when multiple venues must function as one?
A unified command structure is essential to operating the GWCC campus as one connected system. Integrated security, centralized communications, and coordinated scheduling across Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Centennial Olympic Park, and surrounding areas ensure seamless movement and real-time alignment, allowing the entire campus to function as a single, cohesive event environment.
How are you approaching security operations across multiple indoor and outdoor venues with different access points and capacities?
GWCCA’s security approach is built on decades of unified planning and a deeply integrated public safety ecosystem, shaped by major global events, including the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, multiple Super Bowls, College Football Playoff National Championship games, Copa América 2024, and the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Across the campus, security is managed as a single coordinated system supported by ongoing tabletop exercises, scenario planning, and cross-agency coordination—ensuring safe, seamless operations across all spaces.
What lasting infrastructure or operational changes will benefit meeting planners long after World Cup 2026?
The most lasting impact will be the enhanced operational expertise of the GWCC team. While the campus is already built for large-scale events, FIFA World Cup 2026 will further strengthen capabilities in security, crowd management, logistics, and multi-venue coordination—delivering refined best practices that will benefit meeting planners through greater efficiency, flexibility, and confidence long after the tournament.
