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What to Know for Forkside Seats

We are so excited to be celebrating this inaugural event with all of you! Please read on for details on what to know before the event. 

Date

Sunday, September 28, 2025 

Location

State Farm Arena
1 State Farm Drive
Atlanta, GA 30303 

(Navigate to 100 Lower Andrew Young International Dr., Atlanta, GA 30303 for parking) 

Age Limit

Forkside Seats is for guests 21 years of age and older. Please be prepared to present your ID upon entry. 

If you have not provided email addresses for all guests in your party, please share this information with them.

If you can no longer make it to this event and are gifting your tickets to others, please log in to reassign your tickets to them in our registration platform, and share this information.

There are no printed tickets for this event. All guests will present their information and ID at the gate to gain entry.

To save time at the entry gate, please go ahead and put a credit card on file.  This will make it seamless for you to participate in the raffle, Fund the Need, or make a donation.

Ticket Info

You do not need to bring a physical ticket for entry to this event! By purchasing your ticket online and completing registration, you’ll be prepared for express check-in as you enter from the Diamond Deck at State Farm Arena.  

Itinerary

6 p.m. Doors open on Level 2 of Diamond Deck for VIP ticket holders – enjoy bites and bubbles in the owner’s lounge and a tour of the Hawk’s locker room 

6:30 p.m. Doors open on Level 3 of Diamond Deck for Reserved Seating ticket holders 

6:30 p.m. Delta Sky360° Club open to all guests – enjoy tastings and cocktails from 16 of Atlanta’s newest restaurants in one place 

7:15 p.m. Doors open from Delta Sky360° Club to the arena floor – please begin making your way to your table.  

DJ Tigger starts spinning tunes in the arena 

7:30 p.m. Stage Program begins 

8:30 p.m. Raffle ticket sales close 

8:40 p.m. Raffle winners announced 

8:45 p.m. Delta Sky360° Club reopens for dessert and coffee  

Commemorative Ballcap (for all guests, courtesy of Georgia Natural Gas) and VIP bag (one per household) pickup begins exit 

9:30 p.m. Event ends 

What to Expect

  • Three unique experiences within State Farm Arena  
    • Pre-dinner reception in Delta Sky360° Club with the “sweet sixteen” of Atlanta’s newest restaurants 
    • Seated dinner served family-style on the arena floor, menu curated by Chef G. Garvin 
    • Post-dinner desserts and coffee in Delta Sky360° Club 
  • Photo booths throughout the arena from Strike A Pose – grab your friends and say “cheese!”  
  • Harry the Hawk is in the house!  Have your picture taken with the team mascot! 
  • DJ Tigger (Big Tigg) spins tunes in the arena  
  • Commemorative event ballcap, courtesy of Georgia Natural Gas 

VIP

In addition to the experiences above, our VIP ticket holders will enjoy: 

  • The evening’s first bites and beverages in the owner’s lounge 
  • Opportunity to tour the Atlanta Hawk’s players locker room (photo ops!) 
  • VIP gift bag (one per household) 

Raffle Packages

🌟 For our inaugural event at State Farm Arena, we’re thrilled to present a special raffle experience exclusively for our valued Forkside Seats supporters — and you are going to love what we’ve put together! Raffle entries start at $150 with discounts for multi-ticket purchases. 

🎶 Into live music and stand-up comedy? We have unforgettable shows lined up just for you.

🏀 Big sports fan who loves front-row energy? You’ll be closer to the action than ever before.

🍽️ How about an intimate dinner with Atlanta sports legends? Yes, that’s on the table — literally. 

Whether you’re planning a family-friendly outing, a date night to remember, or a VIP experience with friends, these packages are our way of saying thank you for helping us make a difference for food service workers across the country. 

Your generosity powers our mission — now let us treat you to something special. 🎁 

From Forkside to Courtside: Atlanta Hawks Game Day Experience

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View from courtside seats at a Hawks game

Fair Market Value: $7,500 

Get ready for the ultimate basketball experience! You and three guests will sit courtside — just rows from the action — at a thrilling Atlanta Hawks home game (several game options will be provided to the winner). This unforgettable package includes: 

  • Four (4) Courtside Seats — Feel the energy from the front rows! 
  • Delta SKY360° Club Access — Enjoy all-inclusive chef-driven cuisine and premium beverages in a luxury setting. 
  • Signed Hawks Merchandise — One-of-a-kind keepsake from your VIP night. 
  • Exclusive Shootaround Access — Watch the team warm up just like an insider. 
  • VIP Player Parking Pass — Skip the hassle and park like a pro. 

Whether you’re a lifelong Hawks fan or just love an elite game-day experience, this package puts you right in the heart of the action. 

Golden Ticket Experience at State Farm Arena

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Carrie Underwood performs at State Farm Arena

Fair Market Value: $3,500 

Treat yourself and three guests to an unforgettable night of music, laughter, and luxury at State Farm Arena in your own VIP Premium Concert Club Box! Choose from one of the hottest upcoming shows: 

  • Lumineers (10/4) 
  • Jonas Brothers (10/28) 
  • Paul McCartney (11/3) 
  • Maroon 5 (11/11) 
  • Nate Bargatze (11/16) 

This exclusive package includes: 

  • Four (4) VIP Club Box Seats — Private and premium concert viewing experience 
  • All-Inclusive Dining & Drinks — Savor a chef-driven menu and top-shelf beverages 
  • VIP Player Parking Pass — Arrive and leave with ease, no stress required 

Whether it’s music or comedy, this night out will be one to remember. 

Legends at the Table: An Exclusive Culinary Evening with Steve Koonin & Dominique Wilkins at The Third Space

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Dinner table at The Third Space

Fair Market Value: $10,000 

An unforgettable evening awaits! Up to 20 lucky guests will enjoy a private, chef-curated dinner hosted by Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin and NBA Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins — a legendary gathering at The Third Space, where food, conversation, and community come together. 

Led by acclaimed Chef Shai Lavi, your menu will be crafted day-of from the freshest locally sourced ingredients, tailored to your group’s preferences. Set in an intimate and vibrant setting, this experience is more than a meal — it’s a memory in the making. 

Package Highlights: 

  • Dinner for up to 20 guests at The Third Space 
  • Hosted by Steve Koonin and Dominique Wilkins 
  • Custom, seasonal menu created by Chef Shai Lavi 
  • Private evening full of great food, great stories, and even better company 

Dinner to be scheduled Thursday–Sunday, based on mutual availability. Gratuity not included. 

Weather, Parking and Other Information

Weather

We’re indoors and you’ll park in an adjacent covered deck -so no need to worry about the weather! (But we are anticipating great weather!)

Parking

Free parking for Forkside Seats guests is in the Diamond Deck – navigate to the deck entrance along Lower International Blvd.

VIP guests will enter through a private entrance from the Diamond Deck on level 2 (please park on level 1 or 2)

Reserved Seating guests will have a separate entrance, also in the Diamond Deck, on level 3 (please park on level 3)

Rideshare and MARTA are also great options, and we’ll have signs directing you from MARTA to the entrance.

If taking rideshare, please use the address “1 State Farm Drive” and have the driver drop you at Gate 5Turn around to face Mercedes Benz stadium and you’ll see the elevators to Diamond Deck. 

Road Closures

There is a Falcons home game “next door” at Mercedes Benz stadium with a 1 PM kickoff

The roads in the immediate vicinity of Mercedes Benz and State Farm will become one-way (moving AWAY from the area) at the end of the game, likely between 3:45 – 5:30 pm. 

Please plan your travels accordingly.

Attire

Festive or smart casual attire. Have fun – we’re in a basketball arena!  Think sequins and sneakers, jerseys and heels.  

Bag Policy

Bags are allowed inside the venue per the State Farm Arena bag policy, however, strongly discouraged as this will delay entry. All guests will be subject to search and entry through metal detector upon arrival.  

Prohibited Items

Vapes, lighters, and weapons are prohibited at State Farm Arena. Smoking and vaping are not allowed. Click here to view all policies.  

Forkside Seats is a 21 and older event. 

Code Of Conduct

Harassment at Giving Kitchen events will not be tolerated. Harassment includes, but is not limited to: verbal language that reinforces social structures of domination related to gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, religion, or other protected category; sexual imagery in public spaces; deliberate intimidation; stalking; following; harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; offensive verbal language; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. This code of conduct applies to anyone involved with the event (ticketed individuals, volunteers, Giving Kitchen staff, vendors, and vendor staff). If you experience any form of harassment during Forkside Seats, please call or text Lindsey Rosenthal at (312) 6852850. 

Special Thank You

  • To our friends at State Farm Arena, the Hawks, Levy Catering and Chef G. Garvin for helping make this event so incredibly special. 
  • To our amazing volunteers that are dedicating their time and talent to make sure this event is a success. 
  • To our Forkside Seats Host Committee for furthering the impact of this event. 
  • To our Giving Kitchen board, for guiding us with both your heart and your head. 
  • To our food and beverage partners for bringing the flavor and representing this industry we all love so much. 
  • To our sponsors, without whom this event would not be possible. 

Thank You Forkside Seats Host Committee

  • Clea Calloway 
  • Grier Donald 
  • Ellen Peacock 
  • Brad & Bryson Smith 
  • Dawn & Eric Tresh 

Thank You Food & Beverage Partners

Thank You, Forkside Seats Sponsors

Presenting

Georgia Natural Gas Logo

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