In 1987, the Civic Center Study Committee was created to determine the ideal public assembly facility for the Athens community.

[1] In October, 2013, upgrades were approved for the Grand Hall, adding arena-style seating and an ice rink system.

The UGA Ice Dawgs hockey team began playing their home games there starting with the 2014–15 season.

[2] The Grand Hall was referred to as the Classic Center Arena, before being renamed Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center, after the naming rights were sold to Akins Ford of Winder, Georgia in 2015.

[3] In January 2019, the Classic Center Authority announced their intent to construct the new arena adjacent to the existing site.