There are big things happening in Forsyth County. And I mean that in the most literal sense possible: a $3 billion mixed-use development is taking shape right here in our community, and if you own property in Forsyth County — or you’re thinking about buying here — it’s something you need to know about.
What Is The Gathering at South Forsyth?
The Gathering at South Forsyth is a proposed world-class entertainment and mixed-use development planned for a 100-acre site at the intersection of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Union Hill Road, just off GA-400 near the Forsyth-Fulton County line. Think of it as the Forsyth County version of The Battery Atlanta — the enormously successful development anchored by Truist Park that transformed the Cumberland area of Cobb County into a year-round destination.
At its center is an 18,500-seat arena designed to host major concerts, sporting events, and potentially a professional hockey franchise. Surrounding the arena, according to plans from master designers NELSON Worldwide, would be 1.6 million square feet of office and retail space, 1,800 multifamily residential units, 150 single-family detached homes, hotel accommodations, greenway connectivity, and community gathering spaces.
The project’s completion timeline is phased, with full build-out anticipated by 2033.
The NHL Angle — And Why It Matters Even If You Don’t Follow Hockey
The arena at the heart of The Gathering has been positioned as the potential home for an NHL expansion franchise — which would mark the return of professional hockey to metro Atlanta for the first time since the Thrashers departed in 2011. Developer Vernon Krause, CEO of Krause Sports and Entertainment, has been in active dialogue with the NHL about an expansion bid for the 33rd franchise.
The county’s governing bodies have moved decisively in support. In June 2025, the Forsyth County Commission, the County Development Authority, and the Forsyth County School Board all signed agreements to help fund the $3 billion development. A $225 million project bond was approved, contingent on securing an NHL franchise — with county officials making the position clear: “No NHL, no bond.” In November 2025, Forsyth County voters approved the creation of a Tax Allocation District to help fund the arena’s infrastructure, passing the measure 56% to 44%.
The NHL expansion fee has since climbed to an estimated $2 billion — nearly double the cost of the league’s two most recent expansions — but Krause has publicly stated his group remains committed and in ongoing discussions with the league.
Whether or not a hockey team ultimately lands here, the development itself is fully in motion.
The Real Estate Impact You Should Be Thinking About
Here’s where this gets very personal for homeowners and prospective buyers.
Large-scale entertainment and mixed-use developments like The Gathering have a well-documented “halo effect” on surrounding property values. The Battery Atlanta is the most relevant local example: when Truist Park and The Battery were developed in Cobb County, surrounding neighborhoods saw notable appreciation in both residential values and commercial vitality. Restaurants, shops, employers, and residents followed. The area transformed from a highway corridor into a genuine destination.
The Gathering is positioned to do the same thing for South Forsyth County. The area near Ronald Reagan Boulevard and GA-400 — already one of the most desirable corridors in the northern Atlanta suburbs — will become a hub of economic activity, entertainment, and employment.
For current homeowners in South Forsyth, this is long-term upside that protects and grows your equity. For buyers considering South Forsyth neighborhoods, this is the kind of infrastructure investment that makes a community more valuable over time, not less.
What Comes Next
The Gathering is expected to be built in four phases over three to four years, beginning with construction of the arena itself. In addition to the arena, later phases will bring in residential units, office space, retail, and the broader mixed-use components that will define the development’s character.
This is not a distant dream. The governing agreements have been signed, the voters have spoken, and the infrastructure planning is underway. Forsyth County is building something that will change the trajectory of property values in this area for decades to come.
If you have questions about how this development might affect the value of your current home, or how to identify neighborhoods that are best positioned to benefit, I’d love to have that conversation.
