North Point Mall NHL Arena Plan in Alpharetta, GA (2026): Vote, Fulton Funding & What's Next

North Point Mall Redevelopment and the Proposed NHL Arena: Where Things Stand

North Point Mall has been an Alpharetta landmark since 1993. Now it's at the center of the biggest development debate the city has seen in years: a plan to tear down most of the mall and build a 20,000-seat arena that could host an NHL team. The rezoning passed in August, and in October Fulton County signed on to help fund it. Here's where things stand, what's actually planned, and the big "if" that decides whether any of it gets built.

The short version

Approved: Alpharetta City Council voted 4-3 to rezone the nearly 100-acre North Point Mall site at its Aug. 24 meeting, which ran past 1 a.m.
Who's behind it: mall owner New York Life, developer Jamestown (the firm behind Ponce City Market) and sports and entertainment developer Machete Group.
The catch: the plan only moves forward if the NHL awards a team that can play there. The city set a deadline of Aug. 24, 2031.
Latest: Fulton County commissioners approved up to $192.4 million in future property-tax revenue for the project on Oct. 21, also contingent on an NHL franchise.
Right now: the mall is still open, and major construction isn't expected in the next year.

What's planned at North Point

According to the plans described by the AJC, CBS Atlanta and REBusinessOnline, the redevelopment would replace most of the mall with a walkable sports and entertainment district. The Dillard's and Von Maur buildings would stay. The plan includes:

A 20,000-seat, NHL-ready arena
A 4,000-seat music hall and a 2,000-seat community and practice ice rink
A cinema with about 1,100 seats
1,385 rental apartments in five buildings, two of them up to 20 stories
750,000 square feet of office space and about 565,000 square feet of retail
650 hotel rooms in two towers, plus a hotel conference center
Roughly 20 to 27 acres of open space (reports vary), a connection to the Alpha Loop and MARTA bus facilities
Seven parking decks with about 8,750 spaces

Developers estimate around $2 billion in construction spending and project 6,000 permanent jobs, per CBS Atlanta and REBusinessOnline. The design team includes HKS Architects and Kimley-Horn.

How the council vote went

The Planning Commission approved the plans on Aug. 6, and the council took them up on Aug. 24. Council changed its rules to allow unlimited public comment, and the meeting stretched past 1 a.m. before the 4-3 vote, according to Atlanta News First and CBS Atlanta. The approval came with nearly 75 conditions covering what can be built, building design, transportation and public safety. Community Development Director Kathi Cook told the AJC that many were "lessons learned" from The Battery.

Supporters framed it as a fix for a declining mall. "This project, without a doubt, is a game changer for the city," Councilman Dan Merkel said, per the AJC. Councilman John Hipes told the room, "We didn't get here where we are as the best city in Georgia because we were afraid," according to Atlanta News First. Mayor Jim Gilvin said the city is "prepared as an organization to do this, and do it well."

Those voting no raised timing, density and infrastructure. "This project is not ready for primetime," Councilman Douglas DeRito said, per the AJC. Councilwoman Katie Reeves asked, "Is this kind of density in character with our community? Will we still be Alpharetta?" and questioned whether sidewalks could safely handle crowds walking to the arena. At public comment, residents raised concerns about density and the large number of rental apartments, and several asked the council to slow down.

Everything depends on the NHL

This is the part that matters most. "If the NHL does not award a team that can locate in the city of Alpharetta, this development does not happen," Julie Sellers, an attorney for the development team, told the council, per the AJC. Jamestown's Tim Perry put it plainly too: "We can't award a team."

The city gave the project until Aug. 24, 2031. The AJC reports the zoning reverts if no team is awarded by then, while Bisnow describes the rental housing portion being revoked. Either way, the apartments, hotels and offices can't get certificates of occupancy without a team. Asked about a backup plan, Machete Group's David Carlock told Bisnow, "There is no specific Plan B." Jamestown's Frances Bohn told CBS Atlanta that without a team, "It would be a different plan. Absolutely."

Where NHL expansion stands

The NHL has 32 teams and has not awarded an expansion franchise to metro Atlanta. In June, Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "We're not ready to expand yet, but we are exploring those expressions of interest," per Daily Faceoff. He also said Atlanta and Arizona were not "quite as far along in the process" as a Texas ownership group led by the Friedkin family, which the league has been talking with about Houston or Austin, according to The Canadian Press.

Alpharetta also isn't the only local bidder. The Gathering at South Forsyth, a separate arena-anchored project a few miles north in Forsyth County, is pursuing its own NHL team. And in September, the Alpharetta-Milton Chronicle reported, citing the AJC, that former NHL player Anson Carter had launched an independent ownership bid apart from the Alpharetta group. Hipes told the AJC he believes the NHL "is coming here or going to Forsyth County."

Who pays: the North Point tax district

In November 2025, the council unanimously created the North Point tax allocation district (TAD), a roughly 650-acre area around the mall. A TAD "does not institute a new tax," Appen Media explained. Instead, it sets aside future growth in property taxes inside the district to pay for improvements there. Perry told council, "This is not an impetus for raising taxes on residences."

On Oct. 21, Fulton County commissioners approved participating in the TAD with up to $192.4 million in future property-tax revenue, according to the North Atlanta Star. That's a cap over time, not a check written today. The county's share is contingent on an NHL franchise and on construction starting by Dec. 31, 2030, unless the county grants an extension. Whether Fulton County Schools will also participate hasn't been announced.

What happens next (and is the mall still open?)

Yes, the mall is still open. Jamestown is managing it in the meantime, and Bohn told the Alpharetta-Milton Chronicle that only preliminary, non-invasive site work could happen while major physical changes aren't expected in the next year. New York Life told the AJC it will likely be "a year or longer" before meaningful demolition or construction. The next real milestone is an NHL decision, which has no announced timeline.

In the meantime, the area around North Point keeps growing. If you're out that way, check out The Collection at North Point, catch a show at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, or browse more things to do in Alpharetta and the events calendar. For the holidays, see our 2026 Alpharetta holiday events guide, and if you're new to town, our moving to Alpharetta guide covers the neighborhoods around North Point.

What do you think?

Would an NHL arena at North Point be a win for Alpharetta, or is it too much for the area? We'll keep updating this story as the NHL process moves forward. Have a tip or a correction? Email us at hello@alpharettalist.com and we'll take a look.

Frequently asked questions

Is North Point Mall closing?

Not yet. The mall is still open and managed by Jamestown. Developers have said major demolition or construction is likely a year or more away, and the redevelopment only moves forward if the NHL awards a team to the site.

Did Alpharetta approve the North Point NHL arena?

Yes. Alpharetta City Council voted 4-3 at its Aug. 24, 2026 meeting to rezone the nearly 100-acre North Point Mall site for a plan that includes a 20,000-seat NHL-ready arena, apartments, hotels, offices and retail.

Does Atlanta have an NHL team coming?

No team has been awarded. The NHL has 32 teams and has said it is exploring expansion interest, with a Texas group described as further along than Atlanta or Arizona. Alpharetta's North Point plan and The Gathering at South Forsyth are both pursuing a team.

What happens if Alpharetta doesn't get an NHL team?

The approved plan does not happen. The city set an Aug. 24, 2031 deadline for an NHL team award, and developers have said they would need a new plan and new city approval without one.

How is the North Point project being funded?

Through the North Point tax allocation district, which sets aside future growth in property taxes inside the district for improvements there rather than creating a new tax. Fulton County approved up to $192.4 million in future tax revenue on Oct. 21, 2026, contingent on an NHL franchise.