Georgia now ranks third in film and television production, after California and Connecticut.

Over the past two years alone, the Atlanta Civic Center has been the site for 15 major television productions, including the pilot episode of "The Walking Dead," "Flight", "Joyful Noise," "The Three Stooges," and "Scary Movie Five." 

The popular TV game show, “Family Feud” has also produced 360 episodes at the Civic Center and is planning to tape another 180 shows starting in April of 2013.

Ann Marie Moraitakis, Director of the Atlanta Civic Center, says organizers of the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center hope to continue this trend.

“We have a very aggressive tax credit in the state of Georgia.  We have a great climate.  There’s a lot of possibilities here.   People love our airport, it’s a great location to get in and out of,” says Moraitakis.

Moraitakis says 12 of the last 15 years, the Civic Center has paid for itself, without taxpayers dollars.

The 47-year old Civic Center is located on 18 prime acres in the heart of the city, but it faces increased competition and challenges of an aging facility. 

Future operations of the Civic Center will require significant capital investment to address upgrades required and make the facility more viable.

So, City officials have begun to analyze the current state of the Civic Center to help determine the future strategy for the facility.

“We see that our business keeps growing and morphing with the marketplace and because of this new market of business that’s in the state of Georgia, we’re taking advantage of it and being a home for some of those productions,” says Moraitakis.

On Thursday, Atlanta City officials announced plans to explore current and future options for developing Atlanta’s Civic Center, so the City can continue to draw film and television productions to Georgia.