With two major events, Atlanta is preparing for traffic to slow to a near-total halt

The evening rush hour in Atlanta can be annoying at the best of times. But with a presidential debate scheduled for 9 p.m. and a Copa América soccer match kicking off at 6 p.m., the city is bracing for worse and worse traffic Thursday night.

Even though traffic wasn’t noticeably heavier during the day, the city warned that going out later could lead to headaches.

“If you are planning a night out in Atlanta, for the game, dinner or any of our offerings, we encourage you to plan ahead and anticipate limited parking and heavier traffic than usual,” it said. the city in a notice, noting several planned projects. road closures around the debate venue.

The two events, the United States men’s soccer team versus Panama and President Biden versus former President Donald J. Trump, will take place just miles apart.

The debate is taking place at CNN headquarters in Midtown, a growing neighborhood of high-rise hotels, office buildings and apartment towers. To the south, the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC, will host the soccer match.

Many visiting football fans said they planned to walk or take MARTA, Atlanta’s light rail system. Kellen Lowder, a 36-year-old engineer who came from Seattle to watch the game, said the double booking surprised him.

“I knew the debate was happening, but I didn’t realize it was happening in Atlanta until I mentioned it at the hotel front desk,” Mr. Lowder said. “They told us not to drive or Uber.”

Also caught off guard were Aga Villanueva, 43, and Pedro Valencia, 40, soccer fans from Chicago.

“I thought it would be in New York or something,” Mr. Villanueva said, before shrugging his shoulders and no longer worrying about what might happen outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“I’m not too concerned about politics right now, just about the U.S. victory over Panama,” he said.

Another potential snarl looms. Pro-Palestinian organizations have planned two separate demonstrations that they say could attract several hundred demonstrators. The rallies were presented as being against both Mr Trump and Mr Biden, as well as against the US government’s long-standing support for Israel.

Protest organizers also encouraged protesters to take the MARTA.