For two decades, Battle Under the Big Top has been a staple of the All Star Challenge schedule, and after celebrating 20 years of competition in 2024, the series is ready to back handspring into a new decade of fun.

Battle Under the Big Top Grand Nationals is back on the calendar as one of 13 ASC competitions for the 2025-2026 season, and the event will return to familiar territory at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Georgia.

The 2025 ASC Battle Under the Big Top Grand Nationals will take over the GICC on Dec. 13-14, with all of the action being broadcast live on Varsity TV!

All Star Challenge events bring together sports and theater, with competitors encouraged to put on a show – be creative and entertaining, while finding the perfect balance between the technical aspects of cheer and dance and a crowd-wowing presentation.

The slate includes a handful of event themes – King of the Jungle, Return to Atlantic, Clash of the Titans, Queen of the Nile and, of course, Battle Under the Big Top. 

Enjoy complete coverage of the 2025 Battle Under the Big Top Grand Nationals, as standout teams from Division I and Division II go head-to-head with their sights set on obtaining points to The Varsity Cheer League and a bid to one of the prestigious end-of-season championships!

• Who: All Star Cheer Teams
• When: Dec. 13-14, 2025 
• Where: Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Georgia
• Watch: LIVE on Varsity TV
• Rebroadcast: Watch HERE
• The Varsity Cheer League: 600 Points Up For Grabs

What To Know About The Georgia International Convention Center

The Georgia International Convention Center is familiar territory for top-tier cheer and dance events, including ASC Battle Under the Big Top Grand Nationals, so many competitors and their supporters will feel right at home at the venue and in the Atlanta area.

From the minute they get into town, especially if they fly, visitors should find nothing but convenience. 

The convention center is less than a mile from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It’s actually is so close to the GICC that participants and guests can easily get to the venue by car or by the free ATL SkyTrain, as the two locations are connected.

The GICC is the newest and second-largest convention center in Georgia, boasting 400,000 square feet of versatile space – 150,000 square feet of exhibition space, 90,000 square feet of pre-function space, 16,000 square feet of meeting areas and Georgia’s largest ballroom at 40,000 square feet – and 2,000 on-site parking spaces. 

Three nearby convention hotels feature more than 750 guest rooms, while the entire general area has more than 7,000 available hotel rooms. 

Whether the competitors need it or not, there’s a state-of-the-art green room, or they can just sprawl out and warm up on the 192,000 square feet of colorful custom carpet inside the GICC.

Here’s a virtual tour of the facility and a unique look at the whole area.

More information: Parking | Directions | Mass Transit | Event Calendar

The GICC is just one part of a huge campus – The Gateway Center Campus – which includes the GICC, Gateway Center Arena, six hotels, an office building, a BMW Training Center and places to eat. 

The same crew that keeps the GICC filled and running smoothly also operates the Gateway Center Arena, a 5,000-seat venue that hosts sporting events, concerts, shows, graduations conventions and more.

The arena is the home of the Atlanta Dream, a professional women’s basketball team and the College Park Skyhawks, the G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks. 

Basketball fans headed to the ASC Battle Under the Big Top are in luck, as the Skyhawks will be in town Dec. 14 to host the Greensboro Swarm at 1 p.m. Eastern, while the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to the nearby State Farm Arena at 6 p.m. EST.

Football fans will have to wait another year to see the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in action, as they will be on the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 11.

Things To Do In The Atlanta Area

Atlanta is a metropolis, but getting around is pretty easy. Getting to, and around, College Park, Georgia, also is convenient, thanks to a great public transportation system. 

We already discussed all the activity happening at the Gateway Center Campus over the weekend, while Atlanta proper has a zoo, aquarium, gardens, galleries – it’s even the headquarter city for CNN (news channel) and the Coca-Cola Company. Tours of both HQs would be great additions to any agenda.

Click here to learn more about the Atlanta area. Click here to learn specifically about downtown Atlanta.

Atlanta has a long and diverse history, with museums that celebrate more than 200 years of growth and culture that began in the 1830s, when the area was connected to the Midwest via railroad.

As the host of the Summer Olympics in 1996, Atlanta received many updates and new facilities, while also becoming a hub for Delta Airlines.

As you plan for your visit to the ATL, check out this list of 50 fun things to do. 

The area’s dining scene definitely won’t disappoint either.

Don’t miss the Southern BBQ, fried chicken, sweet tea, Brunswick stew, pecan pie and other delicious Southern fare. And, remember – Georgia is the Peach State, so keep an eye out for all the ways the locals can delight you with the tasty state fruit!

HERE is a more complete list of what to expect in the Centennial Park District, including some of the best places to eat and drink.

Need a car to get around the Atlanta area? Visit Avis!

How To Watch The 2025 ASC Battle Under The Big Top Grand Nationals

The 2025 edition of ASC Battle Under the Big Top Grand Nationals will stream LIVE on Varsity TV.

If you’re going to be in Atlanta area and want to see the event in person, click HERE for spectator and ticket information.

Missed the Action? Watch The Rebroadcast

The rebroadcast will stream on Varsity TV on a delay of 24 hours.

Relive The Action With Varsity TV 24/7 Network

Whether you're a die-hard fan, a coach or an athlete, Varsity TV 24/7 Network brings the action of the competitive cheer and dance season straight to you—anytime, anywhere. 

The always-live stream will feature all-access content and video replays hand-picked by experts on the Varsity TV team. Tune in to Varsity TV 24/7 Network live, starting on Nov. 1.

The 2025 ASC Battle Under The Big Top Grand Nationals Results

Results for the 2025 ASC Battle Under the Big Top Grand Nationals can be found here.

The 2025 ASC Battle Under The Big Top Grand Nationals Schedule

The schedule for 2025 ASC Battle Under the Big Top Grand Nationals can be found here.

Tentative block schedule

Here’s A Look Back At What Happened In 2024

Bids Up For Grabs At The 2025 ASC Battle Under the Big Top Grand Nationals

• 3 Paid Bids to The Cheerleading Worlds
• 6 At-Large Bids to The Cheerleading Worlds
• 3 Paid Bids to The Summit
• 12 At-Large Bids to The Summit
• 3 Paid Bids to The D2 Summit
• 8 At-Large Bids to The D2 Summit
• 1 Paid Bid to The Youth Summit
• 5 At-Large Bids to The Youth Summit
• 2 Paid Bids to The Regional Summit
• Top 3 teams in eligible divisions qualify for The Regional Summit
• 5 At-Large Bids to The Recreational Summit
• 1 Silver Bid to The Quest
• Top 3 teams in eligible divisions qualify for The Quest
• Golden Tickets to The U.S. Finals

The Varsity Cheer League

The Varsity Cheer League is the official ranking system for the sport of All Star cheerleading, changing the conversation from “Who won the weekend?” to “Who ranks at the top this season?”

Every all star elite team in Youth, Junior, and Senior divisions will be included in the Varsity Cheer League.

Team rankings are determined by the point system displayed here. 

At each Varsity All Star event your team completes, your team will earn points based on the assigned event and placement point value. 

At the end of the season, your six best Varsity All Star event scores will be used to calculate your final rank.

In total, 92 winners will be recognized from first to third place across each region.

One champion will be crowned in each of the five regions across the six eligible divisions and two League 6 conferences. Champions will win cash and prizes!

Click here to learn more about The Varsity Cheer League

600 Points Up For Grabs At The 2025 ASC Battle Under The Big Top Grand Nationals

Click here to view the full points system/breakdown.

Tune in to Varsity TV on Dec. 13-14 to watch all the action live from the 2025 ASC Battle Under the Big Top Grand Nationals in College Park, Georgia!

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