For years the weakness of Atlanta for conventions was there was nothing to do besides going to the bars or the World of Coca Cola. Now with the addition of the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta has a viable tourism destination.

Suddenly, the 76-year-old entrepreneur’s eyes light up like a 4-year-old’s. At the far end of a 6-million-gallon tank in Marcus’ brand-new Georgia Aquarium, he spots Norman and Ralph, a pair of 20-foot juvenile whale sharks that manage to appear both benevolent and monstrous.

“Just look at those guys,” Marcus says, leaning in for a closer view. “It’s worth coming here just to watch them turn into the size of boxcars.”

That Norman, Ralph and more than 100,000 of their finny friends will become a civic sensation is as predictable as a slam-dunk by former Atlantan Shaquille O’Neal. The aquarium, which opened this week, already has sold more than 80,000 annual passes and booked everything from bar mitzvahs to conferences in a ballroom that features catering by Wolfgang Puck and views of marauding hammerheads and giant grouper. (During weddings, Marcus notes, a curtain will be drawn to avoid upstaging the bride.) via USA Today