What are YOUR demands...

[Eleven Bravo]

If you were to stand in front of the new owner and could suggest anything to how to make Atlanta a more successful franchise...what would you say?

I would say don't forget the southern market. I think that is going to make or break the team. If they try and just go just for the Atlanta community i think they'll struggle.

[Eleven Bravo]

one other thing is if it were me i'd put the team in Gwinnett and work a deal out with Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Emory, and UGA (and if i really had my way i'd say Fort Benning, Fort Stewart, Fort Gordon, and the other military bases in the south) to provide shuttle buses to and from the stadium with college and military discounts.

[BigKahuna]

I would say to do the opposite of Colorado and the same as DC United and listen to your hardcore fans. The FO should go out of their way to accomodate the supporter's groups in MLS.

[ATL_Iron]

If you were to stand in front of the new owner and could suggest anything to how to make Atlanta a more successful franchise...what would you say?

I would say don't forget the southern market. I think that is going to make or break the team. If they try and just go just for the Atlanta community i think they'll struggle.

LOL, "Can someone kick the jukebox the records stuck" Blimey Bravo you with you around i cant see anyone forgeting the southern market. ;)

In all seriousness bravo, what sort of crowd numbers would you consider successful? For me, if they could average around 15,000 i would be happy. Looking at the other MLS franchises that should be attainable. I also think that marketing to the "soccer" demographic will be fine and that market in the Atlanta area is large enough. That is why there is talk about expanding here.

In answer to your question though, "I would say, Hello Boris, welcome to the big league" :D

[santeroatomico]

one other thing is if it were me i'd put the team in Gwinnett and work a deal out with Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Emory, and UGA (and if i really had my way i'd say Fort Benning, Fort Stewart, Fort Gordon, and the other military bases in the south) to provide shuttle buses to and from the stadium with college and military discounts.
Gwinnett!!!
There is nothing in Gwinnett.

[ATL_Iron]

Gwinnett!!!
There is nothing in Gwinnett.

Apart from several hundred thousand sports interested people. Sports Illustrated has selected Gwinnett as its “Sportstown for Georgia”. For its pro teams, schools, parks and facilities etc. So i don't know about you, but i think there is plenty in Gwinnett, certainly SI seems to think so. You know anywhere better?

[santeroatomico]

Apart from several hundred thousand sports interested people. Sports Illustrated has selected Gwinnett as its “Sportstown for Georgia”. For its pro teams, schools, parks and facilities etc. So i don't know about you, but i think there is plenty in Gwinnett, certainly SI seems to think so. You know anywhere better?

About 6 months about I was palnning to move to Norcross. I went to look for Houses and decided I should stay in Houston

[ATL_Iron]

About 6 months about I was palnning to move to Norcross. I went to look for Houses and decided I should stay in Houston

There is a lot more Gwinnett than Norcross. I have a good friend who is a coach in Houston, and is very jealous of the facilities and resources at my disposal from Gwinnett for coaching soccer. Georgia is also a KINS state which Houston has yet to ge on board with.

I live in Snellville and just around that area of Gwinnett there are around 20+ flood lit pitches at my disposal. Now i'm not saying one is better than the other, but certainly don't be so quick to knock the county, as a sporty / outdoors person, i think its the best in GA.

[Eleven Bravo]

There is a lot more Gwinnett than Norcross. I have a good friend who is a coach in Houston, and is very jealous of the facilities and resources at my disposal from Gwinnett for coaching soccer. Georgia is also a KINS state which Houston has yet to ge on board with.

I live in Snellville and just around that area of Gwinnett there are around 20+ flood lit pitches at my disposal. Now i'm not saying one is better than the other, but certainly don't be so quick to knock the county, as a sporty / outdoors person, i think its the best in GA.

I was plan on buying a house in Watkinsville but i've been looking also at Gwinnett (and Evans) due to the fact i'd be closer to a VA and more jobs would probably be available...what's the cost of living in Gwinnett like?

[ATL_Iron]

Mixed bag really. The taxes are less than Fulton county so you are slightly better off there. As for property really depends, you have the expensive areas, Duluth, Snellville, up around the lake and the cheaper areas Norcross around JC, Lilburn etc. So take your pick really

[Eleven Bravo]

Mixed bag really. The taxes are less than Fulton county so you are slightly better off there. As for property really depends, you have the expensive areas, Duluth, Snellville, up around the lake and the cheaper areas Norcross around JC, Lilburn etc. So take your pick really

well considering the fact that i have a wife and a 3 yr old daughter...are there any towns that i should stay away from. (i.e. "bad" neighborhoods)? Also, what are the best schools? I was looking up houses in Lawrenceville & Lilburn and was shocked at the fact they're cheaper than Athens and Augusta.

thanks for your help.

[ATL_Iron]

I have a 4 year old daughter and she is the reason we moved to Snellville. See what you can find here. Brookwood is one of the best schools in the state, and also along with Parkview (also in snellville) are the 2 football power houses in Gwinnett and to a point the state.

The Jimmy Carter area of Norcross has the worst crime rate in Gwinnett, other than that, i don't think any of it is that bad.

[Eleven Bravo]

LOL, "Can someone kick the jukebox the records stuck" Blimey Bravo you with you around i cant see anyone forgeting the southern market. ;)

In all seriousness bravo, what sort of crowd numbers would you consider successful? For me, if they could average around 15,000 i would be happy. Looking at the other MLS franchises that should be attainable. I also think that marketing to the "soccer" demographic will be fine and that market in the Atlanta area is large enough. That is why there is talk about expanding here.

In answer to your question though, "I would say, Hello Boris, welcome to the big league" :D

I would expect no less than 15,000 but would be content with right around the league average as long as we make ends meet with merchandising (how much of that goes to the club?). If the team isn't drawing 15,000 than they're doing something terribly wrong. Why do i feel that way? if the THRASHERS can draw 15,000 a MLS team should have no problem drawing those numbers and then some.

[Eleven Bravo]

MARTA...MARTA is a must.

[ATL_Iron]

MARTA...MARTA is a must.

Ahh well your buggered then :D

[chlaga]

I have been in Gwinnett for a long time 11B and Marta has always got shot down. However, with traffic getting terrible coming down 85 I think folks are looking at it more seriously. Pickneyville is pretty nice area too and pretty safe and fairly close to The Remax.

[Eleven Bravo]

I have been in Gwinnett for a long time 11B and Marta has always got shot down. However, with traffic getting terrible coming down 85 I think folks are looking at it more seriously. Pickneyville is pretty nice area too and pretty safe and fairly close to The Remax.

why so?

[BigKahuna]

why so?

People are afraid on the "street people" taking MARTA from Woodruff Park out to Gwinett and boosting their cars for a ride back into town. Its rather silly if you ask me. :rolleyes:

[chlaga]

Exactly. There has always been that fear that Marta station = crime.

[ChuckA]

Exactly. There has always been that fear that Marta station = crime.


And, there is pretty good empirical data to support this fear. For example, ask the folks at Lenox and Perimeter Malls.

I'm not saying that I agree or support this theory. I'm just stating a fact.

I'm moving to St. Louis after 40 years in Atlanta. So, I no longer have a dog in this fight.