I have to criticize this with all due respect to you... But it sounds like it’s saying, we’re so inclusive; except for screw the poor, rural white southerners, aka “rednecks.” If that was ever Atlanta’s business model, I would jump ship faster than anyone could blink. In fact, a lot of those poor, rural white southerners are a huge demographic of Atlanta United.
If others want to jump on board then that's great. I've no problem with anyone wanting to climb aboard this train... so long as they don't try to change the train to be more like something it's not. When the Braves tried special events to make inroads with the urban folks who weren't watching or attending games they caught flak from some of the rural fans across Georgia who felt the team belonged to them more. That really rubbed me wrong, as did the bolt for Cobb County. To me there aren't two Georgias - Rural and urban elements need each other in modern economies. A symbiotic relationship. But living just outside the metro area I hear a lot of folks that do nothing but complain about the big city, that they don't like change, Atlanta doesn't represent them, etc. If they could have their Braves and Falcons without having to go into Atlanta they'd do that (as we've seen), and I think that's a shame. That's to what I'm reacting. I don't want fans to come and start saying "This is great but it would be better if it wasn't in the city." They dont appreciate that this team and the City are linked! As to AUFC all are welcome as far as I'm concerned, so long as they're buying what AUFC is selling. And AUFC is selling Atlanta.
On local v. regional in a way: I'm reading various social media posters talking about keeping the curtains down all the time. They feel the atmosphere is better and the fans are louder. I think the cost increase on that number would price a lot of regional fans out of the picture. The guy who lives near a Marta station has $200 more to spend on a ticket than I do, regardless of what it costs. The USOC final was the only time I'd sat below the 300s, and I was near the SS, so I can't compare. I guess I'm saying that there are folks out there who'd give up 30K seats (and the fans who'd love to see them) to have a better atmosphere for themselves. They can't even give us regionals four games. Don't stir the nest too much!
No matter what, Atlanta is always going to be a regional team. It’s part of the Southern Culture to believe us vs them... The South is just so far spread out, and the rest of the US will always favor parts outside the South. For instance, the South was the last region for MLS to expand, although it’s the hottest market in the US for soccer. Likewise, fans from all over the South, know that Atlanta is going to be the team for the South, and where most people go for travel, entertainment, etc... in other words, someone from Macon, Augusta, Savannah, Anderson, Chattanooga, Columbus, Montgomery, etc. are all going to Atlanta at some point in their life. They have some connection with the city. And when/if Atlanta gets too snobby and exclusive and says, we don’t need you.... that’s going to mean a lot of the support is going to go missing. That’s a lot different than outside the South where the next market is not that far away nor necessarily does not share a common cultural history.
Let me also add, for the Carolina based fans... and I know a lot of them. Charlotte is going to make a hard push to steal those fans. Just like Nashville is going to steal fans from Tennessee (and maybe even North Georgia). IF Atlanta United says, “Go. We don’t need you anyways.” I will warn that Atlanta’s fan base is going to drop from the top of the pack to the bottom of the pack.
I can't imagine theres a large number of season ticket holders that are willing to make that kind of drive for every game. And I only say that because I wouldn't be willing to make that drive for every game. As someone who moved to Atlanta as an adult, who maybe doesn't have the love for the area that someone born and bred might have, I say I don't care where you're from or where you live right now, if you want to join me in supporting my team I'll take you with open arms. As for fans in Nashville or maybe Charlotte jumping ship to new local teams, I wouldn't begrudge them the change. I'd miss them, but understand it.
I beg to differ. My family's been Southern for at least 200 years, and we've never had any adversarial relationship with anyone or thing outside the South because of it. Nashville's probably going to get whatever there is of North Alabama. There are at least ten AU fans in my town, but I haven't met any of them. I see the Carolina based fans going to the team in their state for sure. I think maybe AU keeps the Eastern Tennessee and South Carolina fans. My guess is, AU keeps Chattanooga because Chattanooga is more closely tied with ATL (I-24 is not I-75). Now, if Nashville had dubbed themselves Tennessee FC, who knows? Marketing/branding matters. I wouldn't. That's why the multi-game pack is so important. Like I said before, I love that city. I don't have anything for Nashville or Birmingham, because I haven't spent much time in either town. If I were relocated for some reason to Nashville tomorrow, I'd still be 100% AUFC. Yeah, that's about it for me.
Open the '20 home season versus FCC. Good. Let's get revenge for that pathetic home draw against them last year.
Atlanta drawn against Honduran side Motagua for next season's CCL. Pending the conditions for the road trip this should prove a slightly easier match-up compared to last year's Costa Rican tilt. Granted, we're awaiting the final United roster and hoping the labor negotiations don't disrupt training.
I tried to rep that post, but the computer reversed it twice. I don't know what that's about... I'm not holding out a lot of hope for a good run in the CCL. Gonna need self-familiarity, and there's a chance we'll be playing "Getting to know you" again this spring, just with some new players instead of a new manager.
Certainly don't have the easiest road after the first round, but I have to think it's got to be better than last year. Some new players, sure, but that has to be easier than everyone learning a new coach and philosophy.
I think we might have a shot at the semis IF we weren't paired to meet Club America in the R8. But I just don't see us going past that point v. in-form, mid-season clubs with more money. TFC caught lightning in a bottle, IMO. No doubt about that. But, in both of our years, the team that showed/will show up to the CCL was not the team that earned the berth. Don't get me wrong, I want to win this thing... but I don't want us to go deep, not win and have it affect our domestic season like it did w/TFC.
Apparently we signed an eAthlete from Brazil. WhooHoo! https://www.atlutd.com/post/2019/12/11/atlanta-united-signs-no-4-ranked-esports-athlete-paulo-neto
I get it but I don't think it should be considered sports. Like chess it's more gaming than sport. But I digress. Guess we're in a holding pattern until the new labor deal is struck. Roberson today talked about the virtue of considering playing the return leg of a potential CL quarterfinal @ Georgia State since it appears the Benz won't be available at that time. Thoughts?
Unfortunately, that line's gonna get blurrier by the day, because kids don't go outdoors and play as much. They don't see as much of a difference as I do. I don't see a right or wrong in it. It's an indicator of how far soccer has to go in this country that we're not the main tenants of MBS, not an indictment of us or of Arthur Blank. We can fill it, but MLS can't get the sort of TV deal that would make anyone want to buy/build it for us primarily. I don't know how many options we have if the Benz is taken for that day. BD? Can they get it ready on short notice? FWIW, GSU holds 24K, which isn't good, but it isn't horrible, either.
asking out of ignorance. Can you lay grass over turf for a one off match? Roll in some sort of apparatus to cover the gridiron with the sewn in yard lines?
I suppose that might be an option for an important WC match, but they aren't going to do it for a CONCACAF CL match. It might be selfish of me, but I hope they play at KSU.