The Changing Atlanta Soccer Environment

Discussion in 'Atlanta United FC' started by MPoole, Jan 17, 2009.

  1. MPoole

    MPoole Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    Atlanta
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    With the Siverbacks closing up shop and the MLS bid dead in the water, we are left with only the Silverbacks Women's Team and the upcoming WPS team. How will the MLS bid failure impact the rest of the soccer community? Is it going to hurt the WPS's image to not have a soccer specific stadium in Atlanta?
     
  2. DavidP

    DavidP Member

    Mar 21, 1999
    Powder Springs, GA
    I think a lot of people will think like me, that if Blank wasn't ready, why did he put in a bid? Sure, he found out what it takes to get in, but I felt like we were lead on. Of course, the deal with KSU fell apart (last month), and that might have had a lot to do with pulling the bid. Still, it makes a body wonder. Now, if we're still a longshot next time, and we don't make it, then I'll just say "Screw MLS," and watch something else. I don't really care for women's' soccer, so the Lady 'Backs don't appeal to me. The Beat didn't have a SSS and they did fine, so I don't see a problem now.
     
  3. Reignking

    Reignking Member

    Feb 16, 2005
    Atlanta, GA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Glad I'm a DCU fan.
     
  4. drummer

    drummer Member

    Nov 29, 1999
    Atlanta
    Except for the current economy, I don't think the environment changed, just the perception of it. I remember an article some time ago about the Silverbacks that essentially said no bank or investor would loan any money for an Atlanta soccer stadium, even one backed by the owner himself; it being seen as a bad investment; and that was back when it was easy to get a loan. I doubt any level of government will drop a dime on a soccer stadium.

    Mr. Blank has more money, but I suspect he found a similar environment (perhaps to his surprise). His/our best (only?) chance for Atlanta MLS will be to get backing to build a new NFL stadium and design it to allow futbol/soccer use. That won't happen soon. I suspect Mr. Blank is beginning to wonder if Atlanta MLS is a good idea.
     
  5. DavidP

    DavidP Member

    Mar 21, 1999
    Powder Springs, GA
    Good point. That's why, if he gets a new stadium for the Falcons, I think it would benefit him to have it built with retractable seats in the upper deck, so that for soccer, it would not be the yawning cavern that most NFL stadia are for soccer. The upper deck could be used as a fan plaza or something for soccer, and then bring the seats back down for football. But then, the question would be grass or turf? People on this board would get hemorrhoids or something if MLS had another stadium with turf.
     
  6. BigKahuna

    BigKahuna Member

    Nov 30, 2004
    GA Boy in DC
    This only feeds the anti-Atlanta sentiment among those that have no idea....and to be honest, I can't really blame them. In GA we have only 3 D1 mens teams in the state and the two biggest schools have consistantly balked at having mens soccer. Yet we have a fantastic youth base, and a large, proven hispanic base. It's really a shame. Fans in Atlanta need to organize.
     
  7. DCUdiplomat96

    DCUdiplomat96 Member

    Mar 19, 2005
    Atlanta, GA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I dont think soccer in Atlanta is dead yet. But there are alot of problems overall, not just the stadium issue but the fanbase and media and stuff. Gwinnet is doing there own thing the latino immigrants are doing ther own thing, there really isnt no media influence(thats english speaking wise.) also there is a need for someone or a group of people to build a Soccer side for Atlanta... I mean a soccer culture Kinda like other Major US cities but more vocal in atlanta. More organization can help too.
     
  8. Michael CM1

    Michael CM1 New Member

    Jun 5, 2002
    Atlanta, Georgia: US
    I don't think I'd put much stock in the whole MLS deal being soccer-related as much as money-related. Some people in Gwinnett are howling about the money spent on the baseball stadium -- a BASEBALL stadium. I want to say it's about $40 million on a team that I can't see not succeeding.

    So that happened about a year ago. Now that the entire financial system is in the crapper, and Blank had to even reduce the ABF's work force by 10 percent, where is all that money going to come from? Nobody, I mean nobody, would think spending a few million bucks on a soccer stadium would be prudent right now. People around the Atlanta area would be screaming to put those construction jobs into stuff like roads that are more practical.

    As far as Blank getting a new NFL stadium, that won't help for maybe a decade. When that news broke many months ago, the timeframe for a new NFL stadium was about 10 years for the Doraville site. I don't think any other discussions were even as far along as that one was, so the football stadium won't solve anything.

    Just figure that not much will get done for at least 2009. If there's a miraculous economic turnaround, the 2013 bid might start to look up. But until the economy stops getting worse, people in Atlanta won't really care about adding a pro soccer team.
     
  9. Gruffgoat

    Gruffgoat New Member

    Jun 24, 2008
    Atlanta
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think the base is too large both in Atlanta and in Georgia for soccer to falter here - the Silverbacks loss was a set back for the city but frankly, I know a lot of football die hards that still didn't make it down to Silverbacks matches. I think MLS would be in a whole other universe though. FWIW, I've build an online zine called Peach State Soccer that I'm hopeful will continue to push the Atlanta as well as the state wide soccer profile up higher and higher!
     

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