Cup fans sign their soccer love on dotted line

By Leon Stafford

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Soccer fans watching the World Cup in local restaurants this weekend will do more than cheer their teams on: they'll be selling Atlanta's hopes to host the games in the next eight to 12 years.

Patrons of several Atlanta restaurants, including all Taco Mac locations and Sidebar downtown, will be asked to sign a petition urging FIFA, the organization overseeing the popular event, to name Atlanta one of 12 American cities to host the games if the U.S. wins its bid to have the World Cup played on the nation's soil in 2018 or 2022.

The petition signing, offered through July 11 when the Cup ends, is one of several events boosters behind Atlanta's bid are promoting. Others include a World of Coca-Cola exhibit, a Georgia Dome soccer match and the July 8 premier of "Pelada," a documentary on two former college soccer stars by Chamblee High School graduate Ryan White.

"This effort is yet another example of key influencers throughout the city of Atlanta coming together and working extremely hard to put Atlanta and Georgia in a position to host the biggest sporting event in the world," Atlanta Sports Council executive director Dan Corso said in a statement.

The Council estimates the Cup could create 5,000 to 8,000 jobs and have an economic impact of $400 million to $600 million, the equivalent of roughly four Super Bowls.

Bruce Skala, Taco Mac's vice president of marketing, said there is so much interest in the games that doors at many locations of the chain will open at 9:30 a.m. -- 90 minutes ahead of normal operating hours --  to accommodate games that start earlier in the day. Patrons will receive the petitions when they get their check.

Other participating restaurants include Dantanna's, Ri Ra Irish Pub and Holy Taco. A full list is at http://www.atlanta.net/soccer.

Sean and Gilbert Yeremyan, Turkish-born co-owners of Midtown's Hobnob restaurant, aren't part of the petition drive, but they expect brisk business because of the city's growing international community.

“We are seeing increasing numbers of Europeans moving to Atlanta.” Gilbert Yeremyan said. “With so many different nations competing in the tournament, you’re widening your clientele by drawing fans from Denmark, Mexico, Argentina, etc.”