Ann Rodriguez is going to play an important role in answering two of the questions that fans of Atlanta’s MLS team have wanted answers to for more than a year: what will be the team’s name, and what will the team’s uniforms look like?
Rodriguez was recently hired as the team’s vice president of business operations, joining president Darren Eales and technical director Carlos Bocanegra in the front office.
She brings a wealth of experience in MLS – particularly with a new franchise — and sports marketing to the role because of her background with San Jose and Under Armour, among other places.
Still working and living in Washington, D.C., Rodriguez took a few minutes to answer some questions about her new job.
The questions and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Q: What are your primary responsibilities?
A: The business operations piece is a couple of things. We will be leveraging shared services (with the Falcons). I’ll be working with sales, marketing, ticket operation, fan experience and sponsorships. There are other areas we will be sharing.
In general, we will look to leverage expertise of folks with Falcons where appropriate. It will be a big team effort.
Q: How involved will you be with the choice of colors and design of the kits?
A: Pretty involved.
Q: OK, what is your favorite kit, worldwide?
A: The Under Armour kits for Tottenham Hotspur for the last few seasons, that was one of my projects.
I really did like the home new kit they debuted in May at the last home game.
Q: Is that any indication what Atlanta's kit may look like?
A: No. so many different and exciting kits out there. Hopefully, we will work each year with Adidas to come up with a great look and feel for club. It will be a lot of fun.
Q: How do you market a team that doesn’t have a name and won’t start play for 1 ½ years?
A: The idea of the team and passion for the team is already there. You can see what the great folks with Terminus Legion have done. We will continue to find ways to activate and engage that group to be involved with the sport around the launch.
Q: What do you hope the team’s name is?
A: I’d say something people can get excited about it, easy to spell and easy to pronounce.
Q: What is job No. 1 in your new role?
A: Getting to know the community. With relocating from Washington D.C. , getting to know the fans. I know the sport pretty well, know the league pretty well. I’m really focusing on the city. From planning and laying out the strategic plan, what are the key milestones and initiatives on the business side, to laying the foundation for competitive and fan success, give them a great experience.
Q: Describe your experiences with MLS.
A: My primary experience is with the San Jose Earthquakes. I worked with the ownership group of the Oakland As, who had an option to buy a team.
The Earthquakes had just left for Houston. Lew (Wolff) and John (Fisher) and just bought the option (on another team). We had the opportunity with some deep pockets and … experience to bring the stadium concept to life and bring back the team.
Frank Yallop was our first coach. We got a team on the field and a temporary venue together with Santa Clara University. We then worked with the city to buy land that the stadium sits on today.
People who worked with me are still there. A friend of mine from Stanford business school is still president.
I left there for Under Armour.
I’m very proud of what we accomplished and built there (in San Jose).
Q: Biggest lesson you learned from that that you can apply to MLS Atlanta?
A: You need to have a really passionate group of fans. We had a group of soccer fans in Silicon Valley. They helped us with our meetings with the city council and convincing the city to make an investment for the land.
Land is scarce in Silicon Valley. They were really active participants in helping us with that, moving people to the game, buying tickets.
So, community engagement first and foremost, creating a product and experience that works for everybody.
U.S. soccer: The U.S. men's national team not only scored against the Netherlands for the first time last week, it also notched its first win against the Orange, 4-3.
And they did it both in the most surprising way: Jurgen Klinsmann’s men scored three unanswered goals to silence the crowd in the Amsterdam Arena.
The catalyst for the victory was the much-maligned Michael Bradley, a midfielder whose national team form has suffered with every change to the lineup by Klinsmann.
This time, the U.S. reverted back to a 4-3-3 and Bradley seemed determined to move the ball forward, either by dribbling or passing, with much greater consistency than in previous games, when he seemed more to content to go sideways or backward.
His movement up the field on the game-winning goal was Messi-esque in its length and cleverness as Dutch defenders fell by the wayside one after the other.
The U.S. will need more of that from Bradley in the upcoming Gold Cup, whose semifinals will be played at the Georgia Dome.
Bradley wasn’t the only star. DeAndre Yedlin came in for Brek Shea and tidied up a defense that was less than sturdy.
Danny Williams made the most of his few minutes on the field to score the third goal, and Bobby Wood – he of the missed open goals in previous games – finally put the game-winner into the net.
Silverbacks: The Silverbacks were beaten by San Antonio 1-0 on Saturday, their first home loss this season. Atlanta (1-5-3) has now dropped to the bottom of the NASL's Spring standings with just eight points in nine games.
Georgians in MLS: Here's a list of players with ties to the state who are in MLS:
Joe Bendik (@jtbendik), Toronto, GK, Kennesaw
Made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 2-1 win over D.C. United on June 6.
Next game: vs NYCFC on June 20.
Mark Bloom (@markbloom21), Toronto, D, Marietta
Made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 2-1 win over D.C. United on June 6.
Next game: vs NYCFC on June 20.
Ricardo Clark (@RicoC13), Houston, M, Jonesboro
Played 90 minutes and scored another goal in team’s 4-2 win over New York Red Bulls on June 5.
Next game: vs. Austin in Open Cup on June 17.
Warren Creavalle (@warrenspeak), Toronto, D, Acworth
Started, and played 73 minutes in team’s 2-1 win over D.C. United on June 6.
Next game: vs NYCFC on June 20.
Chris Duvall (@chrisduvall91), New York Red Bulls, D, Duluth
Played 90 minutes in a 4-2 loss to Houston on June 5.
Next game: vs. Silverbacks in Open Cup on June 16.
Sean Johnson (@sjohn25), Chicago, GK, Snellville
Made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 3-1 loss to D.C. United on June 3 and made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 3-2 loss to Orlando City on June 6.
Next game: at New England on Saturday.
Chris Klute (@chrisklute), Columbus, D, Silverbacks, Clayton State
Didn’t make the 18 for team’s 3-0 loss to Philadelphia on June 3 or in the 2-1 loss to Montreal on June 6.
Next game: vs. L.A. Galaxy on Saturday.
Jack McInerney (@jackmcinerney9), Montreal, F, Alpharetta
Started and scored a goal in team’s 2-1 win over Vancouver on June 3 and started and played 90 minutes in team’s 2-1 win over Columbus on June 6.
Next game: at NYCFC on Saturday.
Kwadwo Poku, NYCFC, M/F, Silverbacks
Started, played 58 minutes and had an assist in team’s 2-1 win over Philadelphia on June 6.
Next game: vs. Montreal on Saturday.
Andrew Wolverton (@a_wolvie), Los Angeles, G, Atlanta
Made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 1-0 loss to Vancouver on June 6.
Next game: at Columbus on Saturday.
Walker Zimmerman (@thewalkerzim), Dallas, D, Lawrenceville
Started and played 90 minutes in team’s 0-0 draw with San Jose on June 7.
Next game: at Seattle on Saturday.
