Finding a site for a training ground for his team is MLS Atlanta President Darren Eales’ top priority. Among a long list of other priorities is revealing the team’s name, which should occur at least before the Gold Cup semifinals at the Georgia Dome this summer.
The name for the MLS Atlanta team will come from what Eales described as a “very narrow” list, culled from the survey sent earlier this year, focus groups and discussions with supporters at events.
But because the team will begin play in 2017, Eales is spending a lot of time on the training ground, which he said needs to be constructed no later than Dec. 2016.
“Over the coming months, that will let me focus on some other areas,” he said on Monday.
Eales said he prefers a facility somewhere in or near metro Atlanta that can incorporate the first team, the youth academy and have enough fields for community use.
Eales said he wants the youth academy to train near the first team so that the younger players can see what they are aspiring to be. He hopes to have as many as 15 soccer fields so that the community can also play at the facility and those players, parents and others can develop a stronger tie with the team.
“We want people to feel like they have accessibility,” he said.
Eales estimates they would need at least 50 acres for the full complex. A site that would just house the first team and the academy could be significantly smaller at between 12-15 acres. He hopes to start site reviews within the next month. The firm Cushman and Wakefield has been hired to assist with the land search.
The budget for the facility is open until more information can be processed. Eales said the site could even be done as a partnership with a local university to incorporate elements of sports science and education.
Eales said the facility for the first team needs to be of quality so that it can attract international talent. He has already heard from “loads” of players interested in playing for the team. He declined to name any of them.
“This year, the buzz of Kaka in Orlando, David Villa in New York, the way the games are being shown in England, more and more players are thinking this could be a viable option,” he said. “The money’s not quite at the levels of European football, but that attraction of playing in America is having an impact.”
Possible team names from the survey included Atlanta, Atlanta FC, Atlanta SC, Real Atlanta and Terminus as the official name, with Chiefs, United, Firebirds, Phoenix and Black Harts among possible nicknames. The name could come from another source.
Georgians in MLS
Here’s a list of players with ties to the state who are in MLS:
Joe Bendik (@jtbendik), Toronto, GK, Kennesaw
Started, made three saves and allowed two goals in team’s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Sunday.
Next game: at Chicago on Saturday.
Mark Bloom (@markbloom21), Toronto, D, Marietta
Did not make the 18 for team’s 2-1 to Real Salt Lake on Saturday. He is injured.
Next game: at Chicago on Saturday.
Ricardo Clark (@RicoC13), Houston, M, Jonesboro
Started, played 90 minutes and had one shot in team’s 0-0 draw with Colorado on Saturday.
Next game: at Seattle on Saturday.
Warren Creavalle (@warrenspeak), Toronto, D, Acworth
Started and played 67 minutes in team’s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Sunday.
Next game: at Chicago on Saturday.
Sean Johnson (@sjohn25), Chicago, GK, Snellville
Started and played 90 minutes in team’s 1-0 win over Philadelphia on Sunday.
Next game: will host Toronto on Saturday.
Alec Kann (@akann90), Chicago, GK, Decatur
Didn’t make the 18 for team’s 1-0 win over Philadelphia on Sunday.
Next game: will host Toronto on Saturday.
Chris Klute (@chrisklute), Columbus, D, Silverbacks, Clayton State
Started and played 82 minutes in team’s 2-1 loss to New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
Next game: at Vancouver on April 8.
Jack McInerney (@jackmcinerney9), Montreal, F, Alpharetta
Started, played 84 minutes and scored a goal in team’s 2-2 draw with Orlando on Saturday.
Next game: at Alajuelense in the CCL on April 7.
Kwadwo Poku, NYCFC, M/F, Silverbacks
Came off the bench to play 15 minutes in team’s 1-0 loss to Sporting KC on Saturday.
Next game: at Philadelphia on April 11.
Andrew Wolverton (@a_wolvie), Los Angeles, G, Atlanta
Did not make the 18 for team’s 1-0 loss to D.C. United on Saturday.
Next game: at Vancouver on Saturday.
Walker Zimmerman (@thewalkerzim), Dallas, D, Lawrenceville
Came off the bench to play 31 minutes in team’s 0-0 draw with Seattle on Saturday.
Next game: at Portland on Saturday.
