City Of Marietta Seeks To Become A Soccer Magnet
Marietta City Council approved the site plan to the Atlanta United soccer team for a practice facility. A previous deal with DeKalb County ended abruptly.
BRANDEN CAMP / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Atlanta United FC can now move forward on building its new headquarters and six soccer fields in Marietta, Georgia.
It’s part of an effort to make the city a soccer magnet.
Marietta City Council gave the professional soccer team, Atlanta United, final approval recently to build six practice fields and offices for its team and youth academy programs.
The team plans to spend $50 million to build the complex and has signed a 30-year lease.
It will pay $1 per year for the first 10 years and $300,000 per year after that.
City of Marietta spokeswoman Lindsey Wiles says Marietta will also be building three of its own soccer fields just across the street.
“The fields will be available to the public and the kids along Franklin Road, but it’ll also be able to bring in more money if we have a big soccer tournament to bring economic impact to the city,” Wiles said.
In addition to the three practice fields, the city is also building a playground, a walking track and a building that will include offices, concessions and restrooms.
“It’ll be more than just three fields,” Wiles said. “When people come into stay for soccer tournaments, they don’t just come in for the day. Generally, it’s a few days long. People rent hotels; they spend money to eat; they do some shopping. So it will also be able to bring in more money with tournaments and things like that.”
Wiles said the city is trying to replicate the success of the LakePoint Sporting Community facility in Emerson, Georgia, by attracting major soccer tournaments and events to the city of Marietta. Wiles said Atlanta United and the city might be able to share its fields when hosting major soccer and lacrosse tournaments.
The city has set aside $167,000 from it’s automobile rental tax revenues to fund the project.
Both soccer field projects are expected to be complete by spring 2017.
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