Expansion MLS club Atlanta United FC yesterday "unveiled its plans" for a $60M training complex in Cobb County, and construction on the 30,000-square-foot center "will be completed by" April '17, according to Doug Roberson of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The six fields at the complex -- three grass and three artificial -- "are scheduled to be finished" by January '17. The team's training camp for its inaugural season "will start near the end of January." Because of the construction schedule, the team "will likely attend MLS preseason training camps out of town until things are finished." The training center "will house the team," the youth academy and the front office. It "won’t be as large as what was proposed when the center was going to be constructed" in DeKalb County. One of the artificial fields "will have the same dimensions and same turf as what will be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium." It will be "sunk into the ground with berms on the side so the team’s supporters can watch select practices and any games that are hosted there." There "will also be an observation deck from which people can watch." The grass fields "will face the southeast side of the building, which will be composed of glass." The front of the building "will also be made of glass so that people walking in can see the training grounds" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/19). Atlanta United President Darren Eales said that the club wants the complex "to have the feel of a state park." Roberson notes the renderings "illustrate the number of trees that frame the snaking drive in, as well as the fields." The building "will include a lot of outdoor spaces, as well as a pavilion, so that anyone inside is only a few steps away from being outside" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/19).
NAME OF THE GAME: Eales said selling naming rights for the training ground is "certainly something that we’ve had a lot of interest in terms of companies that wanted to be associated with this facility not only being home to the first team and our youth development, but also us being engaged with the community." He added, "That’s something we [are] actively looking at and discussing with a number of companies" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/18).
