Atlanta's status as the epicenter of soccer in North America just another stamp of certification.
Atlanta United today opened the doors at the new expanded wing of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground featuring the Emory Healthcare Studio. The $25 million project continues the club's standard of innovation and positions it with top-of-the-line resources for soccer operations, video broadcasting and production, and more.
The facility now expands to 50,000-square feet, and the latest investment from Arthur M. Blank, Owner and Chairman of the Blank Family of Businesses, brings the total investment in the space to over $90 million. To usher in the new era and showcase the expansions, Atlanta United hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, Sept. 30. Guests enjoyed a reception before the many of the key figures of the project spoke.
Sports broadcaster Kevin Egan emceed the program, running the show to display the capabilities of the expansion. He opened by providing context around the expansion, the "unprecedented decade of growth and success" for soccer in Atlanta that the project contributes to. Blank, who Egan introduced as the "Architect of Soccer in the South", gave his remarks and expressed his excitement.
"Today is a celebration of our continued growth and dedication to the sport of soccer, and what Atlanta United represents," Blank said. "From the very beginning, our vision was to build something extraordinary. None of this would be possible without the City of Marietta for being exceptional partners and the home of our training ground since day one, and now with these updates, we take another step forward together. This expansion reflects our commitment to the game, the city, and in creating a best-in-class environment for our players, associates, fans and community partners."
The full list of speakers included Atlanta United Chief Business Officer Sarah Kate 'Skate' Noftsinger, City of Marietta Mayor Steve 'Thunder' Tumlin, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Chief Administration Officer Linda Matzigkeit and Emory Healthcare CEO and Executive Vice President for Woodruff Health Sciences Joon Lee, MD. Each expressed their excitement for the project's completion and its impact on the club's operations.
Each speaker thanked the others for their collaboration in helping make the vision come to life. Blank shared his thanks, and the other speakers returned the favor to him.
"This city would not be changed through the game of soccer if it wasn't for you," Noftsinger said. "For you believing that the sport had the power to change lives and had the power to be successful within Atlanta. Thank you so much for your vision and your leadership."
After the program of speakers, guests were invited into the expansion to take self-guided tours. In each of the key areas, experts on the use of those spaces spoke to expand upon each room's impact.
Atlanta United headquarters got some major additions, addressing three focus points for the club: First Team player health and wellness, youth development and front office resources.
The expansion adds more designated space for both First Team and Atlanta United 2 and Academy players to train, rest, recover and more. A second gym designated for 2s and Academy players was added, totaling 4,000-square feet.
"It has been an amazing nine years with this incredible partnership," Matzigkeit said. "In 2016, when we had started discussions with Atlanta United about the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, they said their goal for the facility was to be one of the best in MLS. I feel confident in saying that they didn't just meet this goal, but exceeded it."
One of the crown jewels of the project is the Emory Healthcare Studio, which includes Studio 17, Studio 5, a podcast studio and The Box, a state-of-the-art control room at the heart of the space. Studio 17 is equipped for multicamera shoots with a video wall, custom lighting grid and more, will be the new creative hub for Atlanta United's storytelling efforts. It'll host live match coverage and analysis as well as other special events at the training ground. In addition to highlighting events like matchdays, the tech will allow for the expanded cinematic filming for in-house creative projects.
Studio 5, primarily used for photography and other multimedia projects sits opposite to Studio 17 — in between them a mini halo board that mirrors the one in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The first floor also contains an indoor press conference room for future media availabilities, additional office space for academy administrators and the second gym. Upstairs, more office space for front office space is surrounded by other features: a brand-new podcasting studio, a control room dubbed "The Box" for the Emory Healthcare Studio, conference rooms and more.
"This exciting expansion, along with the launch of the new Emory Healthcare Studio, represents the next chapter in our collaboration with Atlanta United, offering a unique hub for storytelling and content creation," Lee said. "This studio will be a powerful platform to share stories of health, wellness and resilience, while creating connections between athletes, caregivers, patients, families, fans and our community."
Looking forward, the club will move ahead with a second phase of renovations that will see spaces repurposed to give the First Team additional resources for rest and recovery. Player health is top of mind, as the club will see increased therapy treatment space, a hydrotherapy room and hyperbaric chambers.
The expansion was, of course, a club benefit first, but executives said they had international teams in mind when planning out the build. The club anticipates hosting an international federation at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground during the FIFA 2026 World Cup, something that would not have been possible without the expansion.
"We've had a number of federations come and visit," said Dimitrios Efstathiou, Atlanta United's Vice President of Strategy, in a media availability after the guest speakers. "I imagine, come December right after the draw, we're going to have a lot of [federations] wanting [to be here]."
The now 50,000-square feet provide more than 100 workspaces front office staff. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground features 500,000-square feet of playing surface with six full-length fields. The expansion project was led by IMPACT Development Management. Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio (RJTR) was the chosen architectural and interior design firm, and Whiting-Turner was the general contractor.
The shining lights of the studios, the polished meeting room tables, the vast spaces for player development — every inch of the expansion propels Atlanta United to be a leader in all facets.
"It ranks probably number one across the country, across sports, in the North American Sports ecosystem," Noftsinger said. "The why is the fan-first approach, the details that went into it, and the fact that it leans into every end of the spectrum. From player development and education to the far end of the spectrum, which is the First Team and the resources that they have. It is absolutely tremendous ... This expansion gives our players and associates the resources that they need to perform at their best and to bring an unmatched soccer experience to the entire Atlanta community.”
