The Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground on Friday was busy, with more than 40 media outlets on campus, with new expansion projects for the training ground and tours of the annual media match.
Media members were treated to tours within the current under construction expansion of the training ground facility. This is a build that almost doubles the space by adding 20,000 square feet of wings that dramatically increase Atlanta United's training and operational capabilities.
The project has seen incredible growth as a club since opening its training grounds in 2017. The club's front office staff have almost tripled, and Atlanta United 2 was established, and the academy has expanded thoroughly. It was only a matter of time before more facilities became essential, and the club invested $23 million in the project.
“When we built this space, it was to be on the forefront,” said Dimitrios Efstathiou, senior vice president of Atlanta United Strategy, during the tour. “Now we're expanding to be on the forefront again.”
President and CEO Garth Lagerway, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer Sarah Kate “Skate” Noftsinger and Fstachi led the tour across the complex, taking media into each room and explaining what it could change. The two-storey project is expected to be completed later in the summer.
The first commitment to expansion is the happiness and health of the player. The brand new facility will increase designated space for both First Team and Atlanta United 2 and the Academy players for training, rest, recovery, study and more. The project includes cutting-edge tools for player health, including therapeutic treatment spaces, hydrotherapy rooms and high-pressure rooms.
One of the key elements of a project is its commitment to content creation. Atlanta United's in-house video and broadcast production team will acquire two cutting-edge studio spaces sponsored by Emory Healthcare for photography, video shooting, live broadcast production and more. The two mostly have ceilings of nearly 33 feet and are fully equipped with lighting and technical equipment. On the second floor there is a studio control center.
“(We're) trying to create a lot of different options to have different elements of content creator,” says Efstathiou.
The second 4,000-square-foot gym creates dedicated player performance space for Atlanta United 2 and the Academy. As Efstathiou said the club was excited to create a safe space for members of the academy, its fish bowl design makes it feel open and inclusive.
This addition will allow existing academy office spaces to be converted into classrooms, further highlighting the club's commitment to educational programs for academy members.
The plan includes an indoor media room to hold press conferences, and there is also reason to celebrate the expansion in the media as it serves as a workspace for people covering training and events at the training ground.
This expansion works first and foremost for its players and staff, Atlanta United. However, the project allows clubs to rent additional space to other clubs and soccer coalitions, so the ability is far beyond just those people, especially for international tournaments such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The day ended with Atlanta United's annual media match. There, outlet journalists covering the club are invited to play in 11V11 matches on the field. Some club representatives participated. These include Noftsinger, Chief Soccer Officer, Sports Director Chris Henderson, and assistant coach Kenny Miller.
The 60-minute match was a barnburner. This is because the match featured a multi-goal comeback to tie the game together 4-4. The penalty decided that, and the Resurges team defeated the Connector team 4-3 in a shootout to win the Cup.
Rendering of a new expansion of children's healthcare at the Atlanta Training Ground
