Behold the first ever soccer field inside a train station in the entire world located in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Station Soccer” is a new innovative idea that brings soccer and transportation together. “The vision is to build soccer fields at transit stations from unused spaces or parking that becomes healthy, connected environments accessible to all,” Soccer In The Streets board member Sanjay Patel said.
Soccer in the Streets runs free soccer programs for all youth and also has adult leagues.
“The biggest hurdle for low income groups is transportation and affordability - we are eliminating those. Soccer in Atlanta is accessible to all through programs and projects like this.”
After gaining approval from the Atlanta transit system, Patel went to Atlanta United and got them involved. The end result was a partnership between Soccer in the Streets, MARTA (Atlanta’s transportation system) and Atlanta United Owner Arthur Blank creating “Station Soccer.”
The long term vision is to build leagues around transit centers so different communities can all play each other and use the train as a mode of transportation, also known as “League of Stations.”
With innovative ideas like this and the growth of Atlanta United there is no reason that the city of Atlanta can’t be the soccer capital of the United States.