How to be a fan of the Premier League in Atlanta

Posted on by seanyancy

Whether you’re a bandwagon fan who pulls for Chelsea or one of the teams from Manchester, a rabid Spurs supporter who left London for the (college) football-crazy South, or someone who arbitrarily chose to root for Everton despite having never been on Merseyside — there are other people inside the 285 perimeter who share your love for the world’s best and most exciting football league.

If watching the game on your couch with your cup of coffee and your dog via a (usually bad) NBC Live Extra stream isn’t good enough for you, there are a number of options for getting out and enjoying the beautiful game. If you support one of the bigger clubs, there are supporters groups that meet at bars around the city. If you aren’t a fan of one of those teams, but you want to want to go watch the games with other fans — there are places that open up early and show all the games on separate TVs.

First, let’s talk about the main soccer bars in Atlanta, then we’ll go over the fan clubs so you can meet up with your fellow supporters.

Atlanta soccer bars

Fado Irish Pub – Buckhead 273 Buckhead Ave. Atlanta, GA 30305

Fado is the home to Atlanta Evertonians — the supporters club for fans of Everton Football Club. But if you are not an Everton fan they do have all the other games on TV. They open early for the games every weekend and the place gets packed when big games are on.

Website – fadoirishpub.com Twitter – @fadoatlanta

Brewhouse Cafe – Little Five Points 401 Moreland Ave. Atlanta, GA 30307

The Brewhouse in the Little Five Points neighborhood is an Arsenal bar. They also show the other EPL games, as well as rugby and cricket. Big crowds for World Cup and qualifying matches.

Website – brewhousecafe.com Twitter – @Brewhouse_Cafe

Ri Ra Irish Pub – Midtown 1080 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30309

Ri Ra is the home to the local Chelsea fan club, but they have the full slate of EPL matches and rugby, as well. They run a weekly “pick em” contest to win a trip to England for a Newcastle match.

Website – Rira.com/atlanta Twitter – @RiRaATL

The Elder Tree – East Atlanta Village 469 Flat Shoals Ave. SE Atlanta, GA 30316

The Elder Tree is in the East Atlanta Village. This is the place to catch Atlanta Silverbacks away matches. They also have a “soccer club” that you can join so you can have a pint while you watch the early Sunday matches. Arcane Georgia alcohol laws prohibit restaurants and bars from selling alcohol before 12:30pm on Sundays.

Website – eldertreeatl.com Twitter – @eldertreepub

Fan Clubs

Everton – Atlanta Evertonians

Boasting more than 100 members, the Atlanta Evertonians home bar is Fado Irish Pub in Buckhead, where they dominate the entire left side of the establishment. While the team may not be playing up to fan expectations this season, the Atlanta Evertonians are still there to sing and support for every match.

Website – Atlanta Evertonians Twitter – @atlevertonians

Chelsea – Georgia Blues

Chelsea supporters meet at RiRa in midtown for all fixtures.

Twitter – @georgia_blues

Arsenal – The Atlanta Arsenal

The local Arsenal supporter’s group meets at the Brewhouse in Little Five Points. Join them for matches and revel in Chelsea hate.

Twitter – @ATLGooner

Tottenham Hotspur – ATL Spurs

Spurs have a big following in Atlanta. They meet at Meehan’s Public House in Atlantic Station on game day.

Website – ATLSpurs.com Twitter – @ATLSpurs

Southampton – Atlanta Saints

While not much can be found about this fan club, they do have a Twitter account:@ATLSaints

Liverpool – LFC Atlanta

I’d rather walk alone but if you support this team, there are others like you. Slip on down to Meehan’s on Peachtree for all matches.

Website – lfcatl.com Twitter – @lfcatlanta

---

So now you have no excuse to not get out there and catch all the EPL action. If you don’t see a club for your favorite team (and somehow there isn’t one for either Manchester club), why not use our comment section to get one started?

http://socceratl.com/2015/02/05/how-to-be-a-fan-of-the-premier-league-in-atlanta/

8:33 AM

 U.S. SOCCER ANNOUNCES FORMAT FOR SILVERBACKS' 11TH OPEN CUP

After historic 2014, Atlanta sets sights on more domestic glory

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Silverbacks are returning to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2015 after a historic quarterfinal run in 2014. The Silverbacks will feature in their 11th domestic cup tournament – showcasing a record number of participants – with a third round entry, which kicks off on May 27.

The 2014 campaign saw Atlanta upset a pair of Major League Soccer clubs – Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids – en route to being one of two NASL teams in the quarterfinals. The Silverbacks outscored opponents 10-5 in 2014, including a stoppage-time stunning of Salt Lake at home and an upset with 8-men over Colorado on the road.

“There was no shortage of excitement in 2014,” Silverbacks President Andy Smith said. “Between our 5-0 win over Chattanooga FC, the last-second winner when Real Salt Lake came to Atlanta and the win over the Colorado Rapids with eight men, Open Cup play is always incredible and we can’t wait to see what happens in 2015.”

The Silverbacks’ third-round opponent will be determined by the results of the second-round matchups between USL PRO clubs and teams from various amateur leagues. An all-time high of 91 teams will play for the $250,000 prize this year: 17 from MLS, nine from NASL, 21 from USL PRO, 19 from PDL, 12 from NPSL, 11 from USASA, one from U.S. Club Soccer, and one from USSSA.

The NASL will be represented by all nine of its U.S.-based clubs while MLS clubs will begin Cup play in the fourth round on June 16 or 17.

“We're looking forward to the 2015 edition of the U.S. Open Cup,” said NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson. “It's a very important competition for all of our players, coaches, and fans. We've stated that our collective goal is to win the tournament and maybe this year is the year. We had a great showing last year, with two teams making the quarterfinals, and hopefully even more teams reach that stage or go even further in 2015.”

Also new to 2015, U.S. Soccer has implemented a new, geographically-based random draw to determine matches in the round of 16. The 16 fourth-round winners will be divided geographically (regardless of league affiliation) into groups of four and a random draw, scheduled for June 18, will determine the pairings within each group in the fifth round.

The Silverbacks open the NASL Spring Season on April 4 against the Indy Eleven at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. The club is offering a special Home Opener Gift Pack, which includes four general admission tickets for only $48 (savings of $32 from box office price) or four reserved tickets for only $68 (savings of $52 from the box office price). To purchase tickets, call the Silverbacks Ticket Office at 404-969-4900.

3:06 PM

FC Georgia United Teams Win in Florida and Japan

Over the MLK weekend, both the FC GA United 060 and 065 teams won their age division at the 2015 Florida Classic. This was the 6th consecutive win at the Classic for the 060 team, and the 2nd consecutive win for the 065’s.

Another FC GA United 065 team as well as their 070 team traveled to Japan to play in the Ichihara International Masters Tournament. The 070’s captured 1st place in their age group, while the 065’s, the defending champions, finished 2nd this year. This is the 3rd trip to Japan for the Club.

While in Japan, both teams played a series of “friendly” matches in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, winning all matches.

FC Georgia United is a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose members have a common interest in and love of soccer, with male members 50 years and older, and female members 40 years and older. They play every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning in the Roswell area.

If you are interested in more information about the Club, or would like to join, please contact: Steve Lang, slang02@bellsouth.net.

11:22 AM

Blank, MLS Commissioner welcome Atlanta’s appetite for soccer

ATLANTA — As 68,000 soccer fans filled the Georgia Dome with enthusiastic cheers Wednesday night, Arthur Blank was entertaining Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer in his suite during most of the scoreless match between Mexico and Nigeria.

It was not a casual sporting event for either of them. Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons; and Garber are closing in on a deal for Blank to become a new franchise owner for a MLS team that would play in the new Falcons stadium that is supposed to open before the 2017 football season.

The sold-out Mexico-Nigeria match – a prelude the 2014 World Cup in Brazil – was yet another indicator of whether Atlanta would welcome professional soccer.

“You look at the crowd, and you see the spirit that’s here,” Blank said during a 10-minute sit-down interview in his suite during the game. “It is a great tribute to Atlanta and the appetite that Atlanta has for soccer at the highest level.

Asked about the status of his talks with MLS to buy an expansion team, Blank said: “I would say they are substantial.”

Is a deal about to be announced?

“All I will say is that the talks are substantial,” Blank said. “They have an interest in Atlanta. They love Atlanta, and we obviously know Atlanta. We are building a world-class sports facility for professional soccer. If you look at their map, there’s a huge hole in the Southeast, and Atlanta is the hub of the Southeast.”

Blank said he had told Commissioner Garber that when he and Bernie Marcus decided to launch Home Depot in Atlanta in 1978, the metro area’s population was about two million. Today it is closer to six million people, and Blank said the population could reach 10 million in the not too distant future.

“Atlanta is going to be one of the largest cities in the country,” said Blank about why it is important for MLS to have a team in the city.

Recent transactions have set the cost of acquiring an expansion soccer franchise at between $70 million to $100 million.

“They are going for what they’re going for,” Blank said. “The talks are substantial. We understand what the franchise investment would be, and I understand what it takes to build a business from scratch and what it takes to market a new team.”

Blank has had a long-standing interest in acquiring a professional soccer team, and he held talks with MLS “a number of years ago about a potential franchise in Atlanta.”

But it took the building of a new stadium that is being designed with soccer in mind to revive and intensify the talks with MLS.

Dan Courtemanche, executive vice president of communications for Major League Soccer, said that selling out the Georgia Dome on a weeknight “illustrates the opportunity” that exists in Atlanta.

“Ultimately, it’s a strong statement of the interest you have in soccer,” Courtemanche said. “It does confirm that the market exists.”

In every new market, Courtemanche said MLS said three criteria must be met:

A community needs to have a tremendous market, a great geographic location, corporate sponsors and a strong television market with a sizable population. “Clearly Atlanta meets that criteria,” he said.
You need to have an owner with the financial resources who preferably has experience in sports and entertainment properties as well as an owner who has a passion for the sport. “Clearly Arthur has that,” Courtemanche said.
And you have to have a stadium, preferably one that was built with soccer in mind. Construction on the new Atlanta Falcons stadium is scheduled to begin in mid April.
“Atlanta is the only top 10 market in the United States without a MLS team,” Courtemanche said. “It’s the home of some of the biggest brands in corporate brands in corporate America, and that’s extremely appealing. After tonight, there’s no doubt that top flight soccer can be successful in Atlanta.”

Atlanta has other ingredients that are important to MLS. It has a large Hispanic population, and it is a transportation center – making it accessible for fans who want to travel to Atlanta to watch a game.

For Wednesday night’s game, there were ticket buyers from 40 states. It also attracted tremendous international media attention – rivaling any other major sporting event with about 450 accredited media, most of them coming from outside the United States.

Lastly, Courtemanche said soccer is a sport that appeals to a younger audience – an enviable trend for major league sports. Part of that can be attributed to growth of youth soccer in communities throughout the country.

“The millennial generation does not live without Major League Soccer,” Courtemanche said.

The popularity of the sport is having a far-reaching impact.

Blank said he met his girlfriend, Angela Macuga, when their sons were playing on the same soccer team.

“It’s a love rooted in soccer,” Blank said.

In early February, Blank and Macuga became engaged – two years after their first date.

Article source: http://www.11alive.com/rss/article/323499/29/Blank-MLS-Commissioner-welcome-Atlantas-appetite-for-soccer

8:40 AM

Here's Your Chance to be a Pro

Atlanta offers chance to join NASL club

The Atlanta Silverbacks will hold two dates of open tryouts to uncover the NASL's next phenomenom. With the NASL Spring Season's April 4 kickoff quickly approaching, Silverbacks coaches and front office administrators will be on hand to evaluate each prospective player. The tryouts will be on Feb. 7 and 14 at Silverbacks Park. Tryouts cost $160 per date with lunch and two official tryout shirts provided. To register, contact the Atlanta Silverbacks front office at 678-608-0627.

8:29 AM

By Justin Ove (Patch Staff)

The race will take place at the Polo Fields in Cumming in early February.

A soccer academy which serves the Cumming community is planning a 5K race in Cumming to raise funds for its scholarship program.

According to United Futbol Academy, the first-ever Race for the Goal 5K and 1K Fun Runwill be held at 2 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the Polo Fields in Cumming. Runners who register before Feb. 1 will be eligible to receive a free t-shirt, the academy says. The cost toregister for the 5K is $25, while the 1K fun run will cost $15. Race day registration costs $5 extra.

All proceeds generated by the event will benefit the academy’s scholarship fund, which provides opportunities for disadvantaged youngsters to play in recreational and competitive leagues that they would not normally be able to afford to participate in.

For more information on the race, please contact United Futbol Academy at 678-648-7033 or info@unitedfa.org.

Fun Run(ning) Fact: A 5K may seem like a long distance, but it’s a warmup for the average soccer player. During a full 90-minute match, a player usually runs more than 11 kilometers. That’s a seven mile run!

http://patch.com/georgia/cumming/registration-open-5k-benefiting-soccer-academy-scholarship-program-0

8:39 AM

PREMIER SOCCER SERVICES

4th Annual Open Cup 2015 April 10-12 GIRLS weekend April 17-19 BOYS weekend  Decatur, AL  - 3.5 from Atlanta PLAY ON THE BEST FIELDS IN THE SOUTH!   85% of all teams from out of state or country!   13 different states already accepted! Open Cup Girls Great teams from u10s to 19s!  A, B, C levels University tournament in conjunction with Showcase!  matches will include: U of Alabama, Evansville, South Alabama, U of Memphis, Samford, MTSU, Ole Miss and More! Open Cup Boys  International Teams from Mexico- Bermuda- El Salvador and More! Pro Club Academy Monterrey Rayados joins tourney! National Rush Select from Colorado accepted! Compete and be seen by universities! college showcasing in older ages! Click Here for more information Have you played on perfect fields yet? Exciting Improvements for 2015!  The split weekend format will provide: more teams the opportunity to play - every year has been a sell-out! more teams allow for more divisions per age group to allow for Gold, Silver, and Bronze for a variety of competitive level Split weekend allows for All games on Fri and Sat to be at the famed Jack Allen Complex with only consolations on Sunday at 2nd locations   Boys weekend: with international teams and teams from all over the midwest and south again- we have early commitments from teams from Brazil, Bermuda, Mexico, already!  Girls weekend: this will now be a Girls College Showcase weekend for the U15-19s with recruiting opportunities PLUS special SHOWCASE college matches for top Division 1 programs to accent the weekend Under 9-12 Boys and Girls: 3 Divisions Under 13-16: 2 divisions Under 17-19: Showcase format    Register here   WWW.PREMIERSOCCERSERVICES.COM

9:15 AM

Atlanta is one of 24 U.S. cities interested in hosting a portion of the 2016 Copa America Centenario soccer tournament. 

The Copa America, which will be held for the first time outside South America, is the championship for the continent. Ten teams from South America are expected to compete. Additionally, U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica and two more teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean will compete. The tournament will be held in June.

Cities must submit proposals to U.S. Soccer by March 16.

“World-class sports events help the city’s economy by drawing visitors and providing a global stage to showcase metro Atlanta, and the Copa America Centenario is certainly that type of event,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council. “We look forward to working with our partners in the region to explore the opportunity to host this event.”

The other cities are: Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Washington D.C., Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Kansas City, St. Louis, New York, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Nashville, Dallas, Houston and Seattle.

The tournament is expected to be hosted at between 8-13 sites. The winning cities will be announced in May.

Atlanta would host the game in the Georgia Dome. The new stadium that will replace the Dome isn’t scheduled to open until 2017. It will host Atlanta’s MLS team and the Falcons, among other events.

Should Atlanta win, it would be another sign of its growing interest in soccer.

Atlanta is among the cities that will host a portion of the Gold Cup later this year. The Gold Cup is the championship tournament for the countries that comprise North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Atlanta hosted a pair of games for the Gold Cup in 2013, as well as hosting a friendly for the U.S. women’s national team in February last year.

Doug Roberson The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/pro-sports/atlanta-interested-in-hosting-copa-america-soccer-/njjYS/

8:32 AM

Women’s pro soccer team possibly coming to Atlanta

Doug Roberson The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An investment group is considering starting a women’s professional soccer team in Atlanta.


Led by Atlanta native and resident Trey Brantley, the team would play in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Brantley and a team of 15 volunteers have spent more than 1,000 hours of due diligence on the team, which would be named the Atlanta Vibe and would play at Grady Stadium in midtown.

Before they go further, Brantley is asking for soccer supporters to go to www.Atlantavibe.com and fill out a survey that he said will take 30 seconds to complete. The survey will close on Wednesday. Brantley said the results will carry “tremendous weight.”

“We just need Atlanta to tell us that they want this,” he said.

If there is support, Brantley said he would like to try to start the team in 2016, a year ahead of Atlanta’s MLS expansion franchise owned by Arthur Blank. Brantley declined to say if he has had conversations with the NWSL or with any of the teams in the league. An NWSL spokesman said the league is exploring the possibilty of expanding in 2016, but wouldn’t comment on any specific market or ownership group.

Brantley also declined to say how much capital would be needed to start the team, but did say he and the ownership group, which includes Southfund Partners, has enough capital to run the team for three years without any revenue.

Atlanta has a checkered history with women’s professional soccer. The Atlanta Beat twice folded when its league folded, most recently when the Women’s Professional Soccer league ceased operations in 2012. The Atlanta Silverbacks women’s team is operational and plays in the W-League.

The NWSL is composed of nine teams with a schedule that stretches from April through August. The league was founded in 2012 and began play in 2013. The league doesn’t have a team in the Southeast. Playing in the league are U.S. national team standouts Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Alex Morgan and Heather O’Reilly, among others.

Brantley, 50, got the idea to start the team two years ago when the WPL folded. Brantley, who attended Southern Poly, has spent most of his career in the telecommunications industry. He recently sold his company, which gave him time to devote to the new soccer venture.

His interest in the sport derived from watching a niece play, and now watching his 12-year-old daughter, Emma who is a center back, play. Brantley said he serves on the managemetn committee of Gol Soccer Academy and the board of the Tucker Youth Soccer Association.

“I look at things as ‘who could be her role model?’ ” Brantley said of his daughter. “It’s great to bring in an MLS team, but I want something these girls can strive to do. It shows what a successful player can do.”

The name Vibe came about organically.

During meetings with the volunteers, Brantley said one of the first things they wanted to do was give the team a name, something that captured the vibe of the sport and the city.

As the word vibe was continued to be used to describe the metro Atlanta area, Brantley said it struck him that Vibe should be the team name.

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/womens-pro-soccer-team-possibly-coming-to-atlanta/njjMt/

12:29 PM

Atlanta Black Harts? Locomotives? Resurgents? Help pick new Atlanta soccer team's name

Posted by Thomas Wheatley 

• DUSTIN CHAMBERS/CL FILE
• Why not the Blanks?

The members of Terminus Legion, the grassroots fan club that has rallied for Atlanta to be selected for a new Major League Soccer team, has spent months debating names for the club. And now the time has come to help them select a name that would be presented to team owner Arthur Blank and Darren Eales, the club president. (Team executives would get the final say.) Here are the choices, plus some explanations:

Bantams
Bantams are small chickens noted for their aggressive nature. This would allow the team to embrace a scrappy, tenacious form of play. Chicken images could be interesting especially in an aggressive stance. In contrast, it would be natural for the opposition to call us cocks or chickens. Bantamweight is one of the lower weight classes in boxing and referencing a cock-fighting breed may not be widely accepted.

Black Harts
Hart is the Old English word for a stag or a deer. The southeast is known for having a large deer population, and it is not uncommon to see them in Metro Atlanta. We added the color Black to match the black color of the team and to allude to the cold-hearted attack of the victors. The downside to this name is that few will know the reference, might consider it misspelled and that no deer are actually black. Neutral, but an interesting fact, the EPL side Spurs home field is called White Hart Lane.

Empire
Georgia is known (unofficially) as the Empire State of the South, which is meant to represent the desire to be the leaders in industrial and economic development in the Southeast. As it refers to an MLS team, the name Atlanta Empire would symbolize the aspirations our team has to be at the top of the league. It could also represent the breadth of the Atlanta team’s fanbase, as we already have fans in Alabama, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. A downside to this name could be that it may be confused with the official state nickname of New York (the Empire State).

Firebirds
While many of us completely dread even the slightest chance of being called the Phoenix, a description of a phoenix could work, in the name Firebirds. Perhaps even the Fire Birds. The imagery could be outstanding and it would reference the Atlanta seal. The association with the defunct Pontiac car could provide a negative unless we as a supporters group completely embraced it. The name doesn’t inspire a lot of passionate responses that we have heard and seems almost a “safe default.”

Kings
In addition to superiority, the Kings name would bring incredible heraldic imagery with crowns, scrolls, and a legitimate reason to have a shield shape. It would also bring a nice nod to Atlanta’s civil rights history. The name would have exactly zero chance of being misunderstood. The downside is that there is already an NHL and an NBA team with the name, so it wouldn’t be distinctive in sports, though it would within MLS. The connection with the MLK family would need to be carefully managed as well.

Locomotives
Atlanta was founded as Terminus, the end of the line of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which connected Savannah to the Midwest. Atlanta was the railroad hub for the South during the Antebellum era. Locomotives would allow for a strong train theme appearance and celebrations. Downside is that not many may know this bit of Atlanta history as the city is known much more currently as an airline hub.

Railrunners
The railroad history of Atlanta is distinctive and strong. A team name in conjunction with those rails would really tie into the city. The railrunner is an intermodal system that converts truck trailers for rail use for cheaper shipping. It also is used for work trucks so that they can do maintenance on the rails. There have been various other versions of this name, Railmen, Railers, Railbirds, Railspikers, etc. Voting for this name is a vote for us to explore this name further. Unfortunately this name would be associated with Carolina’s NASL team and may be interpreted as a little too minor league.

Resurgents
The beauty of this name is two-fold. First, it is not a common word, so much so that Chrome spell-check underlines it, but it is still immediately understandable. So we could own the name but wouldn’t need to explain it. Secondly, the meaning is perfect. A version of Atlanta’s Latin motto “Resurgens,” the team name would mean those who rise again. Over losses on the field or personal. Over the stigma of Atlanta as a sports town. Over the doubters of soccer as an American sport. The shortened ‘Gents presents a wonderful set of chants and cheers. On the negative, it might sound a little awkward to those uninitiated, and could perhaps need explained to a few unfamiliar.

No name
There are some who feel that a team name could be an organic process and point to the EPL which is full of teams simply named after their city. Many of us believe that in order to attract a wider audience across the southeast and within our city that the team needs a name for the fans to yell. It also would be quite awkward to have the sign on the side of the stadium to say, “The home of the Atlanta Falcons Football Club and the Atlanta Football Club”

In addition, there's the question over whether the team should be "soccer club" or a "football club." Myself, I'm partial to "Atlanta FC," "Terminus FC," or "Resurgens FC." Let them know your views here.

9:07 AM

1.       There will be a 7 v 7 Adult Men’s Soccer League on Sundays at Hillgrove HS this winter (starts 1/11 and ends 2/15).  Emailrichardschellman@yahoo.com for more details to join or enter a team.

2.       Every Wednesday from 1/7-2/11 there will be open pick-up on the TURF at Hillgrove from 8-10pm.  Each Wednesday show up with $5 and play your heart out.

Pick-Up will be run just like it is at Pope HS (for those of you familiar with pick-up there)  I will provide pinnies, goals, and balls---you just show up with your boots ready to play.

If you don’t know where Hillgrove is….it’s in West Cobb by Mud Creek)  The address is: 4165 Luther Ward Road, Powder Springs, GA 30127

Please spread the word and invite anybody that is older than 18 (no high school players).  The money collected is a small fundraiser that goes to support the Hillgrove Soccer Booster Club.  Thanks and Happy Holidays!

9:25 AM

There is something unique when it comes to the North American Soccer League. It has something that is entirely different than most Major League Soccer clubs and not easily replicable. That uniqueness is its’ intimacy. After an NASL game at Silverbacks Park in Atlanta, one can walk out onto the field to play a quick game. They can mingle with the players who just finished a game of their own. They can speak with club owners and general managers easily as well.

The North American Soccer League has tried their hardest to encourage this intimacy, because it builds a different kind of fanbase. It builds a rabid fanbase. One that loves its’ club so much, that it will do just about anything to ensure its’ survival. When word came that the Atlanta Silverbacks Football Club might indeed fold, one group initiated an endless campaign to save it. While the Jasun Cohen of the ASAC was relatively new, his devotion to the club had built so strongly and swiftly that he was asked to be President of a group that would go on to save soccer in the Atlanta area.

I met Cohen at an Irish bar in Marietta, Georgia. The first thing I saw upon entering the bar was a man in a Silverbacks jersey and scarf. He noticed me as soon as I walked in the door and gave me a hearty welcome, too. This was nice, considering I was running pretty late for the interview. This particular bar was perfect, considering the topic. Scarves and jerseys from European clubs were hung everywhere.

As I was interviewing the President of the ASAC, I should not have expected anything less. Cohen’s life revolves around soccer. He coaches. His son plays. They attend Silverbacks games every time they are at home. They even have clubs with former Silverback players that they’ll travel to see as well. For someone who lives almost an hour from the park itself, that impressed me. Cohen has, over time, met and befriended several Silverbacks players on a level that not many people do.

“We had Thanksgiving dinner with Alex Harlley.”

Cohen loves the team on a personal level. To find out that they could possibly be torn from him was devastating. It is one thing for a casual fan to lose a team. For someone who personally knows and talks to many players on the team, it is a lot harder.

“Personally, I was terrified. Because, I love going to the games and I love the atmosphere. And, through getting to know the players, I love them. So, I knew we had to do whatever it took to get the team to come back,” Cohen tells me. “Just short of cutting a check for it, because...yeah...I don’t have a 20 million dollar net worth.”

While the bit about a 20 million dollar net worth was intended as a joke, I have no doubt that Cohen would have paid it immediately if he had the money. Early on in the conversation, I started to realize why Cohen was asked to be President.

I had first found the Silverbacks Alliance through Twitter and Facebook. Apparently, it had been in place long before, though. It just was not quite as organized. The groups’ original intention was entirely different than their most recent purpose, however.

“The purpose of the ASAC is to bring all four {supporter} groups together, as well as family fans. So, we can streamline a request from, like a, supporter or a family.”

While the intent of improving the gameday experience was definitely needed, the group was forced to shift their focus and become more vocal in order to ensure they had a team to improve.

“We were working on things to talk to the club about. Different ways to make the whole thing better. But, we were concentrating, back then, on things like concessions, parking prices, things like that...interaction between the announcer and the crowd,” Cohen explains. “But, the Silverbacks made the announcement and everything changed. So, we had to focus on saving the team first. That way, any ideas we had for making the club better could actually be put in place.”

Upon hearing the news, the group knew they had to do something. They would not sit around and let their club leave so easily.

“We actually had a discussion amongst ourselves on different ways we could affect and save the Silverbacks. Because, none of us are in the position to cut a check. But, we can help find someone who is in a position to cut a check.”

The Silverbacks Alliance's chosen tactic was to be as loud as possible in their cries for a new owner. They wanted to let the Atlanta area know that there was a solid fanbase. It just needed a solid ownership. Their pleas helped.

“As it worked out, it was our making noise about saving the Silverbacks. That was the deciding factor between Bill Peterson and the NASL to save the Silverbacks.”

By becoming the ASAC President, Cohen has had the opportunity to talk to NASL Commissioner several times as well.

“If it wasn’t for Bill Peterson, the NASL and the other team owners stepping up because they believe in the Atlanta market and they saw what the fans could do, they would’ve let the team fold.”

Not that the group has been able to successfully save their favorite team, the Alliance as once again changed priorities.

“Since the club is saved, we’re going back to our last mission. Which is, to make a game day experience better, giving options to the front office as to how they can streamline things and make them better, and just try to make the club stronger all around.”

While the Silverbacks are indeed coming back, that does not mean there still is not major issues to contend with. Historically, the team has had a severe lack of marketing in the Atlanta area. With a Major League Soccer franchise coming in 2017, the Silverbacks need to rectify that immediately. Some of the issues the club will face are not so easy to fix, including one of the highest ticket prices in the NASL.

“You have to look at it as the business model is set up. The Silverbacks get no money from parking. They get no money from concessions. For the 2015 season, they are going to have to rent the field and rent their name,” Cohen says. “So, the only money they really make is from ticket sales. So, those sales have to go to fund the team, fund the travel, pay the players, pay the insurance, front office and all that.”

While sponsors help to alleviate some of that cost as well, the club also has not had an easy time accruing those either. The jersey sponsor from last year was a company that belonged to one of the owners at the time.

Cohen acknowledges these issues. He also says that the Silverbacks Alliance will do anything in their power to help.

“I’ve just set up to have weekly meetings with {Vice President} Evan Mitz. We’re going to talk about ways to, starting from right now, to make the club stronger and better for when they start up.”

His main idea for the Silverbacks is a simplistic one. He wants people to just come see the team.

“Tell your friends. Bring your friends. You don’t have to come every week. Come every other week. Come once a month.”

My interview with Cohen lasted a lot longer than I had anticipated. We sat and talked of all things soccer related for several hours. Eventually, we knew we had to leave. As I packed up my things and headed out the door, I noticed Cohen was not leaving quite yet. Instead, he stopped to speak to the only employee. As I drove away, I gave a quick glance at Cohen finally walking out the doors.

Within that quick glance, I noticed something missing. Cohen was no longer wearing his Silverbacks scarf. Instead, he left it to be hung up where it should be. Alongside scarves belonging to some of the best clubs in the world.

http://www.soccernewsday.com/usa/a/2019/the-atlanta-silverbacks-alliance-council

8:45 AM