Fayette County can go ahead and shout, “Goal!!!”

U.S. Soccer made the bombshell announcement today it plans to relocate its headquarters from Chicago to a site near Trilith, a southside TV-and-film megaproject and ground-up new town, following a search that included nine sites scattered across metro Atlanta.

According to U.S. Soccer officials, the $200-million project will be located in Trilith—located about 28 miles south of downtown Atlanta—covering about 200 acres of land and creating more than 400 jobs.  

The AJC pinpoints the location as acreage just north of Trilith Studios and west of Veterans Parkway. U.S. Soccer is expected to close on the property by the end of 2023 and break ground next year, in hopes of completing the sprawling facility in time for Atlanta’s 2026 World Cup matches set for Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Site of the Trilith residential and TV/film community in proximity to downtown Atlanta and other southside landmarks. Google Maps

Atlanta emerged as the sole finalist for the soccer training headquarters in September. The region’s diversity and year-round climate conducive to soccer programming were cited as perks in today’s announcement, as was Fayette County’s proximity to the world’s busiest airport and downtown Atlanta.

U.S. Soccer and Atlanta-based Coca-Cola entered a long-term agreement in July to help grow the country's soccer ecosystem at every level.

U.S. Soccer officials also pointed to Town at Trilith—the master-planned, mixed-use community that announced its 300th home sale just last week—as another bonus of the location. Ditto for Trilith Studios, now a major TV and film production hub that counts blockbusters such as “Avengers: Endgame” and TV series “WandaVision” to its credit.

Overview of the planned 200-acre complex in Fayette County. Courtesy of U.S. Soccer

Initial plans for the National Training Center call for more than a dozen soccer fields and more than 200,000 square feet of headquarters space, meeting rooms, locker rooms, and what’s described as “high-performance facilities.”

Other aspects will include more than 100,000 square feet of indoor courts for all 27 of U.S. Soccer National Teams, including Senior Women’s and Men’s, Youth and Extended National Teams, according to today’s announcement.

It will all be built in part with a $50 million grant from Atlanta United and Falcons owner Arthur Blank, whose contribution will be specifically used to build facilities for the federation’s nine Extended National Teams, with an emphasis on supporting the Cerebral Palsy, Deaf, and Power Soccer National Teams.

...

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Special report: 24 hours at Trilith, Atlanta's country Hollywood (Urbanize Atlanta)