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Atlanta United Commits $23 Million to Expand Cobb County Training Facility
The Major League Soccer club will nearly double its Marietta headquarters with new player and media spaces ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
How we reported this
Atlanta United announced Thursday it will spend an additional $23 million to enlarge its training complex in Cobb County.
The decision arrives as Atlanta prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. The club’s leadership has long viewed a top-tier training site as essential to competing in Major League Soccer and attracting international attention. With construction now scheduled, the project aligns directly with the city’s growing role in global soccer events.
The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground stands along Franklin Gateway in Marietta. Atlanta United opened the original campus in 2017. The new investment will push the total footprint to 50,000 square feet and add space that can serve multiple teams at once.
Planned Additions at the Marietta Site
The expanded facility will include a new gym, locker rooms and offices for ATL UTD 2 along with the club’s five Academy teams. A classroom will support educational staff and Atlanta International School programs so youth players can continue their studies. Media operations will gain two digital content studios, a news conference room and separate spaces for podcasts and e-sports.
Club owner Arthur Blank noted that the original campus set a standard other MLS teams later copied. President and CEO Garth Lagerwey said the upgrades will position the site among the world’s leading soccer training centers and reinforce Atlanta’s status as a North American soccer hub. Construction is set to begin in June and finish by summer 2025.
Related Projects Across the Region
The Atlanta United work is not the only soccer infrastructure project underway. On Monday, U.S. Soccer broke ground on a new headquarters and training center in Fayette County. Arthur Blank and his foundation contributed $50 million to that effort, and the facility will carry his name.
Residents who drive Franklin Gateway will see crews on site once work starts. The finished campus will give Atlanta United players and staff modern amenities while providing dedicated areas for academy and media functions. Fans and local youth programs stand to benefit from the improved infrastructure as the city readies for the 2026 tournament.