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Atlanta, GA Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and seat of Fulton County. It is also the premier transportation, commercial, and financial center in the Southeast. The city is located in north central Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Like most modern cities, the growth of the Atlanta metropolitan area has been driven by the expansion of suburban neighborhoods. Some of the most attractive areas include Gwinnett County to the East, Cobb County to the Northwest, and Cherokee County to the North. Fulton County boasts a population of over a half million people, while DeKalb County, located to the South and East of Atlanta, is home to over another half million people. The MARTA system was created in the 1970s and was a helpful part of the city's bid for the 1996 Summer Olympics that featured a fabulous upset in the Men's Soccer tournament (Nigeria over Brazil for the gold medal) and a magnificent triumph (the U.S. Women's gold medal victory) in the Women's tournament. MARTA trains carry thousands of suburban commuters daily and have stops all over the city. Hartsfield International Airport is one of the busiest in the United States. It is the Southeastern hub for many major airlines, and is the home of Delta Airlines, one of the largest commercial air carriers in the world. Those who wish to travel by car will find convenient access to outlying areas but will encounter a fair amount of traffic no matter the time of day. The city is intersected by Interstate 20, Interstate 75, and Interstate 85. Interstate 285, which encircles the city of Atlanta, provides a ready route for those who need or choose to bypass the city center. Finally, Georgia Highway 400 supplies quick access to the Northern suburban areas, while US Highway 78 performs the same function for persons traveling East to Gwinnett and DeKalb counties. Atlanta is also home to several institutions of higher education, most notably Georgia State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morris Brown College, and Emory University. The University of Georgia operates a satellite campus in Gwinnett County. These universities do not offer intercollegiate soccer, though, despite fine athletic programs. Recreational and cultural opportunities suiting a wide range of tastes are available in Atlanta and its environs. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is recognized as one of the nation's finest. The Fox Theater, located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, is the scene of numerous musical and theatrical performances. The Atlanta Braves have emerged as one of the most exciting professional baseball teams of the 1990s despite sagging attendance of late, while the Atlanta Falcons play eight National Football League games per year in the Georgia Dome. *Much of the information above was found at: www.surfatlanta.com/info.htm Atlanta Beat (WUSA) The Beat were picked as the only team capable of challenging the Washington Freedom in their debut season in 2001 because of the wealth of talent they obtained during their inaugural drafts, including Sun Wen, widely regarded as the #1 player in the world, and star of the 1999 World Cup. They also boasted the US star goalkeeper Brianna Scurry, Canada's Charmaine Hooper, as well as Nikki Serlenga and Cindy Barlow. With Washington foundering in 2001, the Beat won the regular season in a tight race with the surprising Bay Area CyberRays, and running heads to head with them in Founders Cup I, losing the title on penalty kicks in a game worth remembering. They struggled somewhat in 2002, falling to 4th place, but remain an exceptionally talented team sure to rise in 2003. Herndon Stadium - Morris Brown College Capacity: 15,011 Parking: Public lots ½ mile away next to Georgia Dome. $6.00 and $8.00 (shuttle available at the $8 lot). Premium lots (via permit or Charter Club) are adjacent to Herndon Stadium. Colors: Blue, White Honors: Lost Founders Cup I 3-3 (4-2 PK) to Bay Area CyberRays in 2001. Lost in semifinals to Carolina 2-1 in 2002. Directions: From North (Chattanooga): Take I-85 south or I-75 south into Atlanta to exit 248A, merge right onto MLK Drive. Tale MLK Drive for 2 miles and stadium will be on the right. From East (Augusta): Take I-20 west to the Spring St exit . Exit onto Spring Street, make a right. Follow to MLK Jr. Drive and make a left. Continue down for 1.5 miles and stadium is on the right. From South: (Valdosta, Montgomery FL) Take I-85 or I-75 north into Atlanta to exit 246 Central Ave. Follow Central Avenue to MLK Jr. Drive and turn left. Continue down 1.5 miles and stadium is on the right. From West (Birmingham): Take I-20 east, exit at Ashby St. and make a left. Take Ashley St. to MLK Jr. Drive and take a right. Follow down 1.5 miles and stadium is on the left. Public Transportation (MARTA): From the North/South: Take the North/South Line to Five Points Station, then the West train 2 stops to the Vine City Station (W2). Herndon Stadium is 2 blocks to the west from the Marta Station. From the East/West: Take the East/West Line exit Vine City Station (W2). Herndon Stadium is 2 blocks to the west from the Marta Station. Tickets: $22, $17, $10 (adults) Group discounts for parties of 11 or more. (877/SOCCER-1) Club Merchandise: Official replica jerseys, ski caps, logo sweatshirts, t-shirts, and caps. Also available online. Fan Culture: The Beat have soccer camps and youth tournaments. Large crowds (average: 8-11,000) in a small stadium (15,00 seats) make for a lively crowd. Stadium was extensively rebuilt in 1996. Atlanta Silverbacks It wasn't until 1998 that the Silverbacks acquired their present mascot. Seeking a mascot that represented both the city and the strength, intelligence, loyalty and teamwork of a successful athlete, founding partner, John Latham, named the team after Zoo Atlanta's Willie B., the famed Silverback gorilla who had won the hears of the people of Atlanta. In their inaugural game as the Silverbacks, Atlanta hosted the U.S. Project-40 team. A joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer, Pro-40 is a collection of young players who compete in a developmental role at the A-League level. Pro-40 gained a lot of deserved publicity at the 2000 Olympic games, as the Under-23 Men's National Team went on to finish fourth in the tournament. However, many of these same stars were sent home on Sunday, September 6, with a 3-2 Silverbacks victory in the record book. The win legitimized the new franchise, and since then the Silverbacks have been featured in media outlets such as the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Los Angles Times, Soccer America and WGST 640 AM Radio. In addition, the team was the subject of Georgia Public Television's Georgia Report on September 11, 1998. In 1999, the Silverbacks announced their arrival once again as an opening day crowd of 8,613 watched the host Silverbacks defeat the Connecticut Wolves 1-0 at DeKalb Memorial Stadium. The Silverbacks played an exhibition game against Major League Soccer's Miami Fusion, tying their affiliate club 1-1. They also succeeded in winning three out of four against their rival Charleston Battery. The 2000 season was full of more victories. With a stacked roster, the Silverbacks guaranteed good results and, like the previous season, attendance continued to rise. 2001 was huge growth year for the Silverbacks with the investment of new owner Boris Jerkunica, long time Atlanta native, Druid Hills High school Hall of Famer and All-American Emory University Graduate. On June 16, 2001 the Silverbacks Professional team and the amateur soccer club known as Melchester Football Club merged to form a larger entity known as the Atlanta Silverbacks Soccer Club. Shortly after, they had what could arguably be called their biggest win when they recorded a defeat of a Major League Soccer team, beating the Tampa Bay Mutiny 2-1. Their success continued into the post-season, earning the first playoff berth in franchise history. The 2002 Season saw the Silverbacks make the playoffs earlier than ever before, compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer, win the coveted Southern Derby Cup, top their previous best in total points and eclipse their previously held records in goals, assists and scoring points. Dekalb Memorial Stadium Colors: Home - red, black Honors: Directions: The Stadium is located very near Decatur & Avondale, which has a very active social and night scene. From the Stadium, follow Memorial Drive back to I-285. Cross over 285 and continue on Memorial Drive to Covington Highway (just a couple of miles). Take a right onto Covington Hwy and about a mile down the road is Avondale, with several nice restaurants and bars (Note: Covington Hwy changes names in Avondale, it's called E. College). About a mile later you will come to a road called Sam's Crossing. Take a right at Sam's Crossing (cross's over MARTA tracks) and then take the first left (to East Ponce De Leon). Follow East Ponce into downtown Decatur! Via MARTA: Take the Eastbound Rail train to the Avondale stop. From there get on Bus #122 and take it to DeKalb Memorial Stadium (at DeKalb College). On the Web: Around Town Restaurants and Pubs Hotels and Accommodations |