https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndic...-the-black-soccer-capital-of-america.amp.html
I have always said Miami and Atlanta are the 2 worst sports towns in America. I was flabbergasted that MLS was going to expand to those towns. Atlanta lost 2 NHL teams, attendance for Braves, Hawks, and GT are really bad unless those teams are title contenders. I didn't see any way the city would support the 15th or so best soccer league in the world. I couldn't have been more wrong as Atlanta United has become one of the most popular American pro sports franchises in the country regardless of sport and one of the top soccer crowds in the world.
Beyond that, apparently playing pick-up games in inner-city ATL at newly constructed mini turf soccer fields all across the city is super popular and rivals what you see kids doing in similar settings in London, Paris, and Rio. I expect this article is embellishing a little bit but if its half true, that's pretty great. People talk all the time about how to improve the USMNT. First and foremost, you have to appeal to inner-city kids and have them play the sport. When you exclude that huge demographic, you are left with suburban players who often play football and baseball instead, and mini demographics like the sons of immigrants, or sons fathered by American military with German mothers.
I have always said Miami and Atlanta are the 2 worst sports towns in America. I was flabbergasted that MLS was going to expand to those towns. Atlanta lost 2 NHL teams, attendance for Braves, Hawks, and GT are really bad unless those teams are title contenders. I didn't see any way the city would support the 15th or so best soccer league in the world. I couldn't have been more wrong as Atlanta United has become one of the most popular American pro sports franchises in the country regardless of sport and one of the top soccer crowds in the world.
Beyond that, apparently playing pick-up games in inner-city ATL at newly constructed mini turf soccer fields all across the city is super popular and rivals what you see kids doing in similar settings in London, Paris, and Rio. I expect this article is embellishing a little bit but if its half true, that's pretty great. People talk all the time about how to improve the USMNT. First and foremost, you have to appeal to inner-city kids and have them play the sport. When you exclude that huge demographic, you are left with suburban players who often play football and baseball instead, and mini demographics like the sons of immigrants, or sons fathered by American military with German mothers.
