GOAL! Soccer comes to Five Points
S
tation Soccer — Five Points MARTA
Station is the world’s fi rst soccer fi eld at
a transit station. Located at Metropolitan
Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s Five
Points Station, the soccer fi eld opened
in October, 2016.
Soccer in the Streets is an Atlanta organization
serving underserved youth
through soccer. Soccer in the Streets Board
Member Sanjay Patel saw the empty space at
the Five Points Station and saw it as a place
where a soccer fi eld could become a place for
schoolkids, workers, everyone to come together
to play and socialize.
Patel has said the inspiration came from
a trip to London where he would watch kids
run off the train to play at nearby fi elds. While
there it was a working-class sport, in Atlanta
it was primarily in the suburbs.
“Th ey were going to make this, not just for
people who can aff ord to get there,” said MARTA
General Manager and Chief Executive
Offi cer Keith Parker. “When we opened it up,
we had all these kids from some lower-wealth
areas of the city and have continued to create
opportunities for them to continue to play and
utilize the facility.”
Th e soccer fi eld is a miniature 99- by 66-foot
pitch on the top fl oor of the Five Points station,
the hub of the MARTA metro system. Games
take place nearly every night and on weekends.
MARTA Chief of Staff Rukiya Th omas
said, “It brings people into our station just
to play sports. Not only are you riding and
keeping it green but you’re also getting some
exercise and having fun.
“We’ve started a soccer league, there’s also
city leagues they have started … there’s another
group downtown that is asking … can
they use the soccer fi elds as well. I think what’s
happening is that it’s creating a soccer culture
around that area for business and community
residents. I think that’s cool in itself,” she said.
At the Soccer in the Streets launch event at the Five Points Station field.
Erik Burton, MARTA senior director –
media relations, mentioned it’s at the same
time the city of Atlanta is bringing in Atlanta
United FC, the professional soccer club that
began play in 2017 as a member of the Eastern
Conference of Major League Soccer. “It’s this
huge synergy around the concept and idea of
soccer. Th is is just so universal, with worldwide
appeal.”
Th e MARTA station soccer fi eld is a project
by Soccer in the Streets, funded by a grant
42 | Expo Daily | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | OCTOBER 9, 2017
from Atlanta United and in partnership with
MARTA, GreenFields and Musco Lighting.
According to Th omas, MARTA is looking at
other potential stations for their next pilot
station. “We are looking to expand at other
stations and not necessarily in the same way
or in the same place.”
“Our partnership eff ort will help foster a
sense of community around our most active
MARTA station,” Parker said in a release.
“Th ese collaborations are important because
they turn a rail stop into a point of destination
where customers can plan an entire outing
— from grabbing a meal to shopping then a
match — all while using the system.”
MARTA STATION RENOVATION
Parker speaking at the Soccer in the
Streets launch event at the Five Points
Station field.
Parker with young soccer players at the
Soccer in the Streets launch event at
the Five Points Station field.
Empty space at a MARTA station
becomes a neighborhood score
after it’s turned into a soccer fi eld.
By Leah Harnack
Photos by MARTA/Facebook
