Station Soccer - Five Points MARTA Station is the world’s first soccer field at a transit station. Located at Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s Five Points Station, the soccer field 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 field 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 fields. While there it was a working-class sport, in Atlanta it was primarily in the suburbs.
“They were going to make this, not just for people who can afford to get there,” said MARTA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Keith T. 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.”
The soccer field is a miniature 99 by 66 foot pitch on the top floor 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 S. Thomas 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 fields 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.”
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. This is just so universal with worldwide appeal.”
Station Soccer - Five Points MARTA Station is a project by Soccer in the Streets, funded by a grant from Atlanta United and in partnership with MARTA, GreenFields and Musco Lighting. According to Thomas 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 effort will help foster a sense of community around our most active MARTA station,” Parker said in a release. “These 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.”