Soccer in the Streets, in partnership with the City of East Point, today cut the ribbon on its third award-winning StationSoccer location. Station Soccer – East Point, located at 2797 Main Street, East Point, GA, is across the street from the East Point MARTA station. The pitch was built in conjunction with the Atlanta United Foundation, MARTA, and the Transformation Alliance. Also included in the partnership are Oz Pizza and Joel Baskins, P.C. The East Point ribbon-cutting kicked-off a day-long community block party along Main Street that runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Officially named StationSoccer – East Point, the third location of this innovative project, is the first to be built within one block of a transit station and completed with a broad group of partners. The first two StationSoccer locations (Five Points opened in 2016; and West End opened in 2018) are the world's first network of soccer fields inside the perimeter of major transit stations.
“We are excited to officially join the world’s first transit soccer league,” said Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham. “This is a huge milestone for East Point that will bring vibrant activity to our downtown. StationSoccer – East Point is a destination for people of all ages to come celebrate, connect and enjoy the game of soccer in our City."
“Thousands of kids throughout Atlanta miss out on being able to participate in grassroots soccer because they can’t get there to play,” said Phil Hill, Executive Director of Soccer in the Streets. “As we continue to expand the StationSoccer initiative, we continue to provide underserved youth with new ways to thrive both on and off the field.”
“Atlanta United is proud to be a partner of the League of Stations and to celebrate the East Point StationSoccer opening,” said Atlanta United president Darren Eales. “StationSoccer is a wonderful example of the kinds of innovative, impactful projects we are happy to support through the Atlanta United Foundation. We’re excited to help make the sport of soccer easily accessible to the East Point community and the greater Atlanta areas alongside MARTA, the City of East Point and Soccer in the Streets.”
“StationSoccer is one of several initiatives MARTA is involved with to give back to the community we serve,” said Jeff Parker, MARTA’s general manager, and CEO. “StationSoccer – East Point is an indication of the program’s growth, and we’re pleased about it. We’re looking forward to the continued expansion that will make soccer accessible to more youth across the city and, eventually, a competitive league that will expose this initiative to even more potential participants who live near rail stations throughout our system.”
Founding StationSoccer partners - Atlanta United Foundation, MARTA and the City of Atlanta - are committed to the growth of StationSoccer over the long term. The StationSoccer – East Point project is a result of a collaborative effort involving other partners including, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Musco Lighting, FieldTurf, CEMEX and Deluxe Athletics.
Sanjay Patel, Director of Strategic Projects for Soccer in the Streets added “Collaboration with many different groups has been one of the most important aspects of bringing this project to fruition for the East Point community. Through this initiative we look forward to completing the first League of Stations, growing the game of soccer, and providing life skills along the way.”
