If you’ve ever driven down Marietta’s Franklin Gateway, you’ve probably seen it. It looks more like a high-end tech campus than a soccer facility. This is the Atlanta United FC training ground, officially known as the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. It cost $60 million to build. That’s a massive number for a league that, not too long ago, was training on public park fields or borrowed college turf.
It’s huge. Honestly, the scale of the place—33 acres—is hard to wrap your head around until you’re standing by the pitches. When Arthur Blank decided to bring MLS to Atlanta, he didn't do it halfway. He wanted a statement. This facility was that statement. It told the rest of the league that the Five Stripes weren't just here to participate; they were here to dominate the infrastructure of American soccer.
What actually happens behind the gates?
Most people think a training ground is just a place where players run drills. It’s so much more than that. At the Atlanta United FC training ground, the design is intentional. Everything flows. The first-team locker rooms are just steps away from the pitches. But it’s not just for the million-dollar stars. The academy kids are there too. They see the pros every single day. That’s by design. It’s a literal pathway. You start on the academy side of the building and, if you’re good enough, you work your way toward the first-team wing.
The facility houses six full-sized pitches. Three are natural grass. Three are turf. Why? Because MLS is a chaotic league where you might play on grass in the humidity of Orlando one week and on turf in a rainy Seattle stadium the next. You’ve got to be ready for both. The grass fields use a Latitude 36 Bermudagrass, which is basically the Ferrari of sports turf. It’s kept in pristine condition by a grounds crew that treats every blade of grass like a fine painting.
Inside the 30,000-square-foot headquarters, things get technical. There’s a full-service dining hall. Nutritionists are constantly monitoring what players eat. It’s not just "chicken and pasta" anymore. We’re talking about scientifically backed meal plans tailored to recovery. Then there’s the sports science lab. They use GPS tracking data from every practice to see who’s pushing too hard and who needs a rest. If a player’s "load" is too high, the coaches know before the player even feels the soreness.
It’s a recruitment tool, plain and simple
When Atlanta United goes to South America or Europe to sign a young star like Thiago Almada or, back in the day, Miguel Almirón, they don't just show them photos of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They show them the Atlanta United FC training ground.
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Imagine you’re a 19-year-old prospect. You’re looking at offers from mid-table European clubs or big-spending MLS teams. You walk into this facility in Marietta. You see the hydrotherapy pools. You see the cryotherapy chambers. You see the massive weight room that overlooks the pitches. It looks better than most Premier League facilities. Suddenly, moving to Georgia doesn't feel like a step down. It feels like the future.
The partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) is also more than just a name on a building. It’s a legitimate medical integration. The facility acts as a hub for sports medicine excellence. They’re researching ACL prevention and concussion protocols. It’s a lab for the human body.
The Academy Pipeline
Atlanta United’s academy is the heartbeat of the club. Caleb Wiley and George Bello didn't just appear out of nowhere. They were forged here. The training ground allows the U-12s to train in the same atmosphere as the senior squad.
- They share the same cafeteria.
- They use the same recovery tools.
- They see the standard required to be a pro.
This proximity matters. It removes the mystery of professional sports. When a 15-year-old sees Brad Guzan in the hallway, the dream becomes tangible. It’s not some distant goal; it’s right there across the hall.
The stuff you don’t see on Instagram
Social media shows the highlights. The goals. The celebrations. What it doesn't show is the sheer boredom of recovery. Players spend hours in the "wet area." We’re talking hot and cold plunge pools that shock the system to reduce inflammation. There’s a treadmill submerged in water. It allows players coming back from injury to run without putting full weight on their joints.
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The media center is another beast. It’s a state-of-the-art theater where coaches break down film. It’s not just watching a game; it’s surgical. They use 4K cameras mounted around the training pitches to capture every movement from an aerial perspective. If a midfielder is two yards out of position during a tactical drill, the coaches can show them exactly where they should have been five minutes after practice ends.
Is it worth the $60 million?
Some critics might say it’s overkill. They’ll point to the club’s recent struggles on the pitch and ask if the fancy building actually wins games. It’s a fair question. You can’t buy a trophy just by having the nicest gym.
But look at the long game. The Atlanta United FC training ground has allowed the club to host international powerhouses. When the Mexican National Team or big European clubs come to the U.S. for tours, they often choose Atlanta as their base. Why? Because the facility is world-class. This builds the club’s brand globally. It makes Atlanta a destination in the soccer world.
The facility also serves the community. It’s not a fortress. They host coaching clinics and youth tournaments. It’s become a focal point for soccer in the Southeast. Before this place existed, the soccer landscape in Georgia was fragmented. Now, there’s a North Star.
Real talk on the environment
Honestly, the vibe at the training ground is intense. It’s quiet. Serious. You’d expect music blasting and a party atmosphere, but it’s a workplace. A high-performance workplace. When you walk through the doors, there’s a wall with the club’s trophies and achievements. It’s a reminder of what the standard is.
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The architecture itself is "industrial chic." Lots of glass. Lots of natural light. It’s meant to keep players from feeling cooped up. When you’re spending 8 to 10 hours a day in a building, you need to see the sun.
Why other clubs are copying the blueprint
Since Atlanta opened this facility in 2017, there’s been an arms race in MLS. Real Salt Lake, Inter Miami, and FC Cincinnati have all poured millions into their own complexes. They saw what Atlanta did and realized they were falling behind.
But Atlanta’s remains special because of the integration. Some clubs have their academy miles away from the first team. Some have their business offices downtown and their training ground in the suburbs. In Atlanta, it’s mostly unified. The sporting director, the scouts, the coaches, and the players are all in the same ecosystem.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Visitors
If you're looking to experience or understand the Atlanta United FC training ground better, keep these points in mind:
- Public Access is Limited: Don't just show up expecting a tour. It’s a private working facility. However, the club often holds "Open Training" sessions for season ticket holders. If you want to get inside, keep an eye on your member emails.
- The Franklin Gateway Revitalization: The area around the training ground has changed immensely. What used to be an overlooked pocket of Marietta is now a sports hub. If you're visiting, check out the surrounding parks which were part of the same redevelopment project.
- Watch for the Stars: If you’re a graph-seeker, the players usually exit through a specific gate after training. Be respectful, but this is often the best chance to get a jersey signed outside of a match day.
- Academy Games: Many of the youth academy matches are played on the turf fields at the facility and are occasionally open to the public. It’s a great way to see the "next big thing" before they hit the 17s roster.
- The CHOA Connection: Support the club’s community partners. The work they do with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta goes beyond soccer, and many of the events at the training ground are fundraisers for the hospital.
The facility isn't just a building. It's the physical manifestation of an ambition. Whether the team is at the top of the table or fighting for a playoff spot, the foundation remains one of the best in the world. It’s a place where the next generation of American soccer players is being built, one drill at a time.