Atlanta United To Host Champions League Tourney in Cobb

SOUTH COBB, GA -- Atlanta United will host the ATL Champions League 2017, a fundraiser promoting youth empowerment through sports, at the soccer club's new headquarters and training facility in Cobb County, Patch has learned.

The new Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta will host the tournament benefiting the Soccer in the Streets initiative on May 21.

With the emergence of the city's first professional soccer club, Atlanta United FC, the event is expected to break participation records.

"We are excited to be able to partner with Atlanta United to put together this event," Phil Hill, Soccer in the Streets' executive director, said in a statement. "Playing the ATL Champions League in a state-of-the-art facility will take this fundraiser experience to the next level; this is truly special and speaks volumes to Atlanta United's commitment to support soccer at the grassroots level."

The event, and its seventh year, is expanding from 12 to 15 participating teams comprising more than 200 players.

"We're proud to host the Soccer in the Streets ATL Champions League event this year," Atlanta United President Darren Eales said in a statement. "Along with being the home of our first team and academy players, the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground will be an active facility for community use, and the Champions League tournament is a great fit as our first major charitable event. We look forward to hosting and participating this year."

The ATL Champions League tourney helps to fund Soccer in the Streets' most urgent purpose: providing inner city kids with sustainable free youth soccer programs that foster empowerment, teamwork and social and educational development.

The $60 million training center in Marietta, which will be completed this month, will house Atlanta United's first team, academy and administrative offices.
The Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground will also host U.S. and international soccer clubs in town for tournaments at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Images courtesy of SITS