What’s in a name???

We’ll Atlanta’s Women’s Professional Soccer team wants your help in deciding it’s name.  And yes, the Beat is an option.  This round consist of 7 suggestions with the ability to write in your own name.  Well, not really your own name. A team name. You know what I mean.

The names are: Attack, Beat, Blaze, Fury, Rush, Stingrays, & Storm.

So hit the link and cast your vote. http://www.atlantawomensprosoccer.com/

Usually tradition wins out on these types of things.  Any chance this team will Blaze a new trail? Will they Attack the old Beat name with a Rush of Fury that could only be quenched by a Storm of Stingrays??? Okay, I’m going to admit the sentence with Blaze just happened. But once I realized that I had done I couldn’t stop myself.  I’m not saying you should condone my cheesiness, I just hope one day you’ll find it in your heart to accept it.

Are there any names you think were overlooked?

Read Full Post »

KSU moving forward with new athletic park

When Arthur Blank’s AMB group approached KSU about the public-private partnership in those plans they had always intended to build fields in addition to the stadium.  In fact, last fall KSU had made mention of that desire prior to AMB group coming into the picture.  Earlier this week Wesley Wicker, executive director of the KSU foundation, said the stadium will still be built.  However, the scope of the project is slightly reduced from 20,000 seats to a minimum of 2,500.  There would be an opportunity to expand to 7,500 spectators.  That would be to small for MLS (unless you’re FC Dallas) but perfect for a Womens Professional Soccer team.  There will be additional land on the 88 acre athletic park that could be used for a football stadium.  At this point I’m assuming they said “football” meaning either American or European Football with the potential of both.  (have I ever mentioned I’m an eternal optimist?)

Cobb County is also still interested in the deal.  The county’s parks director is currently doing a feasability study to determine whether they would want to rent the fields during the summer when they’re not in use.  The majority of the Soccer Specific Stadiums in the US have these types of complexs surrounding them.  Tournaments and leagues can be a lucarative business and help sustain cashflow during off times of the year.  One local example is the Silverbacks organization. They may have dropped the Men’s team for this season but they will by no means try and limit the youth teams and leagues that play in their surrounding fields. 

Here’s the link the an article in the AJC http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2009/01/20/kennesaw_state_expansion.html 

Could we see a Men’s Soccer Team at KSU? Is this the new home of Atlanta’s Womens Profession Soccer Team? Could we see a Major League Lacrosse  team playing there in the next few years?

Read Full Post »

Women’s Soccer

Fritz Johnson is looking to bring top tier Women’s Professional Soccer back to Atlanta.  During a press conference Thursday he discussed what makes this time around different. The Atlanta Beat folded along with the WUSA back in 2003 but that past failure isn’t stopping Fritz from bringing the game that he loves back to the city he believes in.  The league begins play in 2009 but Atlanta won’t kick things off until 2010.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t guarantee your spot in the stands today.  If you want to support the effort information about season ticket pledges can be found at www.atlantawomensprosoccer.com . 

But if you can’t wait until 2010 then you’re in luck.  The Atlanta Silverbacks organization sent out a letter to fans to answer some questions in the wake of the announcement that the men’s team would be taking 2009 off.

Many have asked how this will affect the Women’s team, and you all may see some small adjustments … but for the most part it will be business as usual for the Silverbacks Women.

Do you think womens soccer will be more successful this time around?  What would it take to get you out to a game?

Read Full Post »