Atlanta’s portion of the World Cup is over, and now “local leaders want more,” according to Henry Queen of the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE. At halftime of Argentina’s World Cup semifinal win over England on Wednesday, Falcons owner Arthur Blank said FIFA President Gianni Infantino “couldn’t be more enthused, excited, supportive of what we’ve done here in Atlanta.” Blank said Infantino told him that he “wants to visit Atlanta again” to “discuss the possibility of expanding the relationship between FIFA and the city.” Blank recalled, “I said, ‘We’ll be honored and privileged to do that.’” Atlanta is gunning for the final match of the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is “likely to be partially hosted” in the U.S. Queen wrote, though, Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s capacity “could be a hindrance to hosting a final.” Its World Cup-altered capacity is 68,239, while the World Cup final later this week at N.Y. N.J. Stadium “can host 80,663 fans.” U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson mentioned that Atlanta “should be in the running for the 2031 final.” Queen wrote zooming out, it is “possible that more conventions and meetings will be booked in Atlanta” as a result of the tournament. Centennial Yards President Brian McGowan said that the city “handled the entire tournament well.” He said that the “well-attended fan festival in particular has impressed business leaders” (ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE, 7/15).
BIG WINNERS: In Atlanta, Hansen & Yamanouchi note several Atlanta-based fixtures and city leaders emerged as “hometown winners” from the city’s successful staging of World Cup matches this summer: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Blank, FIFA Fan Fest and watch parties, downtown’s big projects, MARTA and Destination Atlanta, Georgia. Mercedes-Benz Stadium “got rave reviews.” Blank, the “force behind” the stadium’s low-priced concessions, was another winner as the prices sent “a message to visitors to Atlanta.” By the end of the World Cup’s group stage, the official fan festival “had sold out” its free tickets for the rest of the tournament. Other large watch parties across metro Atlanta “have similarly seen success.” Many of downtown Atlanta’s biggest development projects “are in full-swing” and “used the World Cup as their coming out party.” MARTA also “made a big push” to prepare for World Cup, including “doubling train frequency on the days of matches at the FIFA Fan Fest.” The city as a vacation destination was also a winner as volunteers in downtown Atlanta have “been greeting World Cup and Fan Fest goers” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/16).
FINAL REMARKS: Blank, following the end of Atlanta’s hosting duties, said that it is now about “keeping the energy going that powered the city and stadium” through its eighth and final match in the tournament. Blank said, “We have to find a way to create the World Cup every day in our lives to bring that much joy to ourselves personally and to everybody else we’re connected to, and Atlanta’s done a great job of doing that. We’ve got to continue to do it” (SOCCER WITH DOUG, 7/15).
