Georgia Soccer Park

Bringing the Community Together

Overview

Georgia Soccer Park (GSP),

is a privately owned high quality

natural grass sports field facility,

located less than 10 minutes from

the world renowned Atlanta airport.

The park is owned and operated by the

Georgia Soccer Development Foundation,

a non-profit 501(c)3.

GSP’s top quality sand-amended fields are

used by a diverse group of programs for

leagues, practices, tournaments, camps,

and special events. The fields are available

for lease to sports programs and other

community organizations. Field users

include the park’s partners, regular tenants,

and charity outreach organizations.

Field Use

The park discounts and even donates field

rental fees to programs that help economically

disadvantaged “at risk” youth, and also the

physically and mentally challenged. Field

reservations are made on a first come first

serve basis. GSP does not discriminate based

on race, religion, creed, national origin, sex or

age. Events at the park are open to public

spectators.

Brief History

The Georgia Soccer Development Foundation (or GSDF) was founded after the

outstanding success of the soccer matches at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, with the goal

of contributing to the development of soccer fields in the State.

In 1998, the concept of the Georgia Soccer Park started to become a reality as the first

36 acre parcel of land was acquired off of Camp Creek Parkway, just one mile outside of

I-285, beginning GSP’s mission to serve as a hub of soccer for Georgia.

In 2002, Eben and Mimi Hardie along with the

other members of GSP Partners, LLC, and the

Concorde Fire Soccer Association partnered

with the Foundation with the common goal of

making the park a reality. Contributions were

received from the Woodruff Foundation, the

United States Soccer Federation, the University

Financing Foundation, and the Georgia State

Soccer Association, as well as several other

groups and individuals, allowing GSDF to

purchase an adjacent 73 acre parcel of land.

Brief History (continued)

On Labor Day weekend 2007, GSP

opened with five fields, paved parking

for 240 cars, and the infrastructure

necessary to support the full

development of the complex, to be

completed in phases based on

fundraising.

The sixth field, an expanded gravel

parking lot, and improved drainage

systems were added in 2009, when

the Atlanta Flying Disc Club, the

metro area’s leading Ultimate

(Frisbee) organization, became

partners with the park.

Georgia Soccer Park August 30, 2011

Timeline of Events

Completed:

I. 1998 – First 37 Acres Purchased

II. 2002 – Adjacent 73 Acres Purchased and the GSP Partners Began the Park

III. 2007 – First Five Fields Opened for the Atlanta Cup on Labor Day Weekend

IV. 2009 – Sixth Field Added, Expanded Parking and Improved Drainage

V. 2011 – Original Construction Loan Paid and All the Land for the Park Donated by GSP Partners to Park’s 501c3 Foundation

VI. 2014 – Backstop Netting Installed Behind the Goals

Future Development

Wish List of Projects to be Completed Based on Fundraising:

I. Restrooms, Shade Pavilions, Bleachers, and Picnic Areas

II. Field House with Changing Rooms and Classroom/Study Hall

III. Storage Building for Maintenance Equipment

IV. Field Lights

V. More Fields for a Total of 16 Fields

VI. A Small Stadium

Overview Picture of ParkPark Plans and Layout

Google Earth View of Park Land

October 2012

World Class Potential

GSP is located five miles from the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL),

the world’s busiest airport, all the airport area hotels nearby. It is just few minutes

from a major modern city with all the restaurants, entertainment, and shopping that

visitors need. The moderate climate in Atlanta also adds to the appeal of the park,

as it has the ability to host events year-round. The ideal location, mild climate,

and exceptional fields mean the facility is already often first on the list of possible

venues that event hosts seek to reserve.

When the park has at least 12 fields completed

it will be able to host major events that require

larger facilities, like State, Regional, and

National Championships, for a variety of sports.

When the facility is fully completed with lights

and 16 fields including a small stadium it will be

able to host any event in the market.

Support GSP

Why Support GSP?

Because the Park:

● Benefits Local Youth

● Benefits the Local Community

● Benefits the Local Economy

● Is Family Friendly and Multicultural

● Can Help Your Business Through Sponsor Recognition and Advertising

● Is a Registered IRS 501(c)3 Non-Profit so Donations are Tax Deductible

● Welcomes Partners in Realizing its Potential to Become a World Class Facility

Benefits to the Community

GSP improves the local community by:

● Providing a safe environment for families

to participate in team sports, and facilitating

programs which improve the quality of life.

● Creating a positive economical impact in

the local community.

● Gaining Local, Regional, and National

exposure as the home of Georgia teams.

● Preserving much needed green space in a rapidly growing city.

● Bringing together a diversity of organizations and cultures.

● Being home to an underserved community’s programs, serving “at-risk” youth.

Impact on the Local Community

The park strengthens the community by helping to fight racism, in a historically

segregated Metro-Atlanta, as it brings together people of many different cultures

and ethnicities into one location, where they interact and share their common

interest in sports.

The park provides a safe, family-friendly environment for the participation in

sports programs, where participants can gain the related benefits in health

and personal development, team work, sportsmanship, and self discipline.

Impact on Local Youth

Study Hall and Classroom

One of the park’s main goals is to serve the educational needs of

the community, as well as the athletic needs. This will be done by

building a multi-purpose classroom or “study hall”, where the park can

host educational programs and after school activities.

Economic Impact

Georgia Soccer Park already has an amazing impact on the local

economy. When the park is completed it will be a main driving force in

the local economy.

Currently, the park hosts over 20 annual tournaments, each of which brings

thousands of people to the area.

The park hosts over 15 tenant leagues for a diverse group of national, regional,

state, metro, and local sports programs.

These events currently bring an average of 150,000 people and 3 million

dollars in revenue each year to local area including hotels, restaurants,

and businesses. When completed the park will more than triple those

numbers.

The park is able to reach all these people through advertising at the facility and

in the park’s social media.

Partner Programs

Atlanta’s Concorde Fire Soccer Association, annually ranked one of the top 20 youth soccer clubs in the nation, is a founding partner of Georgia Soccer Park. Concorde Fire uses the facility for practices, games, camps, and tournaments.

The Atlanta Flying Disc Club, the Metro area’s Ultimate (Frisbee) organization, became a partner of the park in 2009, and funded the construction of the sixth field, additional parking and improved drainage. AFDC uses the park for leagues, camps, and tournaments.

The Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League, the oldest and most well established adult soccer league in the Southeastern USA, became provisional partners with GSP in 2011. The ADASL uses the park as home for league and cup matches.

Outreach Tenants

Soccer in the Streets, is the Atlanta-based nationwide non-profit organization that develops soccer, educational and life-skills programs for "at-risk" kids in urban communities since 1989. SITS uses GSP as a home field for their teams, programs, and leagues.

America Scores, the nation's largest after-school soccer, literacy, and service-learning program uses the park for its annual fundraising tournaments and calls GSP home when they bring their several hundred local students together for festivals and tournaments.

The Luke Project, aka Luke Sports, operates a soccer league for seven local charter schools. Over 600 students, parents, faculty and volunteers participate in LukeSports on a weekly basis. The schools use GSP as their home soccer facility,

Outreach Tenants (continued)

Tiger Soccer Club is a team of hard-working volunteers who are

dedicated to providing a high quality athletic environment for the

youth in the Southwest Atlanta area. They are affiliated with the

Young Family YMCA.

Diamonds and Pearls FC is the only exclusively all female Soccer Club located on the Southside of Atlanta. DPFC is a competitive soccer association centered on education, enrichment and empowerment of girls ages 6-16 from various economic and social backgrounds.

Alianza Soccer Club aims to create the interest in young people

to participate in soccer programs with the goal of keeping them

away from other less healthy activities and to help form good

people, with discipline and respect to their parents, team players,

coaches and opposite teams.

Anchor Tenants

La Liga de los Suenos, GSP’s most regular tenant, is a successful and family friendly local Hispanic soccer program for youth and adults. La Liga hosts their leagues and tournaments at the park almost every weekend, mostly on Sundays.

Woodward Academy is the largest independent day school in the continental United States, and uses GSP for after school activities, practices, games, and tournaments.

USA Ultimate is the governing body for the sport of Ultimate (Frisbee) in the United States, and uses GSP to host its regional and national tournaments, national team tryouts and camps.

Tenants

US Club Soccer’s Elite Clubs National League, (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States. GSP hosts Concorde Fire’s ECNL training sessions and matches.

The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League provides an opportunity for the most competitive teams in Region III (South) to play each other on a scheduled basis. The league will be comprised of boys and girls in the age groups of Under-14 through Under-18, and uses GSP for matches.

The United States Soccer Federation’s Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an every day environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players. GSP is host to Concorde Fire’s DA teams home matches.

Tenants (continued)

Georgia State Soccer Association uses GSP to host annual matches and tournaments including the Publix Atlanta Cup.

The Southern Soccer Academy, one of Metro Atlanta’s largest youth soccer organizations (formed from a merger of Westside clubs including Cobb FC) uses GSP to host its annual tournament in February.

The Gwinnett Soccer Association, (GSA) is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the promotion and development of soccer in and around Gwinnett County, and uses GSP to host matches and its annual tournament and college showcase.

Tenants (continued)

The Latin American Association helps Latino families

achieve their aspirations for their academic, social and

economic advancement. The host the Copa Univision

aka Copa Latina annual soccer tournament at GSP.

AGERA /

SENCAD

The Atlanta Gambian Emergency Relief Association and the Senegalese Community for Aid and Development host their annual Independence Day Soccer Tournaments and an African Cup at GSP each year.

The Asian Pacific American Coalition hosts an annual

Asian Cup at GSP, where local amateur “national teams”,

representing a variety of local Asian American

countries/communities, all come together to compete in a

soccer tournament and celebrate their native cultures.

Tenants (continued)

Atlanta’s Clan Na nGael is an Irish American sports organization that uses GSP to host its annual Peach Cup each Summer, as well as league games for Men’s and Women’s Gaelic Football, Hurling, and Camogie.

Viet My, Atlanta’s leading Vietnamese Soccer Club, hosts a annual national Viet Cup soccer tournament at GSP, where a variety of Vietnamese American communities are represented.

VIET MY

Fugees Family, Inc. is a non-profit organization devoted to working with child survivors of war. They build upon the power of soccer to galvanize these kids by giving them the support and structure they need to realize their vast potential. They plan annual fundraising tournaments at GSP and their youth teams visit the park for league and tournament matches.

Board of Directors

Eben Hardie, Chairman,

Professional Affiliation: Hardie Real Estate Group, Inc.

Larry Lord, Secretary / Treasurer

Professional Affiliation: Working Buildings, Inc.

Adam Fuller, Board Member

Professional Affiliation: Express Oil Change, Inc.

Steve Gaultney, Board Member

Professional Affiliation: Gaultney Development, Inc.

Boris Jerkunica, Board Member

Professional Affiliation: Atlanta Silverbacks, Inc.

Gregg Blasingame, Board Member

Professional Affiliation: Concorde Fire Soccer Association, Inc.

Jerome Connell, Board Member

Professional Affiliation: Eye Wonder, Inc.

Jay Leslie, Board Member

Professional Affiliation: Atlanta Land Group, Inc.

Partner and Sponsor Opportunities

Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a partner or sponsor of

the park.

• Sponsor Signage and Field Banners are available for advertising at

the park and in GSP’s social media.

Other options include:

• Field Naming Rights

• Program Partnerships

• Hotel Sponsorships

•Business Sponsorships

•Building Naming Rights

•Park Naming Rights

There is an adjacent 15 Acre Parcel of Land For Sale

that is now zoned light commercial.

We would be happy to help someone develop that

parcel into a something that would be a good neighbor

for our park, like a community center, school, block of

office condos, sports academy or even a professional

sports team headquarters.

Neighboring Land Opportunity

Contact Information

For all inquiries, please contact:

Tom Deaver GSP Executive Director(404) 992-4928 tdeaver@georgiasoccerpark.com

Please check out GSP on Facebook and the park’s website for more information, photos, and event calendar at:

www.georgiasoccerpark.com