Soccer season is underway! The season began in February. Our home team, Atlanta United, kicked off their season in the heart of Atlanta with the home opener on Saturday, March 9th. It is officially time for yet another season of turf burns, screaming fans and stands filled with an ocean of red and gold.
This game was the first of 17 home games right here in Atlanta at the one and only Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta United has been prepping for this season and began their series of home games last weekend against New England.
I do not watch or keep track of a lot of sports, but soccer is different for me. I will argue that it is the best sport, but that is only my opinion. It is the only sport that I will watch and genuinely enjoy watching. To be completely honest, though, I do not always follow soccer very closely. I know, maybe that makes me a fake fan, but of all the teams in Major League Soccer, Atlanta United is my favorite, and I follow along as best I can. How could it not be? I am from Atlanta, after all. I have to support my home team! I have been going to games since I was a kid and hope that United fans are as hyped as I am for this new season. They did pretty well last season, and I am eager to see them do well this season.
“Last season Atlanta finished sixth in the Eastern Conference with an overall record of 13-12-9,” said Donnell Suggs at The Atlanta Voice. “United scored the second most goals in the conference (66) behind Columbus (67).”
United got the second most goals in the whole conference? That is a lot of shots on goal and very impressive, in my opinion. This season they have many new players, and I am hopeful that it makes a positive impact on the team.
According to Atlanta United’s website, the club hosted an annual Block Party at SweetWater Brewing Company before the game.
This event was big! Atlanta United had a whole block party to celebrate the beginning of the new season, as they do every year to get fans excited for the game and the rest of the season.
“I am very excited for this season because we have a lot of new and young players, so I’m curious to see how they can represent us,” said Taylor Justice, a freshman on the GC women’s club soccer team. “I love watching Atlanta United because I’ve played and watched soccer since I was little, and since getting on the team, I am able to represent my home as well as seeing other people love the sport that I have always loved.”
GC students are so ready for the new season. I have also played soccer since I was little, just like Justice, and I love seeing others join in the love for the sport I loved so much as a kid and enjoy even into adulthood. Watching United play is very nostalgic for me because I grew up with soccer. I have played since I was three and spent a lot of time watching and going to games with my dad, so I am so ready for another season of cheering on the sport that raised me.
The hype is real too because United won an excellent match of 4-1 against New England in Saturday’s game. A much-deserved victory for Georgia’s home team.
With that, let us get our noisemakers and all our United gear ready for the rest of this goal-orious season.
