The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Team says games will not disrupt vaccines
Any Atlanta United games held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium through May 16 shouldn’t affect the site’s performance as a COVID- 19 mass- vaccination center, team Vice President Catie Griggs said Thursday.
Working with FEMA, the stadium was announced as a mass- vaccination center March
5. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is expected to remain a site for eight weeks, starting next week and running through the week that starts May 10.
Atlanta United is scheduled to play its first game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April
24. Theres to fits schedule is expected to be announced next week.
Griggs said the team is working in close collaboration with FEMA officials to make sure that when stadium availability is disrupted because of a match, the full number of vaccinations will be provided, just on an altered timeline.
“Our priority is the health and safety of everyone,” Griggs said.
Third kit for 2021 MLS season only
At l a nt a United’s t hi rd ki t , scheduled to debut this summer, will be worn by the team only during the 2021 MLS season, Griggs said Thursday.
The third kit, the first of its kind in Atlanta United’s history, will be a choice for league games. The debut of the kit and when it will go on sale will be finalized after the league schedule is announced, according to Griggs.
The team introduced a new primary kit last month. Despite the impact of COVID- 19 on retail sales, Griggs said sales of the kit, a black top with five red stripes, black shorts with red stripes and black socks with red stripes, are exceeding sales of last season’s new secondary kit, which was a white top, shorts and socks with gold trim.
The new primary kit is on sale at the team’s store in Atlantic Station and on online. The team recently wrapped up a contactless kit sales tour that included several stops in the Atlanta area.
The j ersey of t he new primary kit includes a new sponsor, AT& T, on the left sleeve. It replaces Truist, which was on the sleeve last season. There will be no MLS patch on the kit this season. The jersey unveiled at the Home Deport Backyard in February, which didn’t include the AT& T logo, is the authentic version. Jerseys with the AT& T logo will not be offered for retail.
Hoping to make match day feel more normal
Atlanta United’s game- day rituals won’t be exactly the same as they have been at Mercedes- Benz Stadium for most of the past four seasons, but they will be close, Griggs said Thursday.
“We are trying to work through maintaining traditions on game day that make sense and are safe for everyone,” she said.
Some of the game- day rituals include the players walking from the bus into the stadium past supporters; t he Golden Spike before the game; the players walking through the lounge, past supporters and on to the field; and the presentation of the player of the game award after the match.
To try to ensure the safety of the players and supporters during the COVID- 19 pandemic, the players’ walk past supporters will not happen, at least when the stadium is at limited capacity. The Golden Spike will return in some capacity, possibly similar to last season when it was presented by video instead of with an in- person celebration. Griggs said access to the players will be very restricted.
In a change from the end of last season, Griggs said they are optimistic that the capo stand will return. The capo is the person who leads the supporter’s section in cheers before, during and after the match.
“When I look at 2021, there’s a lot of optimism,” she said. “I’m hopeful we reach a point where it does feel more normal again. We want to do the right things.”