NEW HOME FOR URBAN SOCCER IN ATLANTA

Station Soccer, a soccer field at the Five Points Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) station, has scored a goal with Atlantans and made its mark as the world's first soccer field at a transit station.

In early 2015, Soccer in the Streets board member, Sanjay Patel, started talking up installing soccer pitches at MARTA stations, believing they could build stronger communities through soccer. Even though he faced skepticism, Patel kept at it. On a visit to London, he watched as schoolkids and workers alike emerged from a train to nearby soccer fields to play and socialize.

"Soccer in America is a middle-class, suburban sport," Jose E. Devarez, Soccer in the Streets communications director said. "We knew, we built a pitch accessible to everyone as well as a community green space, we could keep kids engaged and have a positive social impact."

His vision, now known as Station Soccer, is a miniature 99-by-66 foot pitch on the top floor of Five Points Station in downtown Atlanta, which was funded by an MLS Atlanta United grant. Already at the Five Points field, games take place nearly every night and all weekend long. Soccer in the Streets welcomes children from ages 6 to 18 to play in its program for free.

MARTA recently named the project a "transit win" of the year for its success in drawing more people to the station and immediate impact in the community. The agency, donors, and Soccer in the Streets are now in talks to bring more fields to other stations with the hope of building a club community – a league of stations if you will.

"I've never played in a place that has such an amazing vibe," said Devarez, who is also a former NCAA Division I player for Long Island University. "It's special there, in the middle of everything. We want everyone to try it and become part of our social impact soccer initiative."