FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2026
media@itsmarta.com
MARTA AND SOCCER IN THE
STREETS CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF STATIONSOCCER® WITH GRAND OPENING AT H.E. HOLMES
STATION
ATLANTA
—
Yesterday, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Soccer
in the Streets officially celebrated the grand opening of the newest
StationSoccer® field at H.E. Holmes Station. The launch comes a decade after
the partners unveiled the world’s first transit-station pitch at Five Points
Station, marking 10 years of connecting youth, building community, and
expanding access to the game across metro Atlanta.
The
addition of the H.E. Holmes StationSoccer® pitch converts underutilized
property at a major MARTA rail station into a safe, vibrant venue for play,
character-building, and youth development. The new space will provide the
surrounding communities with direct access to athletic programming for local
families and youth ahead of the 2027 StationSoccer® season.
“Ten
years ago, we took a bold chance on transforming an underutilized space at Five
Points Station into a place for community and play,” said Jonathan Hunt,
General Manager and CEO at MARTA. “A decade later, the opening of
StationSoccer® at H.E. Holmes demonstrates MARTA’s ongoing commitment to
connecting our communities. This field has transformed what was once part of a
parking lot into a dynamic space for neighborhood pride, wellness, and youth
empowerment.”
“Growing
up in Adamsville, I know how important it is for young people to have safe,
accessible places to play and grow,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “From
the beginning, we said the 2026 FIFA World Cup had to leave something
meaningful behind for the people who call Atlanta home and expanding
StationSoccer at HE Holmes does exactly that by bringing free soccer
programming directly into the community. This is how we turn a global moment
into lasting opportunity and help ensure that a child’s ZIP code or family
income never determines whether they get a chance to get in the game.”
“Opening
our seventh StationSoccer field during the program’s 10th anniversary year
marks a significant achievement in our mission to expand access to youth soccer
across metro Atlanta,” said Kaseem Ladipo, Executive Director of Soccer in the
Streets. “By creating safe, accessible spaces where young people can develop
both on and off the field, we’re investing in the teamwork, resilience and
social-emotional skills that will serve them for a lifetime.”
StationSoccer®
was founded on the principle that transportation should never be a barrier to
playing sports or accessing youth mentorship. By placing fields directly inside
or adjacent to MARTA stations, Soccer in the Streets allows children from
across the metro area to travel safely and affordably to practices and league
matches on MARTA.
The
founding partners of StationSoccer® are Soccer in the Streets, MARTA, Atlanta
United FC and the City of Atlanta. Other notable partners of the StationSoccer®
HE Holmes project include Atlanta FIFA 26 Host City supporters, Amazon, Georgia
Power, Invest Atlanta, Dick’s Sporting Goods, LISC, Fieldturf and HKS.
This
project received a portion of its funding through Invest Atlanta's Westside Tax
Allocation District (TAD) community development initiative. Local students from
Young Middle School, a partner site for Soccer in the Streets, attended the
event to celebrate and help kick off the project in their community.
“Hosting
the FIFA World Cup 2026 was an incredible moment for Atlanta, but its true
impact will be measured by the legacy it leaves behind,” said Dan Corso,
President of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta World Cup Host Committee.
“The opening of StationSoccer at H.E. Holmes is a perfect example of how we can
turn the excitement of a global sporting event into lasting opportunities for
our communities. We are honored to work alongside Soccer in the Streets and our
Host City Supporters to help make the game more accessible, inspire the next
generation and ensure the impact of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is felt across
Atlanta for years to come.”
“Atlanta
United is delighted to join our friends from MARTA and Soccer in the Streets to
celebrate a decade of positively impacting the community through
StationSoccer,” said President of Soccer, AMBSE Mauricio Culebro. “We are proud
of our 10-year relationship with StationSoccer, as this collaborative project
transforms our city and honors our club’s commitment to bringing people
together through the magic of the beautiful game.”
The
H.E. Holmes field is the latest milestone in the expanding "League of
Stations," a transit-connected network designed to link communities across
Atlanta through sports, education, and leadership initiatives. The field at
H.E. Holmes will be fully operational and ready for league play during the
upcoming 2027 StationSoccer® season.
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