US Soccer’s New Arthur M. Blank National Training Center: Designed for Everyone
As the World Cup kicks off, we wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the amazing work that US Soccer is doing to push accessible soccer forward, starting with their state-of-the-art training facility just south of Atlanta. When this home of US Soccer was proposed, they were intentional to not make Extended National Teams (ENT) feel like an afterthought but designed the space with everyone in mind. While the facility boasts 13 regulation-sized natural pitches for its grass players, they also created unique spaces for power soccer, futsal, and beach soccer.
According to Gensler’s Design Director, “One of the things that we pride ourselves on is doing research. When it comes down to designing anything well, you want to know who the right audience is.”
This facility will hold the first purpose-built locker room for Powerchair Football in the world. The locker room was designed to provide ample space for the wider turning radius of powerchairs, a place to store and charge day chairs during practices and games, and single-used bathrooms with a shorthand system that increases independence for many athletes.
On the court, they designed the space with elevated seating throughout, including a viewing platform above the court so that players and spectators can see the whole floor at once, gaining a new perspective of the game, since most other stadiums do not have accessible elevated seating. These subtle design elements back up US Soccer’s mission “…for US Soccer [to be] all-inclusive. The mantra was that you are designing for 27 National Teams. We’re designing strictly for the senior National Teams… US Soccer is a soccer ecosystem, and it’s important to consider that.
The Extended National Teams were the first to hold camps at the new Arthur M. Blank National Training Center in May, hosting the annual ADAPTandTHRIVE Invitational, which brings together diverse forms of soccer to celebrate inclusivity and promote collaboration between the Extended National Teams. It is events like this and facilities like the National Training Center that are integral to fostering inclusive environments and respect for the hard work and dedication that it takes to become an elite athlete in any sport.
If this kind of thing makes you as excited as it makes us, we invite you to join us for Power Soccer! NC Power Soccer, sponsored by NCFC Youth, meets every Saturday Morning from 11:00am - 12:00pm until June 27th.
To learn more about the facility and the work US Soccer is doing, check out this promotional video below!