June 24 – The sprawling 200-acre site in Trilith, Fayette County, Georgia represents more than just another training facility. It’s US Soccer’s bold statement of intent – a quarter-billion-dollar declaration that America is serious about competing at the highest level.
Come April, if all goes to plan, the venue will welcome its first national teams. The vision draws heavily from the experiences of technical director Matt Crocker, who cut his teeth at England’s St. George’s Park before studying the elite setups at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
“This will be the gold standard,” declared David Wright, US Soccer’s chief commercial officer. “Most facilities are either sporting or commercial. We’re doing both under one roof – that’s our unique selling point.”
The numbers tell the story of American soccer’s logistical nightmare. With 27 national teams scattered across the country, every camp becomes an exercise in coordination.
“Right now, we’re constantly sourcing fields, booking hotels, shipping kit across the country and beyond,” explains Chelle Adams, the federation’s chief financial officer. “Having everything in one location changes the game completely. We can host multiple teams simultaneously and give them the consistency they’ve never had.”
The facility’s design speaks to bigger ambitions. Youth pitches sit below the senior national team field – a deliberate choice that transforms geography into inspiration. Young players can literally look up at where they want to be, creating a visual pathway that no PowerPoint presentation could match.
“You’re a kid with senior team dreams, and you’re looking up at that main pitch thinking, ‘That’s where I want to be.’ That attention to detail – that’s what sets this apart,” explained Wright.
The ambition extends beyond just training. The venue aims to become American soccer’s beating heart, housing coaching education, referee development, and every other piece of the football puzzle. It’s not just about creating better players – it’s about creating a better football culture.
Atlanta United and Falcons owner Arthur Blank has bankrolled much of this vision, betting that American soccer’s future demands facilities that match its growing ambitions.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1750795553labto1750795553ofdlr1750795553owedi1750795553sni@r1750795553etsbe1750795553w.kci1750795553n1750795553