Atlanta, Ga.
— The Clarence soccer team has been bought by a local company that is expected to help grow the local community and strengthen the local economy.
The club will have an office in the city, a full-time sports marketing department and will play its home games at the Georgia Dome.
“Clarence is the heartbeat of the Atlanta sports community, and we’re thrilled to have this opportunity to provide a vital piece of the community to the Atlanta community,” said Sean Miller, CEO of the Georgia-based company called First Georgia.
The Clarendon Soccer Club will be headquartered in the Georgia Capital Region in the metro Atlanta area and is one of six teams that are playing in the inaugural Georgia Open Cup.
Miller said that First Georgia will continue to work with the Atlanta area to expand its local community through partnerships with nonprofits, community organizations and schools.
The team will have the same name and logo that is used by the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta United soccer teams.
First Georgia plans to add to the existing club roster of 25 to 35 players, said Miller.
Miller also said that the new owners have agreed to provide additional marketing resources to the city.
First Georgians will have a full time marketing and public relations director.
“The Atlanta area is incredibly rich with sports teams, so it is an incredible opportunity to support our local community,” Miller said.
“Atlanta has an amazing sports culture, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
We want to make sure we are creating a great business community that is inclusive and diverse.”
The Atlanta-based Atlanta Sports Marketing Institute, founded by former NBA stars David Robinson and Nick Van Exel, is a nonprofit that is committed to supporting and advancing the local sports marketing industry.
First Ga is also one of the partners of the nonprofit Georgia Tech’s Sports Marketing Lab.
“I think First Georgia has been working closely with First Georgia for many years, and they are very committed to Atlanta, and I am very excited to be working with them on this opportunity,” said Miller, who previously worked for the Atlanta Braves.
The Atlanta City Council will vote on the new owner of the Clarendons next steps this week.
Miller and First Georgia are working with a group of local business leaders to decide the new ownership and their next steps.
