Panelists speak at an event commemorating 95 days until the FIFA World Cup comes to AtlantaPhotograph by Xavier Stevens On Thursday, the main players behind the FIFA World Cup’s arrival in Atlanta gathered at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to give a sneak peek into the tournament this summer. Just 95 days out, public and private leadership leading the city’s preparedness repeated a message of assurance: Atlanta is ready. There were four panels with public and private leadership that spoke on infrastructure, economic impact, traffic, public transit, and downtown festivities. Key announcements included the following:  MARTA will roll out its Better Breeze credit card/mobile payment system in two weeks and increase service during matches. The airport will open the long under-construction South Terminal parking deck, beef up police presence, and have volunteers and added signage for visitors. GDOT will operate at its special-event capacity with traffic help downtown and continues to assist the city on upgrading downtown infrastructure through resurfacing, striping streets, better lighting, and other beautification efforts. SCAD has partnered with the committee to create signage and public art downtown to help visitors find their way to the stadium and Fan Festival. The FIFA Fan Festival will be free with registration and feature a vendor area called “Georgia Street,” a playground, a small soccer field, and a main stage to watch games on a big screen. The festival will not open everyday but will operate for 16 days on Atlanta matchdays, most group stage days, and all bracket games, except the final. The panels did not take questions from the media.  The first panel featured Dan Corso (head of Atlanta’s World Cup Committee and Atlanta Sports Council), Bev Carey (FIFA Atlanta host city director), and Tim Zulawski (president of Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment). Corso and Zulawski have planned several “mega events” over the last decade, including multiple major college football games, Super Bowl LIII in 2019, and last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. Carey noted this experience, plus the city’s international airport, was key for FIFA choosing Atlanta as a host city.  The second panel ran the gamut on public leadership looking to deliver on projects made with the World Cup as the focus. LaChandra Burks, chief operating officer for the City of Atlanta, spoke on the Showcase Atlanta initiative that has seen more than 1,200 applicants for microgrants and city-led workshops for small businesses in the area. “We want to make sure our businesses are ready for what comes to Atlanta,” Burks said. “It’s kicking off with the World Cup with the hopes of this going forward for the events that we have here.” Augustus Hudson, deputy general manager at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, noted long-term projects coming to completion this spring. The South Terminal parking deck will open in May, along with renovated bathrooms. The international and domestic terminals will have additional police officers and security during the event, and World Cup–themed public art and signage will guide visitors. “The end goal is to show that we are the most efficient airport in the world, and that we don’t have an interruption for our normal passengers,” Herndon said.  Interim CEO of MARTA Jonathan Hunt highlighted the rollout of Better Breeze, a credit card and mobile tap payment system, set to hit stations in two weeks. Hunt also announced uniforms resembling soccer jerseys that MARTA ambassadors, including Hunt himself, will wear at stations to help guide visitors this summer. MARTA will provide enhanced rail service during Atlanta matchdays, with extra trains waiting on pocket tracks throughout its system to keep wait times low.  MARTA ambassadors will wear jersey-like shirts during the World CupCourtesy of Atlanta World Cup Host Committee “We’re very excited for these investments and the robust efficiency,” Hunt said. He did not comment on MARTA’s other projects related to the World Cup, such as the status of the new train cars to debut early June or the pause of the $230 million-dollar renovation of the Five Points Station and how that station will operate during the World Cup. Andrew Heath, deputy commissioner of GDOT, presented the work already underway downtown from resurfacing streets and upgrading lighting and stoplights. “We’re going to have all that work wrapped up in advance to make sure our roadways are open as folks come to the city,” he said. The third panel spotlighted the Atlanta Last Mile partnership with SCAD and the host committee. Executive dean Honor Bowman spoke with SCAD design students Sofie Wright and Kavya Ray on the project that will produce student public art installations as well as custom signage. They will concentrate signage within the one mile circumference around Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Signage around the stadium will be created in collaboration with SCADCourtesy of Atlanta World Cup Host Committee Attila Meijs, executive producer of Atlanta’s Fan Festival, presented the logistics behind what will take place at Centennial Olympic Park during the tournament on the fourth panel. The festival will be free, and attendees will need to register in advance, with entry first-come, first-serve, and subject to capacity. (Registration is now live.)  The free Fan Festival will take over Centennial Olympic ParkCourtesy of Atlanta World Cup Host Committee Meijs gave an open call to food, beverage, and arts vendors, who will feature on “Georgia Street” in the park. The Fan Festival will operate for 16 days throughout the tournament, on all Atlanta matchdays, most group stage days, and all games in the bracket, except the final. The operational days are subject to change. “Our narrative is going to ‘welcome home,’ so that applies to introducing Georgia to the world and the world to Georgia,” Meijs said. Atlanta’s preparedness presented 95 days out will receive its first test on June 15, when the tournament favorite Spain kicks off against the small-island nation Cape Verde in their debut World Cup. The post The promises Atlanta is making with a little over 90 days until the World Cup appeared first on Atlanta Magazine. ...read more read less