The City of Marietta has entered into an agreement with AMB Sports and Entertainment for the sale of property at 1033 Franklin Gateway, clearing the way for a headquarters and training facility for Atlanta’s National Women’s Soccer League expansion team.
The nearly 33-acre site will be developed into an approximately 38,000-square-foot facility with four full soccer fields and two half-pitches, according to the city. Construction is expected to begin immediately, with completion targeted for the club’s inaugural season in 2028.
City officials said the project represents an investment of more than $100 million. Combined with AMBSE’s earlier development of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, the company’s total investment along the Franklin Gateway corridor is expected to approach $200 million.
Marietta City Council approved the sale under terms the city said amount to a $21 million value. The agreement includes monetary compensation, the transfer of property to the city and land the city will retain.
As part of the deal, Marietta will receive a 10-acre undeveloped tract at 866 and 876 Franklin Gateway, valued at about $10 million, from AMBSE. The city said the land will be used for recreational park space and other community purposes. Marietta also will retain more than 1 acre of road frontage at the NWSL site for parking tied to the Franklin Gateway Sports Complex, which officials said will help the complex host larger tournaments.
The property at 1033 Franklin Gateway was acquired by the city in late 2025 using redevelopment bond funds approved by voters in a 2013 referendum focused on the Franklin Gateway corridor.
Mayor Steve Tumlin said the project would bring economic growth, new park space and additional jobs to the city.
“We are excited to welcome NWSL Atlanta to Marietta and proud to be the home of both women’s and men’s professional soccer,” Tumlin said in a statement.
Arthur M. Blank, owner and chairman of the Blank Family of Businesses, said securing the site is an important early step for the club.
“Securing this property in Marietta is a critical first step as we begin building the foundation of NWSL Atlanta 2028,” Blank said in a statement.
Atlanta’s NWSL club is scheduled to debut in 2028. The new facility will add to AMBSE’s existing presence in Marietta, where Atlanta United already trains.
Voters approved Marietta’s $68 million redevelopment bond in November 2013, with $64 million designated for redevelopment efforts along the Franklin Gateway corridor. City officials said the bond has been used to acquire strategic properties and attract private investment in the area.
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