DevelopFulton is the presenting sponsor of Global Atlanta's World Cup Channel.
The tech-fueled redevelopment of a historic group of buildings in downtown Atlanta may be hitting its stride as the FIFA World Cup approaches.
Fresh off the opening of a new green space (delivered ahead of its World Cup deadline) South Downtown was selected by Spain’s soccer federation as the site of Casa España, a cultural showcase bookending Spain’s two matches in Atlanta.
While top-ranked Spanish team will base and train out of Chattanooga, Tenn., the country’s cultural home for the group round will sit at the corner of Forsyth and Mitchell Streets, with rumored activities to include art exhibitions, wine tastings and watch parties.
The house will “serve as a showcase for the culture and identity of the Spanish National Team, strengthening the bond between the team and its supporters both inside and outside Spain during a tournament that will once again mobilize millions of people around football and promote the Spain brand wherever the national team competes during the FIFA World Cup,” the Royal Spanish Football Federation said in a statement.
Back in Madrid, Atlanta will get favorable treatment as the city’s Plaza de Colón is reimagined as Plaza Selección, a fan zone where the June 15 and June 21 matches against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, respectively, both to be held in Atlanta, will be prominently broadcast.
Meanwhile, steps from the Atlanta Stadium (as the Benz will be called thanks to FIFA rules) Atlantans will have a chance to experience a nod to Spain’s rich football heritage in historic South Downtown.
The Spain House will run June 13-21 before packing up to head to Guadalajara, Mexico, the site of Spain’s third group stage match.
The confirmation of the Spain house, rumored for many months, comes weeks after Metro Atlanta Chamber leaders took a trade mission to Spain. And this week, the chamber announced an official June 15 welcome event for the Spanish football federation featuring remarks from Ángeles Moreno Bau, ambassador of Spain to the United States, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Rafael Louzán, president of the RFEF.
After the welcome, guests will watch the Spain versus Cape Verde match at Spain House, which will be followed by a half-day summit on the business of sports in Spain and Atlanta at the chamber.
