A ONCE proud stadium in Georgia sits abandoned after a failed attempt to revive its fortunes for the 2026 World Cup.
The Alonzo Herndon Stadium lies overgrown, covered in graffiti and a far cry from its glory days.
Originally owned by Clark Atlanta University, the 15,000 capacity stadium was built in 1948.
It was named after of Atlanta’s first black millionaires and once hosted music legend Ray Charles and star boxer Joe Louis.
Legendary crooner Charles played a concert at the packed out stadium in 1959.
And its finest hour came when the 1996 Olympics hosted their hockey competitions on the grounds.
A 2003 financial scandal at the university proved to be a disaster for the venue.
It led to the college downsizing from 1,800 students to just 100, with the stadium allowed to fall into disrepair as funds dried up.
Graffiti now adorns almost every surface, with broken glass on the field and two brown goalposts still standing.
In 2014, Herndon Stadium was one of the properties sold by the college to counter its debt.
But in 2023, there were hopes the upcoming 2026 World Cup could change the sites fortunes.
Council member Byron Amos announced plans to revitalize the plot, possibly with a possible brand new stadium before the World Cup.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”$1bn plan to save abandoned stadium” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”pV1KxHf2t” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6364697648112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“Soccer is the future,” Amos said.
So here is a chance for us to kill two birds with one stone.
“Saving a historic piece of value in our culture and our city but also we will be given the opportunity for future children and for future people to play soccer.”
The renovations to the stadium could cost between $18million to a staggering $125m.
“I see this stadium being a training ground for teams that come and play friendly matches with men and women during the Fifa window,” he added.
“I see collegiate soccer and I see international soccer coming from across the globe.
“For the funding right now there are several investors and they see the vision clearly, it’s not that hard.”
However, final approval for the plans will have to be decided by the University.
College president Dr. George French told Atlanta News First in 2023: “We haven’t been approached about the project.
“However, we are already in contractual development for the property.”
World Cup Senior Advisor and Fulton County resident, Olubunmi Jinadu is keen for sports to remain at the stadium.
“This stadium is the humble beginnings,” he said, discussing plans to develop luxury flats on the plot.
“They really need to reconsider before they demolish it.”
