Fifth Third Bank Stadium - Atlanta United 2

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00

Fifth Third Bank Stadium 3200 George Busby Pkwy Kennesaw, GA 30144

Atlanta United 2 website Fifth Third Bank Stadium website

Year Opened: 2015 Capacity: 10,200

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The Deuce is Loose

When professional soccer was officially announced for Atlanta back in 2014, anticipation built quickly for the debut of Atlanta United, which finally took the field in 2017. Like many top-tier clubs around the world, the flagship squad was just one piece of a much larger operation. Behind the scenes, the organization began building out a full developmental structure, from academy levels to a women’s program, all designed to feed into the club’s growing identity.

The club’s reserve squad debuted in 2018 and is known as the Two Spikes, a nod to Atlanta’s original name, Terminus, where the final spike of the Western & Atlantic Railroad was located. The Two Spikes’ inaugural season was spent sharing Coolray Field in Lawrenceville with the Braves’ AAA affiliate; the setup worked, but only to a point, as baseball diamonds are rarely ideal for soccer. So a year later, the club shifted across the metro area to a more natural fit at Kennesaw State University’s Fifth Third Bank Stadium, which has served as their home ever since.

Originally part of the USL Championship league, the Two Spikes made the move to MLS Next Pro in 2023, joining the league’s growing collection of reserve and developmental squads aligned with MLS franchises.

Food & Beverage   3

Concessions at Fifth Third Stadium stick mostly to the basics – hot dogs, pizza slices, nachos with cheese and salsa, soft pretzels, and popcorn make up the core offerings, with candy and chips rounding things out. Beverages include Coca-Cola products, while alcohol is not sold during Atlanta United 2 matches, which keeps the experience more family-oriented, but also tones down the typical matchday buzz found elsewhere in the league.

Atmosphere   2

More than most college football stadiums, Fifth Third Bank Stadium has the feel of a venue built for soccer. The exterior’s black-and-yellow aluminum panels and sharply angled rooflines give it an industrial-modern vibe, while the home side features a press box constructed from repurposed shipping containers. The container design adds an industrial character to the stadium, but does blocks parts of the field view from the concourse. Seating is limited to the nearside stand and consists of a mix of individual fold-down and molded seats. The main scoreboard at the north end provides a clean live feed of the match with a running ribbon for score and time.

The atmosphere leans heavily on the parent club; scoreboard hype videos borrow directly from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but the buzz that fills the Five Stripes’ home does not quite carry over to Atlanta United 2. A small yet committed supporters’ group does its best to inject life into the match day, though with crowds in the low hundreds, sustaining energy remains a challenge.

Neighborhood   4

Fifth Third Stadium is wedged between Interstates 75 and 575 to the east and west, and is sandwiched between Barrett Parkway and Chastain Road to the north and south. These are a collection of the area’s most traveled thoroughfares in the northwestern Atlanta suburb of Kennesaw, which is just under a mile from the heart of the Kennesaw State campus.

Within a mile of the facility is a dense mix of shopping centers, restaurants, and hotels, giving visitors everything they might need for a game match. One of the most popular stops is Taco Mac, a regional favorite offering a refined pub-style menu and more than 100 beers on tap.

Beyond the modern bustle, Kennesaw has deep Civil War roots; Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield and the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History (home to the famous Big Shanty Train Chase) both offer great ways to explore the area’s past, or fill the day before kickoff.

Fans   2

Atlanta United 2 draws some of the smaller crowds in the league, often just a few hundred fans per match. A small but vocal supporters’ group brings an extra spark, doing their best to replicate the parent club’s energy with familiar chants. Still, with their limited numbers, it is tough to build on that momentum. Even with Atlanta United leading the MLS in attendance, that level of enthusiasm has not extended to the reserve side.

Access   4

A fair number of Atlanta United 2’s matches are played on weekday evenings, which can make reaching Fifth Third Bank Stadium a challenge thanks to suburban Atlanta traffic. The I-75 Peach Pass Lane can help ease the drive, and using the Big Shanty exit provides the most direct route to the stadium.

Parking is available in the main lot directly across the street, though crossing in front of the stadium can be tricky before the road is closed. A safer option is to walk down Busbee Parkway to Big Shanty Road and use the crosswalk at the intersection, which leads straight to the southwest gate. The only other open entrance is the main gate near the front of the facility.

Only the west side of the stadium is open on match days, which makes sense given the smaller crowd, but the look of an empty east stand is not exactly flattering. The main concourse, however, offers plenty of space for fans to move around comfortably.

Return on Investment   5

Tickets for Atlanta United 2 matches are affordable, with general admission seats $11 and reserved midfield spots at $13. Children under eight can get in for $5.50, while students with a valid ID pay just under $8. Parking in the lot across the street is free, which adds value to the overall outing.

Concessions here see the usual stadium markup, but the prices are not unreasonable for this level of soccer. Overall, attending a Two Spikes match offers a budget-friendly way to experience live soccer in the Atlanta area.

Extras   1

There are not many extras at Atlanta United 2 matches, but after the final whistle, players often make their way to the stands to thank the fans for coming out and showing support. It is a small gesture, but one that helps strengthen the bond between the team and its community.

Final Thoughts

Across MLS Next Pro, many reserve sides under the umbrella of their parent club struggle to draw consistent crowds, and that lack of attendance inevitably affects the matchday atmosphere; Atlanta United 2 fits that mold. For fans who come primarily for the excitement of the game, that is perfectly fine, but for those looking for a more immersive experience, the presentation may feel subdued.

Still, attending a Two Spikes match offers a chance to see the next generation of Atlanta United talent, players who could soon be stepping onto the pitch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the Five Stripes.