Great Dane Stadium – UFA Gunners

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71

Great Dane Stadium 645 Mullinax Road Alpharetta, GA 30004

United Futbol Academy Gunners website

Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 5,600

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United 4 Life

In the northern Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, the United Futbol Academy (UFA) Gunners have found a home at Great Dane Stadium, on the campus of Denmark High School. UFA fields teams at the select, elite, and academy levels. The club joined the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) as part of the league’s 2024 expansion. The WPSL is a summer, semi-professional women’s soccer league made up mostly of current or recently graduated collegiate players.

Founded in 2010, the Gunners maintain a developmental partnership with Arsenal FC, the three-time Premier League champions; this relationship includes visits from Arsenal staff, who work directly with UFA coaches and players to support technical training and overall development.

Food & Beverage 3

Food at Gunners matches is provided by a single vendor, Beto’s Tacos, located just inside the stadium entrance. They offer tacos and quesadillas with chicken, pork, beef, or vegetarian fillings, alongside bottled water and Coca-Cola. Additional drinks, namely Gatorade and more bottled water, are available at a nearby table.

While the food is of high quality, the lack of variety is a drawback. The presence of only one vendor limits the range of options for fans.

Atmosphere 2

Great Dane Stadium is a typical high school football stadium, featuring a large home section of aluminum bleachers opposite a smaller visiting section; the pitch is encircled by an eight-lane track. The setback created by the track does create a bit of separation from the stands and the match. The stadium’s multi-use nature also results in a busy field, with lines for football, lacrosse, and soccer.

There is one traditional scoreboard at the north end of the stadium that tracks match time and score, but unlike traditional soccer timers, the clock counts down rather than up. Also, UFA does not announce substitutions or goals, which can create some disconnect with who is coming into a match, or who may have scored a goal.

Neighborhood 2

Denmark High School sits in the far northern suburbs of Atlanta, in southern Forsyth County, where suburban neighborhoods begin to give way to rural landscapes. The school is surrounded by subdivisions with majestic homes, as well as by farmland and undeveloped land.

The immediate area lacks much in the way of unique dining or entertainment options, consisting mainly of national chains. Also, despite having an Alpharetta address, the school is actually closer to the town of Cumming, roughly 15 minutes away, which has a developing downtown and several locally owned restaurants. Meadow Woodfire Grill, Dominic’s Wood Fire, and Los Compadres are among the most highly regarded.

Fans 2

UFA draws between 100 and 200 fans per match; this seems to be an average turnout in the Peachtree Division, outside of clubs like Decatur FC and Chattanooga FC. Most fans at Great Dane Stadium appear to be family members of players or younger UFA athletes, giving the stands a community-focused, youth-club feel.

The supporters are vocal and encouraging, cheering for saves, shots, and 50-50 balls, while voicing frustration at questionable calls. While they bring enthusiasm, the fan base does not quite reach the level of a formal supporters group.

Access 3

Great Dane Stadium is in the northern reaches of the Metro Atlanta city of Alpharetta, in southern Forsyth County. The most direct access to the stadium is using Georgia Highway 400, but this route can become extremely congested during the evening commute. Those heading south on 400 receive some relief from commuters, but will still have to contend with a degree of traffic.

If using GPS to navigate to the stadium, the directions likely lead to the back of campus, and may not signify the turn into the parking lot, so be on the lookout for your first chance to access parking.

Parking is just a short walk to the entry point, which opens into a spacious gathering area and long ramps to access the seating area. Most seating here is limited to just one side of the stadium, which does have the benefit of not facing the setting sun, unlike the smaller visiting bleachers behind the team benches.

To help expedite entry into the stadium, you should purchase tickets online ahead of time. Tickets are not available for purchase at the gate; they must be bought online. Though this is not necessarily a hindrance, it is a slight annoyance.

Return on Investment 5

Tickets are reasonably priced and in line with other teams in the WPSL. After fees, general admission runs just under $6, with free entry for children. Parking is also free, making it a very budget-friendly family outing.

Food prices do seem to be a bit high, but when considering the quality of what is served, the prices appear justified.

Extras 2

For young soccer fans with energy to spare, a training pitch near the south end of the stadium becomes a popular gathering spot during games.

Following the match, UFA players and coaches show their gratitude to the fans by hosting a meet-and-greet, signing autographs and allowing fans to take photos with players.

Final Thoughts

While the United Futbol Academy Gunners match day experience may not have some of the extras found at a couple of other Peachtree Division clubs, it is comparable to several of their atmospheres. UFA provides fans with an affordable, family-friendly environment to enjoy summer soccer in suburban Atlanta.