Atlanta United President Garth Lagerwey will answer a question posed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution each week about the team, MLS or soccer in general.
This week’s question:
Q: How far in advance does the team schedule the logistics for a road game, who does it, and what is one thing that must be done that people may not realize is vital to helping the team try to win?
A: There are a lot of different factors in play that can vary, based on the competition we’re in. But for league games, for example, MLS is responsible for securing lodging and transportation for traveling teams in each market once the schedule is released. From there, it’s on the individual team to coordinate an exact itinerary with the individual entities (airplane, bus, hotel, etc.) and express any traveling needs it may have. For us, that’s handled by our team administrator, Manny Tejeda, and typically occurs a month out from each game. But it’s a team effort that requires our coaching, medical and sports-science staffs to weigh in for what’s best for the players. For example, as a team, we’ve determined that we want to maximize time at home, so we’ll fly out immediately after the match, regardless of the time, whereas some teams may choose to fly back the next morning. And, in general, that’s something new that the league has implemented to allow for chartered flights for all matches.
Previous questions:
What to make of some MLS rules
How Homegrown territories work
On temporary concussion substitutions
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 1
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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