A Big Family

Atlanta United supporter groups cheer on the team, aid the community

By Collin Kelley and Isadora Pennington

Don’t call it a fan club! That’s what you’ll likely hear from a member of one of Atlanta United’s four designated supporter groups –Terminus Legion, Footie Mob, Resurgence, and The Faction – upon using the wrong nomenclature. So, supporter groups it is. And it’s pretty easy to see that members are much more than just casual fans.

During home games, supporter group members are found outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium tailgating and getting fired up for the match. Then, they parade into the stadium carrying the giant golden spike, a callback to Atlanta’s railroad beginnings and a symbol of unity and strength.

The golden spike sits in front of the boisterous supporter section just behind the home goal, and it’s from this section that the chants, cheers, and singing begins and echoes around The Benz.

Current Terminus Legion President Lisa Wilder didn’t really care for the sport while growing up. After marrying her Portuguese husband, a die-hard fan, and watching World Cup matches with him, she began to see the appeal. Still, when he bought them Atlanta United season tickets as a Valentine’s Day present, she rolled her eyes and went along. After her first match, she was hooked.

“We joined all the supporter groups in the beginning, but we fell in with Terminus Legion because we liked the community service aspect of it,” Wilder said.

She also loved the ritual before each home game and admits she’s addicted to the surge of being ‘part of something bigger than yourself.” She’s only missed a handful of home games since joining in 2017.

Both on and off-season, Terminus

Legion members can be found giving back to the community through volunteering and working with charities. Wilder said that beyond the rowdy support at each game, the group actually “does more in the community than we do in the stands.” said she’s been a life-long sports fan, but never realized how much fun it could be. “The vibe of the group – it’s just a big family, you know. I immediately felt welcomed,” she said.

Some of the organizations Terminus Legion supports include Soccer in the Streets, Mostly Mutts, Chattahoochee River Keeper, and the Clean Sheet project to assist victims of domestic violence. Members also donated funds to the fire department and helped with pandemic relief efforts.

Jurden said one of her favorite memories as a member occurred in 2018 when Terminus Legion partnered with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for Kick Childhood Cancer Month. “All the supporter groups came together, and Terminus Legion did a gigantic children’s tailgate event. So, you had all these kids out there that had never gotten to go to a sporting event like this, that were fighting things you’d never want someone their age to deal with, and it was just pure euphoria.”

Aaron Nobles joined Terminus Legion in its first year, 2014, and said it was the friendships he’s made that will stick with him forever. He said a recent member’s wedding was cause for celebration.

“Terminus Legion comes with friendships,” Nobles said. “Michael recently got married and we got to rekindle friendships and relationships with people we had not seen in several years due to COVID. It was so good to see all of the people who had been with us since 2014. It honestly was something I will never forget.”

Ashley “A-Ro” Robinson, a board member at large for Footie Mob, can often be found DJing during pre-game tailgating. She’s been a member since Atlanta United played its first game at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and even travelled to some away games as far away as Costa Rica.

Robinson said she arrives at the tailgate area four or five hours before a match starts to set up her decks, adding that she thrives on the “controlled chaos” of game day.

She said one of her favorite memories was during the MLS cup final, when Footie Mob held one of its biggest tailgates ever. “It was cold and raining, but everybody was happy and dancing,” she recalled. “We like to make a big production out of the tailgate and bring the noise from the lot to get everyone ready.”

Robinson said the community aspect of Footie Mob was another draw for her, including participation in voter registration drives, food drives, and community clean-ups. During the pandemic when members were watching matches on television, Robinson and other DJs streamed game day tunes over Zoom and held virtual tailgate parties on Zoom.

Marla Tichenor said she became involved with all the supporter groups in 2018, but finally “planted her roots” with Footie Mob.

“No matter who you are, you will at least fit into one of the groups, if not more than one,” Tichenor said. “I first became a member of AUFC’s supporter groups in 2018, after I had a full year to fall in love with the experience, yet it was already love at first sight.”