Atlanta Falcons to host ‘Friday Night Lights’ on August 1st
By Brad Rowland
For the seventh consecutive season, it has been announced that the Atlanta Falcons will host a public practice at a local high school to promote fan relations and give the fan base an up-close look at the 2014 edition of the roster. Here is the full release from the team website:
"The Atlanta Falcons will hold the seventh annual “Kia Motors Friday Night Lights” this year at Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. “Kia Motors Friday Night Lights” will take place on Friday, August 1. The Falcons will take the field at 6:45 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00 p.m.“Kia Motors Friday Night Lights” is open to the public and admission is free. This grass roots event includes a fan fest with interactive inflatable games, a post event autograph session and a spectacular fireworks show. During the live scrimmage, several players including the Falcons quarterbacks, and certain position players will be mic’d so fans can get an “under the helmet look” at the action on the field.The Falcons have traveled from their Flowery Branch facility during training camp to conduct “Friday Night Lights” scrimmages at Gainesville High School in 2013, Peachtree Ridge High School in 2012, Norcross High School in 2011, North Gwinnett High School in 2010, Brookwood High School in 2009, and Mill Creek High School in 2008. Each of the previous six practices have been held in front of capacity crowds."
This is, for my money, a spectacular idea by the Falcons, and it is nice to see them continue in local promotion. If there is a singular flaw to the plan, it seems to be that the schools chosen are all in the northeast suburbs, but with the Flowery Branch home of the team, it isn’t difficult to see why that has been the case.
The Atlanta Falcons will open their preseason slate with a home game against the Miami Dolphins on August 8th with their second preseason home tilt coming against the Tennessee Titans on August 23rd. The regular season debut will come on September 7th against the rival New Orleans Saints. Stay tuned.