Atlanta United Exec to Speak at Fisher’s Sport Management Program Annual Banquet

The St. John Fisher College Sport Management program will recognize Atlanta United FC, 2018 Major League Soccer Champions, as the 2019 Sport Organization of the Year during its annual awards ceremony.

The ceremony, which also includes a celebration of student achievements both in the classroom and in the field over the past year, will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 5, at Oak Hill Country Club.

Sarah Kate (Skate) Noftsinger, director of marketing and fan engagement for Atlanta United, will receive the award on behalf of the organization and provide remarks during the ceremony. Connor King ’14, event producer for AMB Sports and Entertainment, Atlanta United’s parent company, will also attend the banquet.

The 2018 season proved to be a banner year for Atlanta United FC on the pitch, in the stands, and in the community as the club shattered Major League Soccer (MLS) attendance records during its title-winning season. In addition to leading the league in average attendance (53,002) and total attendance (901,033), Atlanta United set the record for the largest crowd in MLS Cup history when it welcomed 73,019 fans to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to witness a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on December 8, 2018.

Noftsinger joined Atlanta United FC in 2015, and leads initiatives and strategic planning for marketing, brand development, fan engagement, and events. She serves on the Brand Council for Arthur Blank’s Family of Businesses, which includes the Atlanta Falcons, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, PGA Tour Superstores, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, and Atlanta United.

A former All-American women’s soccer player at Wake Forest University, Noftsginer was drafted by the Washington Freedom in 2002, before transitioning to coaching. She served as developmental assistant coach for the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team in the 2006 World Cup and as an assistant women’s soccer coach at Stanford University.

She spent six years as the commissioner for the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), helping to grow the league to 79 member clubs and more than 10,000 players across the country, prior to landing with Atlanta United FC.

Tickets to the banquet are $20 for sport management students in the major or minor and $40 for parents and alumni. To register for the dinner, email Dr. Katie Burakowski at kburakowski@sjfc.edu by Sunday, March 31.