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It's a travesty! An absolute disgrace! An act worthy of cruel and unusual punishment!
In an attempt to pull off a great marketing idea, Atlanta United announced yesterday that on Friday the club would be hanging flags all around the metro Atlanta area. One of those flags would have two tickets to the USA's Copa America semifinals match next Tuesday.
❗️Over 1,000 #ATLUTD flags will be scattered around the Atlanta Metro area tomorrow! More at https://t.co/acNtqU8xlO pic.twitter.com/dPrwvac96C
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) June 16, 2016
One of the places Atlanta United thought would be a perfect place to hang some of these flags was at Lenox Mall in Buckhead. The security team at Lenox thought otherwise.
@ATLUTD Just heard from management office at Lenox mall. Was told the flags where thrown away. pic.twitter.com/nJBhvE0pSC
— Justin WSB (@WSBTVCameraMan) June 17, 2016
@ATLUTD just letting you know, mall security took them all down and won’t give them out to anyone at Lenox.
— Alex Parton (@ImAlexParton) June 17, 2016
@ATLUTD the flags were thrown away at Lenox mall I wanted one so bad
— Joshua⚾️#5 (@oliversportboy) June 17, 2016
Supposedly security threw away all the flags at #LenoxMall. Ridiculous. My fiancé searched there for nearly 2 hrs... #FlagFriday @ATLUTD
— Bonnie Blair (@b0nnieblair) June 17, 2016
The Atlanta United front office, in their infinite wisdom and generosity, realized the error of the Lenox Mall ways and has been speaking with those who went to Lenox specifically to search for flags. They have asked many of the people who reached out to AUFC on Twitter to direct message them.
@b0nnieblair We apologize for any troubles! Please DM us.
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) June 17, 2016
I'm calling on everyone to boycott Lenox Mall until an official apology is made and Atlanta United is in some way compensated for the number of flags they have lost! Here are some ideas:
1. Host a specific soccer-themed event in he parking lots of Lenox (SoccerCon2016).
2. Host USMNT viewing party at Lenox Mall.
3. Give a soccer retail store one of the empty lots within Lenox Mall rent free for six months.
Just a few ideas. But these would certainly go a long way to erasing the soccer hate in your hearts, Lenox Mall security team.