Q&A with Atlanta United sideline reporter Brittany Arnold

FOX Sports South will televise Atlanta United vs. New England Revolution on Wednesday, September 13, at 7:00 p.m. ET. It will be FSS’s first live broadcast from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Before heading to the first broadcast, TV host and sideline reporter Brittany Arnold was nice enough to share her thoughts about it with us.

Dirty South Soccer: What is your favorite feature of the new stadium?

Brittany Arnold: I think probably the coolest thing in the new stadium is animation on the halo board. We were able to do a lot with it on Sunday, when they did the line-up for the team they actually had an animated drop down sort of banner and that was something that really stood out. I’ve never seen anything like that in another stadium.

DSS: Does FS South have any special coverage plans for its broadcast at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium?

Arnold: We don’t know yet if we’re going to have any special plans, were going to see tomorrow where we’re going to do our pre-game show because the set-up is very different than Bobby Dodd. But I think there’s going to be players from other Atlanta based sports, if that’s the case I’ll probably interview some of them.

DSS: Is the acoustics in a massive new stadium like the Mercedes-Benz a problem for TV crews?

Arnold: It’s going to be different, I was on the field Sunday, it’s loud in there, it’s the same noise level (from Bobby Dodd) I feel when the roof is closed you can hear the noise bouncing off the roof. When it’s open I’m not sure how loud is going to sound. In terms of broadcasting I know the guys are going to be up in a booth on the second level of the concourse, they’re going to have a different situation than I’m going to have from the sidelines.

The biggest change for me will be the space, at Bobby Dodd when I was on the sidelines I could touch the sand, now I’m going to be more blocked up and pushed back than at Bobby Dodd, so for me the biggest change on the sidelines is the bigger pitch and area to work on.

DSS: What’s your most memorable moment covering Atlanta United so far?

Arnold: I have a lot of them, I’ve been very fortunate to cover not only a professional team but a really special group of guys, who are exceptional in what they do and are exceptional with people as well. I think for me one of the most exciting parts of my job is definitely interviewing Atlanta United manager Tata Martino.

I covered him when I was at my former network (beIN SPORTS) when he coached FC Barcelona and when he coached the Argentina national football team, back then when I was covering him I knew he was one of the greatest football managers in the game. When I came here I found out he was the coach, I was a little nervous to interview him and interact with him on a day to day basis.

The first time I interviewed him for Atlanta United, I’m not going to lie I was star-struck but now I’ve gotten to know him so well and he’s just amazing and has done a fantastic job with everyone at the club. People may not know this but he’s so funny and sarcastic, he has a great personality and awesome with the fans. I’ve interviewed a lot of the guys and they have been incredible but being able to talk to Tata Martino has been one of the biggest highlights of covering this team.

Hosted by Brittany, Atlanta United LIVE! will preview the match at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Alan Green will handle the play-by-play alongside analyst Dan Gargan with Brittany reporting from the sidelines.