May 12, 2022 – Atlanta, GA – Last night the Atlanta Falcons unveiled a new 30-foot dynamic wall display inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium dedicated to Georgia’s high school girls flag football linemen. The wall was announced during a private event that included nearly 200 flag girls players and coaches, as well as representatives from the National Football League, the City of Atlanta, the Georgia High School Association, the Falcons and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Last night’s celebration of the evolution of high school girls flag football in Georgia was very special,” said Atlanta Falcons CEO and President Rich McKay. “To be able to see what started in one county covering six counties and then a whole situation is extraordinary. This is a testament to the effort of joining many. The fact that we can expand the game and give girls the opportunity to play in high school. is extraordinary, because football is a sport the ultimate team.”
Over the past six years, the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation have worked to elevate women’s flag football to a sanctioned sport in Georgia in coordination with the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) and local high school athletic directors, coaches. and players.
The reception to unveil the wall is the culmination of a joint effort with the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) and the Empty Family Foundation, as Georgia becomes the fourth state to offer women’s flag football as an official sport in 2020.
A full display of confetti on the display wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Kelly Price on the display wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
A group photo after the wall opens for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Players silhouetted during an interview in front of the wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Girls Flag Football players pose in front of the wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim on the display wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Kelly Price on the display wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Rich McKay on the display wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Troy Vincent of the NFL speaks during the unveiling wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood / Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Girls Flag Football player Brooke Davies poses in front of her photo on the display wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
An overall view as the Q&A panel on the wall reveals for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Attendees watch the display on the display wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
View of the Q&A panel on the display wall for Girls Flag Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood / © 2022 Atlanta Falcons
The 60-by-30-foot wonder features eight girls’ flag football championship banners, four dynamic digital video boards and more than 600 flags representing each participating GHSA high school and opportunities for in-state expansion. The wall also includes photos of past and present athletes.
The reception, hosted by FOX 5’s Kelly Price, featured remarks from Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay, Atlanta Chief Equity Officer Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent and others, before the wall was unveiled to them. in attendance.
The Falcons and the Blank Family Foundation have made a significant investment in high school girls flag football to support and promote gender equality in sports offered at the high school level. They were, and remain, committed to supporting women’s flag football throughout Georgia and the United States.
In 2021, the Falcons are expanding their girls’ flag football reach to Alabama and are making moves to grow the program in Montana. This fall, there will be 230 high schools and more than 4,600 players participating in girls’ flag football throughout Georgia.
this weekend, in conjunction with the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Women’s Flag Finals on May 12-14, the Falcons will host the second-annual NAIA High School Showcase on Friday, May 13, to give Georgia and Alabama high school girls . flag football athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills and the possibility of playing at the collegiate level. In 2021, 39 exhibition participants received a scholarship offer on the spot.
For more information on the Falcons girls flag football efforts, please visit here.
To learn more about NAIA, please visit here.
