Black History Month: Vera Zeigler

In 2018, Zeigler and many supporters traveled to New York to see Atlanta United get crowned as 2018 Eastern Conference Champions. On the way home, her creativity already started churning. 

“I remember sketching the train and the tifo for the MLS Final on the plane home from New York,” Zeigler said. “We had to order supplies very quickly to make it happen.”

After a few days of creating the train and putting it together with her fellow 17s, she’ll never forget the moment of watching it rise. 

“Being on stage and going up and seeing it going up made me speechless,” Zeigler said in awe. “We were able to get the horn and smoke to time at the same time, so the horn and smoke would come out of the train. It was perfect. I just get chills talking about it.”

Besides creating many tifos for the club, Zeigler’s love for the team goes beyond the pitch. She’s found a new group of friends and family. 

“We are a family that unifies us,” Zeigler proclaimed. “That is the true beauty why I love that club so much. It’s a united effort with people. I’ve become friends with people that I know now from all different cultures and backgrounds all because of Atlanta United. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Zeigler embraces her culture as a Black Atlanta native and shares that part of her life every day, especially with her friends, family and other 17s. 

“With soccer, it’s very much a Black sport, some of the best players that ever played the game are Black,” Zeigler said. “It’s important to me to grow that representation because Atlanta is Black. We have one of the largest African American populations in the country, Home of the Civil Rights Movement, historically Black colleges. It’s a home of passion and creativity for the Black community. We take a lot of responsibility representing Atlanta in the best light and making sure when we do things it’s very much Atlanta.”

Whenever she starts designing a tifo, she makes sure no matter the design, a hint of Atlanta is always represented and made with love through her fellow family members– the 17s. Through the team, Zeigler and the rest of the 17s will forever be close to the team and Atlanta. 

“The play is one thing on the pitch and we love and support but what it’s done for the city, it’s a legacy that I hope grows,” Zeigler said with love. “Atlanta United really united the city, which has never really been done before.”