John Nussear, director of conference services at Georgia Institute of Technology, shared insights on the college’s Summer Stays residential program. The responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
U.S. News: Throughout the summer, the Soccer Stays GT Summer Lodging program will provide housing for adults in Atlanta attending, volunteering or working at soccer-related events, particularly the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Is this Georgia Tech’s first initiative of this kind? What inspired it?
John Nussear: Georgia Tech has a long and distinguished history of hosting large‑scale residential events and programs:
- From international competitions such as RoboCup and the Law Enforcement Explorers Conference to major citywide gatherings, Georgia Tech has consistently positioned itself at the intersection of innovation and global engagement.
- This initiative is rooted in that same spirit of outreach and community partnership. As highlighted by its role in hosting much of the 1996 Olympic Village, Georgia Tech proudly supported the world as it came together in Atlanta.
- We are incredibly excited to welcome a global audience once again, supporting visitors as they come to experience the world’s greatest soccer players competing on the sport’s largest stage.
Courtesy of Georgia Tech
U.S. News: How many people are expected to make Georgia Tech their temporary home this summer, and what can they expect once they arrive?
Nussear: The final number of guests is still to be determined, as registration remains open; however, approximately 1,100 beds have been reserved for visitors.
- Visitors will experience a truly global community within the residence halls, joining others traveling to Atlanta for a shared purpose.
- A dedicated team of campus partners will be available to support guest needs 24/7.
- Guests will enjoy apartment-style accommodations featuring a private bedroom, shared full kitchen and living room.
- Additional amenities include a gated complex, on-site dining facilities, a sand volleyball court and covered parking – all within walking distance of the stadium and all fan-experience activities.
U.S. News: What goes into preparing and maintaining the campus for use all summer, especially considering overlapping programs and cost efficiency? Were there any logistical challenges planning for such long stays?
Nussear: Conference Services is a unit of Housing & Residence Life and part of our core mission is to host residential programs during the summer months.
- We have a team of professional conference managers who serve as a one-stop shop for all coordination and services.
- A large part of that work is collaborating with campus partners and coordinating alongside other activities occurring on campus.
- Additionally, the team is challenged with navigating compliance, regulatory and safety requirements needed to successfully host visitors.
- For Soccer Stays, this work began in April 2025 and will culminate with the first visitor arriving in early June.
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