Atlanta sports fans, we know times have been tough for the past… forever. But rest assured that the MLS and Arthur Blank have given you another team that can compete for a championship.
Last month, the MLS announced that they would expand the league to make Atlanta its 22nd team, with an expected debut in 2017. The MLS has had 10 expansions since 2005, and most teams have seen some success on and off the pitch. Atlanta is the third announcement this year, as New York City FC and Orlando City FC will be added by 2015.
The name, logo, coaching and administrative staff will all be announced at a later date.
Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, will also own the MLS Club and plans to use his new state-of-the-art, retractable roof stadium (which will open in 2017) to house both teams. MLS Commissioner Don Garber knows how important it is for a person like Arthur Blank to be involved.
A rendering of the new Atlanta stadium that will open its doors in 2017 and serve as home for the Atlanta Falcons and the new MLS franchise (Photo: @Atlanta_Falcons | Twitter)A rendering of the new Atlanta stadium that will open its doors in 2017 and serve as home for the Atlanta Falcons and the new MLS franchise (Photo: @Atlanta_Falcons | Twitter)
"With Arthur Blank joining our ownership group, we are adding one of the most respected owners in professional sports,” Garber said." Arthur is deeply passionate about soccer and our quest to become one of the top professional soccer leagues in the world. We look forward to working with him and the entire Falcons organization on achieving this important goal.”
Blank already owns Atlanta’s most loved professional team, and having him as the driving force behind this move will only help Atlanta’s chances of succeeding in the MLS.
Blank glowed with excitement, saying, “We are going to build a first-class organization on and off the field that will be a source of pride for the entire community, and we believe our downtown stadium will become a destination for soccer fans throughout the southeast for many years to come.”
That’s not a bad bet. Atlanta is one of the largest, most diverse markets in the country. In early March, an exhibition in the Georgia Dome between Mexico and Nigeria drew an attendance of 68,212. Moreover, building a team in Atlanta could act as a catalyst for future expansion in the Southeast, perhaps into North Carolina, which has been a college soccer haven for some time.
With soccer positioned as the fastest growing sport in the United States, the MLS is making a major push into all major metro markets across the country (and, in some instances like Sacramento, cities themselves are making a push for MLS). So, here at The18, we would put our money on additional expansion announcements from the MLS in the coming 12-18 months.
Here is video of the entire MLS announcement.
