After most of us have moved through the grieving process and accepted the fact that MLS will not be coming to Atlanta anytime soon they had to mention our name. It’s like we’re in middle school and the popular boy/girl just looked at us and said hi. They see us, they really see us. Doug Roberson from the AJC asked MLS Commissioner Don Garber if there has been any progress with Arthur Blank or other potential owners in regards to an expansion team in Atlanta. Garber said
“ There has been lots of discussion last year that were very focused. We stopped those discussions and I remain committed to Arthur Blank, [AMB] Group, and the Falcons and hopefully working with them at some point to get a team to Atlanta. Right now that’s not on the short term agenda for either of us. I imagine at some point in our future, however long you look out on the horizon, some point we’ll have a team in Atlanta. We can’t be a national league and not have a team in the south. Atlanta would be a great place for it and I can’t think of a better owner then Arthur Blank.”
When asked to elaborate on the timeline Garber didn’t think we’d see it in the next couple of years but reiterated that he’d be surprised if we didn’t see a team in Atlanta at some point. So, you’re saying there’s a chance!
My main questions are whether or not Blank would build an additional stadium or if he would want to incorporate the team into the Falcons new stadium that will be built in the next 8-10 years? I know, I know. It’s not a good fit, MLS won’t allow it (except for Seattle). I think if done right in the next home of the Falcons it could work, especially if it was build with soccer in mind. My other question is whether or not MLS would direct other interested ownership towards Atlanta or are they focusing solely on Arthur Blank. And where does Beckham and his ability to buy a team come into play?
Soccer By Ives has put up a poll on where the 20th MLS should go. So follow this link and vote for Atlanta! (St. Louis is the early leader.)
What do you think? Will Atlanta see MLS in the next 10 years?
[...] has world-class sporting facilities, countless youth and adult soccer leagues, a fan base actively lobbying for MLS, a history of absorbing out-of-market franchises like the Milwaukee Braves, a fast-growing Hispanic [...]
Read more about bringing MLS to Atlanta on my blog.
I think Atlanta needs to develop a soccer culture and fanbase first, Atlanta doesn’t have a vast soccer history like seattle or portland but atlanta is more international friendly then those two cities. IMO the Mexican population/fanbase is what is in a odd way the soccer scene in atlanta. And very small pockets of foreigners that’s not spanish speaking. I think the other is a serious big time investor, Atlanta should try and get some soccer exhibition games like the mexican team last yr and the yr before in the GA Dome. At least try to get the USMNT to play a game in the dome.
atlanta is a perfect city but the fanbase is horrible. i think atlanta is still a good city because there is no other southern team past D.C. its the next big city and tampa and miami lost their teams so they dont deserve one
you would be suprised what the fanbase of a team in atlanta would bring you have to keep in mind that there are thousands of people that play soccer throughout the state that would be glad to go watch an MLS team play in atlanta