Originally Posted 1/26/09: SundayPaper.com did an interview with [...]]]> Update: When hearing that MLS wouldn’t be coming to Atlanta is was a great disappointment to many of the soccer fans in Atlanta and the southeast.  Unless Arthur Blank is closer to David Beckham then I think it could be a while before we get another chance.

Originally Posted 1/26/09: SundayPaper.com did an interview with Arthur Blank and Mr. Blank had this to say when asked if the cause of the failed MLS bid was due to the inability to get a group of partners together.

That wasn’t the reason. When you do a deal with MLS, it’s a very complex deal. And the general thinking in Major League Soccer today is that you need a soccer-specific stadium in order to be successful and offer the product in the right kind of environment for fans that are coming and supporting it, in addition to providing a financial model that makes sense for all parties concerned. Traditionally, those have been a public/private kind of partnership. In today’s economy, in this world we’re living in right now in 2009, maybe even 2010, that possibility  is not real, and it’s kind of inappropriate to be thinking about those things right now, in my view. So I just think it’s a matter of timing in terms of when we’ll be able to bring that franchise to Atlanta. It had nothing to do with other people being willing to invest, it had to do really with the timing in the marketplace.

It is disappointing to see the opportunity pass but at the same time it’s difficult to argue his point regarding the need for a soccer-specific stadium in order to be successful and offer the product in the right kind of environment for fans that are coming and supporting it, in addition to providing a financial model that makes sense for all parties concerned. Traditionally, those have been a public/private kind of partnership. In today’s economy, in this world we’re living in right now in 2009, maybe even 2010, that with the current state of the economy.  Arthur Blank didn’t become the successful business man he is by making bad decisions. This bid will require a combination of public and private funds and though this project will have a significant economic impact the dividends will be down the road.  The initial cost that would be required over the next two years would be steep and with the current budget cutbacks the decision would be inappropriate, as Mr. Blank said.

I guess we’ve waited this long, what’s a few more years.  Hopefully we can bring MLS to Atlanta and the economy and league will be on better footing then they are today.