Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank may bid for an MLS expansion franchise, to begin play in 2011. An MLS official confirmed that the league had had “positive” discussions with Blank.
Expanding to Atlanta would be foolish. Of any large city, it is the worst environment for professional sports. The Hawks and Falcons have terrible fan support. Even the consistently competitive Braves, at their peak, had difficulty selling tickets. Atlanta itself may be vibrant, but its sports culture isn’t. It seems misguided to assume soccer might thrive, particularly when played in the midsummer heat.
The other candidates for teams may consist of Las Vegas, Miami, Portland, St. Louis, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver and New York. (Apparently Detroit F.C. isn’t on the table). The deadline for applications is Oct. 15.
Filed under: Football, Soccer , Arthur Blank, Atlanta, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta is not a bad sports town and the MLS could thrive here. Youth soccer is vibriant, especially in Cobb and Gwinnett. The Silverbacks have a good following and great park. Before the women’s league folded, they had great fan support. The Falcons have soldout all this year and most years since Blank took over. The Hawks have had poor attendance because the product has been poor. The Thrashers and Georgia Force attendance has been good as well as a minor league hockey team in Gwinnett. And of course, don’t forget Georgia Tech and UGA. The Super Bowl has been here multiple times as has the Final Four. Atlanta looks as good or better than any other the other candidates listed.