MLS expanding to Atlanta, team to start play in 2017

Major League Soccer is expanding to the city of Atlanta with the new, as of yet unnamed team starting play during the 2017 team.

The new team, to be owned by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, will play in the new open-air stadium the city is building for the Falcons. The stadium’s soccer configuration will have a capacity of 29,322, MLS said.

“We are thrilled to welcome Atlanta to Major League Soccer as our 22nd team,” Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “Atlanta is one of the largest and most diverse markets in North America and has a rich tradition in sports and culture.

“And 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.”