All Things Atlanta Expansion Thread

[fhsol76]

There have been rumors swirling around the last several days about the MLS coming to the ATL. I think this would be great for the mls but the team would have to work a little differently to actually work.

Looking at the situation i think the team would have to model itself after the braves. Sure the Braves have bad attendence compared to other major market teams (NY, Boston, Chi-town, LA) but the Braves get far more televison viewers. The Braves are the south's baseball team they own Georgia, Middle and Eastern Tennessee, NC, SC, Alabama, and Mississippi. Now these fans from outside the Atlanta area are not able to go to every game but only make a couple weekend trips to see them play but man is there a following of people who watch the games on their televisions on turner south. I know personally about 2 or 3 nights a week during the summer i would go to my friends house and we would play poker and watch the game and i know i am not the only one who did. The south will follow and support their teams. Sports are everything down here even though the citizens of Atlanta dont show up as much as they could.

This is what needs to happen for a successful mls franchise in Atlanta

1. WAIT.... give soccer a few more years to develop in the US say about 3-4

2. A STADIUM.... whenever they are awarded a team immediatly build a stadium and dont come into the league until its good to go. Start off on the right foot and make it professional. The south wont support a team they consider fake. It makes the team seem more like any other sport they watch.

3. TV Deal..... exclusive tv deal. this is the deal breaker. In order for the rest of the south to follow the team we need to be able to watch them. Get every game televised in the south on like a tbs, turner south, or fox sports south. I dont know how feasible this is though with the league controlling everything.

If the mls follows this i have no doubt that they could create a successful franchise in Atlanta or anywhere else in the south for that matter

[HSEUPASSION]

Don't think that Southern team thing will work again, if it did it wouldn't include the Carolinas.

You have to remember when the Braves came around, Charlotte and Raleigh were tiny near meaningless towns. Both of which have since experienced, and are in the midst of massive population surges.

Charlotte (which lays claim to western NC and South Carolina {Charlotte nearly strattles the border} in an American sports sense) and Raleigh (eastern NC) both want their own teams, not Atlanta's. Greensboro is also growing pretty fast.

But this is why I said an American sports sense. Would I cheer for the Panthers if they were based in Charleston, SC or Raleigh? Yes, I would. Do I cheer for the Hurricanes? No, because I don't like hockey. Would I cheer for an NBA outfit in Greensboro or Raleigh if we didn't have one? You bet.

But, I wouldn't, and don't, cheer for their soccer teams (unless they're cast into the roll of giant killer). Soccer is far more localized, nearly to the point of neighborhood pride. It's far too personal to consider a team 250 miles away my home team.

When talking about soccer you almost have to take on a college sports mentality here. You know?

[fhsol76]

i have always said charlotte would also make a great mls city. They are rapidly expanding. I belive you could create a very good souther derby out of the two cities that would be great for the mls in the south.

[FuzzyForeigner]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2006/02/06/story4.html

article about recent activity in Atlanta

[ugaaccountant]

Soccer is far more localized, nearly to the point of neighborhood pride. It's far too personal to consider a team 250 miles away my home team.

When talking about soccer you almost have to take on a college sports mentality here. You know?

Not at all. Far more people follow the national team or the Champions Leauge clubs than the local clubs. If what you're saying was true then the A-league should be a fan favorite too but it's certainly not. Soccer is a game of nationalism and stars not of hometown pride. If it was about hometowns or nations then why is Chelsea so popular when they occassionally start 0 Englishmen?

Oh and to be on point, Atlanta should have a team and they would draw soccer fans from a wide geographic area. The op is on to something here with the individual tv package.

[HSEUPASSION]

Yes, but they don't call it their home team.

I follow Arsenal, but would I support them over my home team no matter how ************ it is? Not a chance.

[El Guero Naco]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2006/02/06/story4.html

article about recent activity in Atlanta

Link doesn't work.

[Mad Hattah]

Link doesn't work.

worked fine for me....

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2006/02/06/story4.html

[El Guero Naco]

OK, I got it now.

On a side note, I know the girl who wrote that story. Was one of my teachers I had in college and worked with my Dad for awhile.

[jbeall]

It's the Atlanta "Beat" btw...

Could work. Those Hispanic fans won't have divided loyalties to another Atlanta team, as they sure aren't going to Braves/Hawks/Falcons games (although with the exception of the Falcons, Atlanta fans aren't really going to other games either).

Having grown up in Athens, however, I gotta say that there's very little that's less appealing than sitting outside for two hours during a GA summer. Get a big roof over those stands with lots of shade, and it's still hot/humid as hell...

[G Enriquez]

It would be nice if Coca Cola were to buy into MLS.
Isn't their international headquarters located in Atlanta?

[fhsol76]

yes the headquarters are in Atlanta but the MLS has a huge sponsorship from Sierra Mist and the Pepsi company The Coca Cola company could become a sponsor for the team but nothin major. I really dont know though it all depends on the MLS's contract with Sierra Mist

[G Enriquez]

Doesn't the owner of the Home Depot live in
Atlanta?
I'm sure he's a billionaire many times over.
I know that Home Depot is a league sponsor
but maybe he's willing to buy into the league.

[jbeall]

Doesn't the owner of the Home Depot live in
Atlanta?
I'm sure he's a billionaire many times over.
I know that Home Depot is a league sponsor
but maybe he's willing to buy into the league.

You're talking about Arthur Blank. He is an Atlantan, and he already owns the Falcons.

I wish he'd buy into MLS, but he's probably content with the naming rights to the HDC.

Maybe CNN or one of the Turner affiliates? Then TurnerSouth could show MLS and regional USL games... Probably won't happen though.

[G Enriquez]

Doesn't Elton John live in Atlanta?

Maybe he can become a minority owner
in a club. He certaintly has enough money.

[Chowda]

Originally posted by G Enriquez
Doesn't Elton John live in Atlanta?
His primary residence is Nice, France.





WHY THE ******** DO I KNOW THAT:eek:

[ChuckA]

Sir Elton has long recognized Atlanta as his home.

At one time, he was chairman of Watford.

[ChuckA]

Sir Elton has long recognized Atlanta as his home.

At one time, he was chairman of Watford.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

[jbeall]

Doesn't Elton John live in Atlanta?

Yes, but only part-time. But maybe Outkast is still around?

Cox Communications would be another good choice, esp. since they own the AJC; perhaps they'd give adequate coverage to a team they own.

[Eleven Bravo]

Delta Airlines would be a really good one. considering they are investing in the silverbacks than maybe it's a possibility. also, considering they were talking about building the "home depot of the east" you would think home depot would want MLS in Atlanta. and you still have CNN & Turner broadcasting, Bellsouth and Cingular wireless, ups, Coca-Cola, Elton John, Earthlink, Rubbermaid, and others...i don't really care as long as someone invests in Atlanta MLS.