A disheartening article to be sure. Another regional rival for Miami FC/Stirkers, the Rowdies, and the Islanders would have been a good thing. The article is very pessimistic about the return of the team at all. Seems there is a lot of uncertainty around the lower division soccer landscape right now.
Why invest lots of money now if MLS is going to steal your fans and sponsors away 2 or 3 years later? These MLS expansion rumors are scaring off the Silverbacks
Wow, I never thought we'd see this but NASL.com has removed Atlanta 2011 from it's banner. So my question has finally, and quietly been answered - no Atlanta is not for real.
If the Silverbacks were willing to join with any potential MLS investors(and vice versa) it would make sense to invest now. Regardless of whether or not huge crowds show up to D2, your building brand awareness and connections with youth clubs and sponsors as you prepare for MLS.
Any Atlanta team in MLS will be a start from scratch expansion team, and Arthur Blank will probably be the one to bankroll it. No way will the Silverbacks be a part of that.
Finally word has come from the Silverbacks that things are official. http://wp.me/pL4Lj-bY Atlanta is for real and needs it's own sub forum under NASL. Is there a moderator out there that could help? Thanks!