Get a Kick Out of This: Atlanta Finally Gets Pro Soccer Team

After nearly a decade of discussion, the City of Atlanta is set to get its own pro soccer team come 2017. The expansion team will play in the city’s new retractable-roof stadium.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, fought to bring the team to Atlanta and will be a partial owner. According to the Saporta Report, Blank paid between $70M and $100M for the team.

Blank said in a statement that he would seek input from fans for the team's name and logo in the near future.

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement Wednesday that the group is ecstatic about adding Atlanta as its 22nd franchise. “Atlanta is one of the largest and most diverse markets in North America and has a rich tradition in sports and culture."

While the new Atlanta stadium can seat 71,000 people for NFL games, it can be reduced to about 29,000 for soccer games using the lower bowl, ABC news reported. 

According to Major League Soccer, Atlanta has drawn crowds of more than 50,000 for international soccer matches, including more than 70,000 for a match between Mexico and Nigeria last month.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said Atlanta has long been an international city with a diverse population.

"An MLS soccer team competing in our new state-of-the-art facility could not be a more fitting and welcome addition as we continue on our path towards being one of the leading cities in the world.”