The Daily Dirt, December 31: Happy New Year for NASL and NWSL in Atlanta?

Midfield Press posted an interview with Trey Brantley late yesterday. Brantley is spearheading the efforts to bring NASL and NWSL teams to the metro Atlanta area, along with a new soccer complex. The complex would see two stadiums on its footprint, a large one with individual seating and a smaller one with bleachers. Southfund Partners is also involved in the efforts.

From the description of the complex in the Midfield Press article, this could mean that the partnership involving the Atlanta Sports Connection highlighted here back in May is still in the mix. That relationship also included Sports DeKalb, a branch of the county’s convention and visitors’ bureau, and the Georgia State Soccer Association. Brantley told Midfield Press that his group would “aim to host over 40 youth tournaments at the complex per year.”

On the pro side, Brantley said that the smaller stadium on the site could be ready by the fall of 2017. With Atlanta consistently mentioned as an option to help save the NASL, it is likely they would play at another facility while construction is ongoing. Brantley told Midfield Press that the larger stadium at the complex would not be ready until 2019. The North American Soccer League has held its league meetings in Atlanta for years and should be well versed in the pros and cons of returning to the metro area.

Brantley also said calling the team Silverbacks is not currently being considered because the name is owned by another organization. The Silverbacks recently committed their future to the National Premier Soccer League for the foreseeable future.

The Midfield Press article and the recent piece in Atlanta Magazine have conflicting information on the NWSL team. According to Atlanta Magazine, plans for the Vibe had been “sidelined” while Brantley told Midfield Press that Vibe was under consideration for the name of a NWSL team that would play at the facility.

Domestic

Jonathan Mensah to join Columbus as a Designated Player (Massive Report)

Manchester United not prepared to let Bastian Schweinsteiger leave for Chicago for cheap (FOX Sports)

Houston continue to add to their roster (Dynamo Theory)

Seattle likely adding two Homegrown Players (Sounder at Heart)

Red Bulls making decisions on potential Homegrown Player signings (Once a Metro)

Things are looking more promising for the survival of the NASL (SoccerWire)

International

Sam Allardyce rejected a big money offer from China (FourFourTwo)

Five young Mexican players to keep an eye on in 2017 (ESPN)