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Atlanta United announced yesterday that they have already sold 22,000 season tickets, before they have went on sale to the general public. These are from the Founder’s Club deposits that have been placed since April of 2014 through today. They will surpass Seattle’s record in 2009 for season tickets sold by an expansion team before kickoff, and could challenge Seattle for the most season tickets in the league next season.
The amazing thing is that this has been done without a big name signing, without a jersey or schedule being released, even without a coach being hired.
United will sit only behind the Falcons in season tickets sold in Atlanta professional sports. They will likely have more season tickets sold than the average attendance of the Hawks or Braves.
Don’t forget, these numbers are before the general public can buy tickets. These numbers are before group sales start. These numbers don’t include smaller season packages or individual game tickets. United’s average attendance will likely be much higher than the numbers being discussed today.
These are the things that makes the mainstream media, and the average sports fans, sit up and take notice. This is a big deal. This legitimizes the club, league, and sport in this city and region.
Atlanta is a soccer city now.
Domestic
Houston pulls a surprise in San Jose, wins 2-1 for their first road win of 2016 (Dynamo Theory)
Sealing the points. #SJvHOU https://t.co/GfCf4hxrYh
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2016
It’s been a long and winding road for Minnesota to get to MLS (FourFourTwo)
How did Minnesota get to remain United? (MLS)
Video: MLS commissioner Don Garber explains why Minnesota United FC will keep its name. https://t.co/h3NjiTrHbB
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) August 20, 2016
2017 conference update: @MNUnitedFC to compete in West, @ATLUTD to compete in East --> https://t.co/nhfyLeci8M pic.twitter.com/5Vrz91rNHJ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2016
Changes in Dallas, both inside and outside the club (Dallas News)
An interview with Eric Wynalda about Alejandro Bedoya, Christian Pulisic, and Julian Green (Philly.com)
Where do the lower divisions belong in U.S. soccer? (Stars and Stripes FC)
International
Leicester City has a creative groundskeeper:
We are ready... lukey laying down the bullets... pic.twitter.com/Pam6NLuaFj
— john ledwidge (@johnledwidge) August 20, 2016
Antonio Conte is not a fan of the transfer market’s current state (90min)
Nabil Bentaleb not part of the plans at Tottenham, training away from the first team squad (Guardian)
Wild card slots in the Champions League? (Goal)
Local
Roster decisions looming for the Falcons as they hit the halfway mark in preseason (The Falcoholic)
Late rally by the Braves falls short (Talking Chop)
Georgia swimmer Gunnar Bentz releases a statement on the incidents in Rio during the Olympics (Dawg Sports)
A preview of Georgia Tech’s positional groups heading into the opener (From the Rumble Seat)