12 Days until Atlanta United play in Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Welcome back to the emptiness and soullessness that is the international break. We’re in for a long few weeks, but the good news is that on the other side is the gold at the end of the rainbow. We’re now just 12 days away from Atlanta United’s first-ever match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Today I want to talk about what it means to actually open the stadium. In the original plans, Atlanta United was set to be the first-ever sporting event in the new place. However, construction plans changed all that giving the Atlanta Falcons that honor. There’s even a couple of college football games being played there before the FC Dallas match on September. This upset some fans back when the changes were made, but fret not.

Despite not being the first sporting event in MBS, Atlanta United will have the distinction of having the first real Atlanta sports experience there. The Falcons preseason games were sparsely attended, like a lot of preseason games are. Two college football games, including Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee, will take place. Yes, Georgia Tech is a local team, but you can bet that there will be plenty of Vols fans there too.

As far as I can see, Atlanta United hosting FC Dallas will be the first Atlanta team getting the chance to use the massive new venue as a homefield advantage. This will be a chance for the Atlanta fans to back their home team and actually affect the outcome of the game. So, Atlanta United might not have gotten the chance to be the first, it still should be a very special day.

What do you think? Is there any shine taken off the Dallas match with it not being the very first event? Or are you happy that there have been some warm-ups to work out the kinks?