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Atlanta United and MLS have announced a joint press conference for Monday afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. MLS commissioner Don Garber, team owner Arthur Blank and city mayor Kasim Reed will be in attendance, as well as Atlanta Sports Council president Dan Corso and several other guests.
It’s expected that the press conference will be to announce that the MLS All-Star Game will be held in Atlanta next year. During his visit to the venue in September, Garber mentioned that MBS “would be a great market to host” either next year or the following year in 2019. With the success of MLS in Atlanta thus far, an All-Star Game would be a perfect opportunity for the league to showcase the venue once more.
Soccer reporter Franco Panizo reports that this will indeed be an All-Star Game announcement.
Two sources confirm that tomorrow's announcement in Atlanta will be that the city will host 2018 #MLS All Star Game. #ATLUTD
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) October 18, 2017
The MLS All-Star Game would be the latest in a long list of high-profile events set to be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship will be played there, as well as Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and the Final Four in 2020. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is also the permanent site of college football’s SEC Championship Game every December.
No word yet on who MLS’ potential opponent will be, but that is likely to be announced at a later date, probably closer to the spring. Who would you want to see them play? Let us know in the comments.