Recession 1, Silverbacks 0

The Atlanta Silverbacks, the men’s pro soccer team that has been in existence since 1995, announced Wednesday it will take the 2009 season off.

The team cited the economy and the potential of a Major League Soccer team coming to the area as reasons to “assess the landscape” and not play.

“This was an extremely difficult decision that was prompted by the dynamic events in our economy and the soccer community. We would like to thank all of our fans and partners who have supported the team over the years,” Silverbacks general manager Michael Oki said in a statement.