Though there has been a billboard, a scoreboard and way-too-many bits of smacktalk on social media between the fan groups, it seems that most of Atlanta United’s coaches and players don’t feel like Friday’s game at Orlando City is a chapter in a rivalry.
Mostly because they have yet to play.
“I don’t think so, at least not yet because this is the first game,” Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said. “We will see over time if it develops into a rivalry but today it doesn’t feel like that.”
Orlando City coach Jason Kreis agreed.
“I'm one (who) believes that rivalries are intrinsic, meaning that they happen through experiences,” he told Orlando media this week. “It would be premature to be talking about whether or not they’re our rival. We shall see, starting with the first 15 minutes of the match on Friday night.”
Well, others may disagree … to a degree.
Atlanta United President Darren Eales posted a photo on twitter on July 13 of a scoreboard at the under-construction Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Atlanta United 6, Orlando City 0. His text: Pitch side scoreboard @MBStadium appears to be working (with a winking emoji).
The team then upped the ante by purchasing a billboard in Orlando. It features players Yamil Asad and Josef Martinez and the message: ORLANDO, WE’RE COMING TO CONQUER. The team said they bought the billboard to engage with them ahead of the back-to-back games.
The team hasn’t bought any other billboards, bus-stop signs or bench advertisements noted for any of its other opponents.
So, is it a rivalry? It is missing some of the ingredients of regionalism and history.
Within MLS’ large footprint, Atlanta United and Orlando City are separated by more than a six-hour drive but are still closer to each other than either is to any of the league’s remaining 20 teams. MLS expansion in Miami or Nashville or Charlotte may change that, but for now they are stuck with each other.
Still while there is some geographic proximity, it’s not like what Portland-Seattle-Vancouver, or New York Red Bulls and NYCFC have.
Throughout the world, some of soccer’s fiercest rivals are a goal kick or two away from each other: Manchester United-Manchester City, Boca Juniors-River Plate, and Chivas-Club America, for example.
“Teams in Argentina are created in the same city or different neighborhoods in Argentina,” Martino said. “Usually they are rivalries that are formed over a long history of important games between the two teams. This league is still fairly new and still growing, in the coming years you will see more of that.”
Because Friday will be the first meeting between Atlanta United and Orlando City, it obviously lacks the history of other rivalries in the league such as the Cali Clasico between San Jose and the L.A. Galaxy, or Dallas vs. Houston.
The rivalry does have wifi-powered vitriol.
The fans’ inability to make either Friday’s game, or next week’s between the two teams at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, into a day trip is being overcome by the lack of distance needed to slap each other around on social media.
Atlanta United fans have made fun of Orlando City’s lack of success in its first 2 ½ years. The Lions have yet to make the playoffs, but are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference this season despite winning just two of their past 13 games.
Despite having one of the league’s best forwards in Cyle Larin and the league’s most expensive player in Kaka ($7.17 million), the Lions have scored the third-fewest goals (22) in the East. Atlanta United fans have had fun with that.
Atlanta United is in fourth place in the East. The Five Stripes lead the league with 39 goals and have won six of their past nine. Atlanta United fans have also had fun pointing that out.
“It all starts with the fans,” Atlanta United midfielder Julian Gressel said.
So, until they actually play, it’s a rivalry in name. But it shows promise.
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