Atlanta United FC.
Those 15 letters – the unveiled name of Atlanta's new MLS team – caused a bit of a twitter meltdown on Thursday when Sports Illustrated first reported the news, and then president Darren Eales explained the genesis of it to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
United, FC, and the combo of United FC, are fairly common parts to the names of dozens of soccer teams.
But it is that commonality that seems to have set off the more than 22,000 supporters of Atlanta’s club, some of whom had hoped for a name that was more original or better reflected the city, or some combination.
“I don’t think I could hate it more,” Jerry DeMink emailed on Thursday. “Dull. Boring. Derivative. Unimaginative. This was my worst fear, that we’d be a cookie cutter knock off. Was hoping for something unique, not pulled from another soccer culture. At some point the U.S. will start to put our own stamp on the sport, but obviously that won’t be happening here.”
President Darren Eales defended the name and the process, saying surveys and focus groups led them to the result. He described the name as authentic. It wasn't spitballed. It wasn't dreamed up by one person.
So, let’s break down the name into its parts and see if I can try to calm you down with my own retroactive (and you could argue spitballed) take on the parts and why I think they work together in ways that reflect the city’s history and identity:
Atlanta: No one seems to have a problem with that. It’s kind of mandatory.
United: Here’s where things start to go off the rails for some people. They point to D.C. United as a reason why MLS doesn’t need another United. I can kind of see that. They said it’s too vanilla. I can see that.
But United does reflect the city’s history, and perhaps that’s why it was cited so frequently by respondents in the feedback solicited by the franchise.
By being united, the Atlanta metro region became the economic powerhouse of the South by turning itself into the “City too busy to hate.” It seems a legitimate way to honor the city’s past.
Now, let’s turn to the last part, FC, which is a way to honor the sport’s past.
One person on twitter rightly pointed out that the sport is called soccer in the U.S., not football. But just as the word United has a forward, progressive feel; FC feels like a way to honor the sport’s heritage. It is known as football in most of the rest of the world.
Lastly, keep this in mind: The name could morph into just Atlanta FC, or just Atlanta. Real Madrid, arguably the most successful club in soccer history, is actually Real Madrid Club de Football, or Real Madrid F.C.
Manchester United, another contender for world’s best club, started as Newton Heath LYR Football Club before it eventually evolved into its current name. I’m not suggesting that Atlanta United FC will morph into something as different as what happened in Manchester, but hopefully the point is made that names used as a reference often change, either organically or legally. Simply looking around MLS – Kansas City Wizards to Sporting KC – is proof of that.
Eales went on to make an important point that may have been missed by some of the team’s fans: the name is just a small part of the team’s identity. Other pieces include, but aren’t limited to, the players on the field, the game-day experience for the fans, the logo, and the team’s nickname.
Plus, things change.
A nickname will evolve, it could be the name that the club is most recognized by. It could be Phoenix, something that a few on twitter suggested. It could be Terminus. Who knows? The point is the fans, just as they did with the scorned name, will drive that decision.
The nickname will then produce the mascot.
As one supporter on twitter wrote about the name: “It was a no-win situation. “
He continues – and I think this is the mission that Eales and his team are trying to accomplish, and the point he is embracing – “It’s up to the community to define the team, not a name.”
Gold Cup roster: Should the U.S. advance to the semifinals of the Gold Cup, which will be held at the Georgia Dome, fans learned last week the players they will see.
Manager Jurgen Klinsmann opted to go with a veteran squad, omitting a few of the players that helped his team upset Holland and Germany a few weeks ago.
The team is headlined by usual stalwarts Michael Bradley, the star of those two famous wins, and forwards Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, who weren’t a part of those wins.
The Gold Cup is a tournament and the U.S. is the defending champ, so it is important.
However, Klinsmann needs to start moving in younger players like Jordan Morris, who will likely be a key part of the 2018 World Cup squad, and moving out older players like Chris Wondolowski.
At the least, Klinsmann needs to give the younger players he did select, like Gyasi Zardes and Aron Johannsson, playing time in the Gold Cup.
Georgians in MLS: Here's a list of players with ties to the state who are in MLS:
Joe Bendik (@jtbendik), Toronto, GK, Kennesaw
Made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 3-1 win over Montreal on June 24 or its 0-0 draw with D.C. United on June 27.
Next game: at L.A. Galaxy on Saturday.
Mark Bloom (@markbloom21), Toronto, D, Marietta
Didn’t make the 18 for team’s 3-1 win over Montreal on June 24 or the 0-0 draw with D.C. United on June 27.
Next game: at L.A. Galaxy on Saturday.
Ricardo Clark (@RicoC13), Houston, M, Jonesboro
Started, played 90 minutes and had a shot in team’s 2-0 loss to FC Dallas on June 26.
Next game: vs. Colorado in Open Cup on Tuesday and vs. Chicago on Friday.
Warren Creavalle (@warrenspeak), Toronto, D, Acworth
Started and played 90 minutes in team’s 3-1 win over Montreal on June 24, and made the 18 but didn’t play in 0-0 draw with D.C. United on June 27.
Next game: at L.A. Galaxy on Saturday.
Chris Duvall (@chrisduvall91), New York Red Bulls, D, Duluth
Came off the bench to play 24 minutes in team's 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake on June 24, and scored the first MLS goal of his career in a 3-1 win over NYCFC on June 28.
Next game: vs. New York Cosmos in Open Cup on Wednesday and at Columbus on Saturday.
Sean Johnson (@sjohn25), Chicago, GK, Snellville
Started and had three saves in 1-0 loss to D.C. United on June 24.
Next game: vs. Charlotte on Tuesday in Open Cup and at Houston on Friday.
Chris Klute (@chrisklute), Columbus, D, Silverbacks, Clayton State
Didn’t’ make the 18 for team’s 2-1 win over New England on June 24 or its 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake on June 27.
Next game: at Orlando on Tuesday in Open Cup and vs. New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
Jack McInerney (@jackmcinerney9), Montreal, F, Alpharetta
Started and had four shots in team's 3-1 loss to Toronto on June 24, and came off the bench to score in 30 minutes of a 2-2 draw with Philadelphia on June 27.
Next game: vs. NYCFC on Saturday.
Kwadwo Poku, NYCFC, M/F, Silverbacks
Came off the bench to play 24 minutes in team’s 3-1 loss to New York Red Bulls on June 28.
Next game: at Montreal on Saturday.
Andrew Wolverton (@a_wolvie), Los Angeles, G, Atlanta
Did not make the 18 for team’s 5-0 win over Portland on June 24 or its 3-1 loss to San Jose on June 27.
Next game: at San Jose on Wednesday and vs. Toronto FC on Saturday.
Walker Zimmerman (@thewalkerzim), Dallas, D, Lawrenceville
Made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 2-0 win over Houston on June 26.
Next game: at Sporting KC on Wednesday and vs. New England on Saturday.
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