Now that a Major League Soccer expansion franchise is coming to Atlanta, what should the team be called?
Professional soccer teams in our state have used a variety of nicknames. Some, like the long-gone Generals, a nickname that reflected the city's status as an important railroad line, made sense. Others, like the Beat in a defunct women's league, didn't.
What would you like to see the new team called?
Here are two polls that we hope you will vote in. The first poll is focused on the team’s proper name. The second is focused on the mascot.
These polls are only meant as conversation and aren’t official.
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has been pursuing a franchise for several years.
An official announcement regarding the MLS franchise is scheduled for April 16 in Atlanta. The Atlanta team would become the 22nd franchise in MLS and would open play in 2017, which also is when the new $1 billion downtown stadium is scheduled to open.
Atlanta has a long and checkered history with the world’s most popular sport: starting with the now-defunct Chiefs in the late 1960s and continuing with the Silverbacks, who play in the North American Soccer League.
Atlanta is not likely to be the last city to be added to MLS' roster - whose other teams include Chicago Fire, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and L.A. Galaxy. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said many times that he wants his league to reach 24 teams by 2020.
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