2017 Inaugural MLS Season

Lore & Background

Founded in 2014, Atlanta United began play as an MLS expansion team in 2017, as the 22nd team in the league. It is the first MLS franchise to be based in Atlanta, and the club plays home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which they share with the city's National Football League (NFL) franchise, the Atlanta Falcons. The club is operated by Arthur Blank, owner of the Falcons and co-founder of the Home Depot. The club also owns Atlanta United 2, a reserve team that competes in MLS Next Pro. Gerardo Martino was appointed as the club's first head coach and guided Atlanta to their first playoff appearance in the team's debut season, before securing the team's first trophy in just their second season by winning MLS Cup 2018. After a series of declining seasons under other managers, Martino returned before the 2026 season to coach the team. Atlanta has set several league records for highest single-match and average attendance. In 2026, Forbes estimated the club was the fourth most valuable in the league, worth approximately $1 billion.

In Their Own Story

The humid Georgia air hung heavy over Mercedes-Benz Stadium on that historic night, but inside, the roar of twenty thousand fans drowned out everything else. The pitch was a sea of red and black flags waving in unison as Josef Martínez sprinted toward the goal, the ball at his feet like an extension of himself. He struck it with precision, sending the net rippling and the stadium into a frenzied eruption. In that moment, the dream of the founders became reality; Atlanta United was no longer just a new team on paper, but the reigning champions of Major League Soccer.

Reader's Guide

Atlanta United's first regular season MLS game was played on March 5, 2017, at Bobby Dodd Stadium with 55,297 in attendance. Yamil Asad scored the first goal in team history in a 2–1 loss to New York Red Bulls. A week later, the team registered its first win with a 6–1 away defeat of fellow expansion team Minnesota United FC. On March 18, 2017, the team registered its first win at home, beating Chicago Fire 4–0 in front of a sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium. Following its move to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the team led the league in attendance and averaged more than 48,000 in its home league matches, breaking records for attendance for a non-doubleheader MLS game and average single-season attendance for a U.S. soccer team. Atlanta clinched a berth in the playoffs, becoming the third MLS expansion team to do so in their inaugural season, by finishing tied for third place in the Eastern Conference; due to tiebreaking rules Atlanta was seeded fourth. In its first playoff game, the team faced Columbus Crew and set a then-MLS attendance record for a playoff game with 67,221 spectators in attendance. After 120 minutes of scoreless action, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out, which Columbus won 3–1 to eliminate Atlanta.

Did You Know?

• Atlanta United was the first MLS franchise to be based in Atlanta.
• The club's first head coach was Gerardo Martino.
• Atlanta United won MLS Cup 2018 in just their second season.
• The club drew 67,221 spectators for their first playoff match, though it did not set the MLS playoff attendance record.

Expansion and Founding

The journey to bring Major League Soccer to Atlanta began long before the team's first whistle. Arthur Blank, owner of the local NFL franchise, initially submitted an expansion bid in 2008 but withdrew it due to budget constraints and stadium challenges. Efforts resumed following the relocation of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers in 2011. By 2013, financing terms were agreed upon with $30 million in bonds approved for land purchase. On April 16, 2014, MLS officially awarded the franchise to Blank’s group. This marked a significant return of professional soccer to the Southeast, an area without an MLS team since 2001. Atlanta United became the league's twenty-second expansion team, scheduled to begin competition in 2017. The club was established as the first MLS franchise based in the city, setting the stage for a new era under AMB Sports and Entertainment Group ownership.

The Inaugural Campaign

Yamil Asad secured the club's first-ever goal during this match. Momentum built quickly as Atlanta recorded their initial victory one week later with a decisive away win against Minnesota United FC. Their first home triumph came on March 18, a four-goal shutout of Chicago Fire before a sold-out crowd. After relocating to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the team maintained massive support, averaging more than 48,000 fans per league match. They successfully clinched a playoff berth in their maiden year, finishing tied for third in the Eastern Conference. However, their postseason run ended against Columbus Crew in a penalty shootout loss, despite setting an attendance record of 67,221 for that single playoff contest.

Leadership and Coaching

Gerardo Martino was selected as the inaugural head coach, tasked with building the program from scratch. His leadership proved immediate and effective, guiding Atlanta to their first playoff appearance during the team's debut season. This early success laid a strong foundation for future achievements. In just their second year of existence, under his guidance, the club secured its first major trophy by winning MLS Cup 2018. Although the team experienced declining seasons under subsequent managers later on, Martino’s impact remained significant enough to warrant a return. He was announced as the coach again before the 2026 season, highlighting his enduring connection to the franchise's identity. His tenure defined the early competitive culture of the club, transitioning them from an expansion side into championship contenders within two years of their founding.

Legacy and Financial Impact

Beyond pitch performance, Atlanta United established itself as a commercial powerhouse in American soccer. The franchise set multiple league records regarding attendance, holding the marks for highest single-match and average crowd sizes during their early years. Their home venue, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, is shared with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. Financially, the club's growth was substantial; by 2026, Forbes estimated the organization to be worth approximately one billion dollars, ranking as the fourth most valuable in the league. Domestically, their trophy cabinet includes an Eastern Conference championship and a U.S. Open Cup alongside the MLS Cup title. Additionally, the parent club operates Atlanta United 2, which competes in MLS Next Pro, ensuring continued development within the organization's structure.