Overview
- ESPN reports the NWSL has awarded an expansion franchise to Atlanta as the league’s 17th team, with ownership expected to be AMB Sports and Entertainment.
- The team is expected to play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and target a 2028 start, according to multiple reports.
- A spokesperson for Arthur M. Blank’s AMB said talks with the NWSL have been productive but there is nothing to announce, and the league declined to comment.
- The Athletic reports an expansion fee of $165 million, a jump from the roughly $110 million paid by Denver Summit FC less than a year ago.
- The move aligns with the NWSL’s shift to a rolling expansion model as the league heads to 16 clubs in 2026 with the additions of Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC.