The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is set to grant Atlanta a new expansion team for a record entry fee of $165 million, facilitated by AMB Sports and Entertainment, the owners of MLS’s Atlanta United and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, according to The Athletic.

A formal announcement is anticipated on Tuesday, marking the Atlanta franchise as the 17th in the league. The team is expected to start playing after the 2026 season, utilizing Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which has a soccer capacity of 42,500.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium features an artificial turf surface, making Atlanta the first NWSL expansion team approved despite not using a natural grass field. The expansion fee reflects the increasing trend in NWSL entrance costs; the league reportedly received $110 million earlier this year from the group associated with the upcoming Denver Summit franchise.

Atlanta’s Soccer Legacy

Atlanta has become a significant center for American soccer, beginning with the launch of Atlanta United in 2017 and the upcoming U.S. Soccer National Training Center. Arthur M. Blank, a co-founder of Home Depot, has been instrumental in this growth, contributing $50 million towards the training facility, named in his honor.

The city once had the women’s team Atlanta Beat, which played in the first professional women’s league, from 2001 to 2003, and later in the Women’s Professional Soccer league until 2011.

Currently, Mercedes Benz Stadium hosts soccer events and recently welcomed the US Women’s National Team for a match in April 2024, setting an attendance record for a friendly in the U.S. with 50,646 spectators.