An MLS expansion franchise "is coming to Atlanta," as an announcement is "scheduled for April 16" in the city, according to a source cited by Doug Roberson of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The team "would become the 22nd franchise in MLS and would open play" in '17. That would coincide with the opening of the Falcons' new $1B downtown stadium, and Falcons Owner Arthur Blank "has been pursuing a franchise for several years." Organizers "are hoping to have a fan festival that will be attended by soccer dignitaries and local government officials" for the April 16 announcement (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/7). PHILLY.com's Jonathan Tannenwald reported the expansion team "will be run in association" with the Falcons and be a "co-tenant with the Falcons in their new stadium." Atlanta will technically be MLS' 22nd franchise -- not its 23rd -- even though Miami was "already announced as the 22nd market that will have a MLS team." That is because David Beckham and Miami "won't officially get their team until a stadium deal is in place." Moreover, Atlanta's team "could kick off before Miami's," as the opening of the Falcons' stadium "gives the Atlanta MLS team a hard goal to aim for." Beckham recently said that '18 is the current goal for "opening a new venue in downtown Miami" (PHILLY.com, 4/6).
SOUTH BEACH PARTY: In N.Y., Richard Johnson noted Beckham "is trying to recruit" Heat F LeBron James as one of his investors for the Miami MLS franchise. A source said, "The two have had several secret meetings in the past few weeks" (N.Y. POST, 4/6). In Miami, Patricia Mazzei noted Beckham's reps "continue to try to win hearts and minds" for their proposed stadium at PortMiami by "reaching out to civic groups." Real estate firm HR&A Advisors Chair John Alschuler, who is repping Beckham, on Friday "stood alone before some 50 people at a luncheon organized by a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce committee" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/5).
