Atlanta United FC will be the name for the city's MLS expansion team that will begin play in a new downtown stadium in '17 and is one that team President Darren Eales said "will stand the test of time," according to Doug Roberson of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Eales said, “We wanted a name that is authentic. It’s a very traditional name, but there will be so much more (about the brand) that will be led by our fans as we ramp up to 2017.” Eales said that the results of one survey conducted by the team showed that 89% of respondents "felt FC should be associated with the name." Responding to another question, 91% of respondents "wanted an international style of name, rather than an American style name that would include a mascot." Roberson notes the words "Atlanta" and "Unity" were "highly rated by respondents." Atlanta United FC, which will utilize a red, black and gold color scheme, "would become the second United in MLS," joining DC United. That club's colors "also feature black and red." But Eales said that once the Atlanta United FC logo is unveiled on July 7 and the jerseys are revealed at a later date, supporters "likely will see the uniqueness of the Atlanta United FC brand" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/26). SI.com's Brian Straus, who first reported the Atlanta United name, notes the club will be the 20th "United" moniker "across the top four tiers of U.S. soccer and very well may be one of two teams named United FC joining MLS" in '17, along with Minnesota. That "repetition, not to mention the fact that United is a pretty well established MLS brand" thanks to DC United, makes Atlanta’s choice "a bit surprising." The club's Terminus Legion supporter group in early February "announced the result of an online survey that garnered more than 10,000 votes." The "top five names were Terminus, Black Harts, Empire, Resurgents and Firebirds." An April poll conducted by the Atlanta Business Chronicle showed that Atlanta Phoenix "received more than 29% of the vote by 'nearly 1,000' readers." Premier Atlanta and Atlanta Blaze "finished second and third" (SI.com, 6/26).
