A Bit More Insight Into MLS Atlanta’s Name?
By John Buhler
In an interview with Doug Roberson of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, new VP of Business Operations for MLS Atlanta Ann Rodriguez perhaps gave a little insight into what our MLS franchise’s nickname will be and what our uniforms might look like.
Rodriguez formerly with the San José Earthquakes mentioned that the team’s nickname will be “something people can get excited about, easy to spell and easy to pronounce.” She also said in the interview with Roberson that Adidas will supply the team’s uniforms and that she will be very involved in the kit’s design. We know that the team’s color scheme will consist of red, black, white, and old gold as it’s Owner Arthur Blank’s intention integrate Georgia and Georgia Tech’s colors into the new MLS design.
If read between the lines on Rodriguez’s quote about the team nickname, I think you can rule out a few names that have circulated since last April’s team announcement. “Get excited about” means to me at least that MLS Atlanta won’t become Atlanta FC or Atlanta SC. There’s too much buzz about the nickname to not have one. So I envision our team to have a North American sports name when it’s officially unveiled later this summer.
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With the “easy to spell and easy to pronounce” part of the quote, I think we can cross off names like Atlanta Phoenix, Atlanta Resurgens FC, Atlanta Locomotive, and maybe even Atlanta Chiefs. Also maybe anything Terminus related, too. While I do like all of those names, I feel the organization wants to keep its name simple like its fellow professional teams (Braves, Falcons, Hawks, Dream, even Silverbacks and now Swarm). I think it’s a good call to keep it short and simple as it’s easier to unify under an easier pronunciation.
So what names are left? Atlanta Firebirds, Atlanta Empire, maybe even adopt the Silverbacks moniker from the city’s NASL team? Who knows? Then again it could also be the Chiefs if it doesn’t come across as derogatory. We had a soccer franchise back in the early 1970’s called the Atlanta Chiefs for those who aren’t aware, so it could be construed as culturally significant. Wouldn’t it be cool to do the Tomahawk Chop in New Atlanta Stadium?
If I had to guess, I think the Atlanta Firebirds play at Coca-Cola Stadium in March of 2017 to a packed house rabid soccer lunatics from all over the metro Atlanta area. Soccer is going to explode in this region of the country and I can’t wait to have an MLS team to feverishly support.