Arthur Blank has just added to his already-impressive sports portfolio after being awarded the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)'s latest franchise.
With Boston and Denver being awarded women's soccer franchises in 2023 and 2025, respectively - both of whom will enter the NWSL for their inaugural seasons in 2026 - Atlanta is the latest city to get involved as the sport continues to see growth.
Atlanta owner Arthur Blank reacts during the NFL game
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Arthur Blank has added a new NWSL team to his sports portfolio, which also features the Falcons and Atlanta United FCCredit: Getty
A general view of an official game ball in the corner during the first half of a NWSL game
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Atlanta is the latest city to be awarded an NWSL expansion franchiseCredit: Getty
However, this has come at quite the cost, with Blank's AMB Sports + Entertainment - having to fork out an estimated $165 million record expansion fee to become the 17th team to join the league, and the seventh since 2021.
AMB Sports + Entertainment is also the holding company of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and MLS franchise Atlanta United FC, as well as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where its new NWSL franchise will play their home games.
Blank, 83, who made his wealth as a co-founder of Home Depot, also owns the Atlanta Drive Golf Club - a Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy-led advanced tech TGL golf league - and the PGA TOUR Superstore.
"We have had productive engagement with NWSL and others in its stakeholder group on the possibility of bringing an expansion franchise to Atlanta," a spokesperson for AMB Sports + Entertainment said, per The Athletic.
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"We have nothing to announce currently as those conversations are ongoing."
Although an exact date to join the league is currently unknown, with the final details still yet needing to be ironed out, Atlanta's team is expected to debut sometime after the 2026 NWSL campaign.
This would follow the trend of that of the league's 16th expansion team Denver Summit FC, after they were given the green light to join on January 30, 2025 for a then-record fee worth $110 million.
This was over double that of 15th expansion team Boston Legacy's joining fee of $53 million - which USC women's basketball star JuJu Watkins has recently invested in - as has provided empirical support for the rate of growth which women's soccer, and women's sports in general, is seeing.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman announced in September that the league would shift away from formal bidding processes to a rolling expansion process.
At the time, per ESPN, she said: "We've made the decision to shift to a rolling process mostly because we've been through this, two rounds, and so, we pretty much know the universe of who's interested.
Jessica Berman, Commissioner, National Women's Soccer League
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NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman has huge plans for the expansion of the leagueCredit: Getty
Bijan Robinson #7 of the Atlanta Falcons runs with the ball
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The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to NFL team Atlanta FalconsCredit: Getty
General view inside the stadium prior to the Premier League Summer Series match between Manchester United and Everton FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
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Mercedes-Benz Stadium also stages MLS side's Atlanta United home games, and will house the new NWSL franchiseCredit: Getty
"There's more than a dozen of them. Those conversations are ongoing.
"Each of them has a different perspective on how much time they need to launch, the investments they need to make to be successful, including potentially around infrastructure, and we want to not force a square peg into a round hole."
With huge demand for owning a NWSL franchise, Berman also boldly stated that there is "no reason" why they can't grow the league to 32 teams like that in the NFL.
She further doubled-down on the league's future growth, announcing that there are plans for a second division to be launched in 2027, like that of the Women's Super League (WSL) and WSL2 at the top of the soccer pyramid across the pond in England.
Atlanta has put its stamp on soccer
It appears to be a great time for a market like Atlanta to join the NWSL, with it reportedly being the seventh-largest TV media market in the States, according to Nielsen data.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium - the new team's future home - is no stranger to hosting soccer games either, with it also being the home of Atlanta's MLS side, accommodating 42,500 spectators.
A general view of Mercedes-Benz Stadium
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Blank's Mercedes-Benz Stadium can house up to 75,000 spectators depending on the sportCredit: Getty
Miguel Almiron #10 of Atlanta reacts during the MLS match between Toronto FC and Atlanta United FC
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Former Premier League forward Miguel Almiron now suits up for Atlanta United FCCredit: Getty
Sam Coffey #17 of the United States advances the ball during the second half against New Zealand an international friendly
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USWNT and Portland Thorns soccer star Sam Coffey opened up about the possibility of bringing an NWSL soccer team to Atlanta back in 2024Credit: Getty
The stadium, which also hosts the Falcons, is expandable to accommodate up to 75,000 spectators, though, with it having hosted Super Bowl LIII in 2019, as Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3.
As it pertains to women's soccer, though, the retractable roof multi-purpose stadium was last in use in 2024 when it hosted the SheBelieves Cup, comprised of the national teams from Brazil, Canada, Japan and the United States.
NWSL Teams
The league now houses 17 teams, with further expansion expected in the future
Angel City FC
Bay FC
Chicago Stars FC
Houston Dash
Kansas City Current
Gotham FC
North Carolina Courage
Orlando Pride
Portland Thorns FC
Racing Louisville FC
San Diego Wave FC
Seattle Reign
Utah Royals FC
Washington Spirit
Boston Legacy FC (2026)
Denver Summit (2026)
Atlanta (TBC)
USWNT midfielder and Portland Thorns captain Sam Coffey was asked about the possibility of Atlanta getting a women's NWSL team back in 2024, where she said: “I think it would be a great market for one with Atlanta United here and now with U.S. Soccer starting to plant some roots here.
"I think it would be a great place to bring a team. It's an amazing city... I think it could do really well here."
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced that it was relocating its headquarters and training center to a brand new facility in Georgia back in 2023, with Blank donating $50 million to the project.
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Whilst it is still currently under construction, it is expected to be fully completed ahead of the FIFA men's World Cup which takes place across the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.
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