Atlanta United FC will begin life in MLS at a venue named after one of the world's most iconic luxury brands.
ATL United and the NFL's Atlanta Falcons have confirmed reports that their new home will be dubbed Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will open in 2017, officially unveiling the name and logo at a press conference Monday. The agreement runs through 2042, and was first reported by Sports Business Daily on Friday.
"We are thrilled that the new home of Atlanta United will be Mercedes-Benz Stadium," said Atlanta United president Darren Eales in a statement. "It is an iconic and timeless brand that has long been associated with top-flight football and sport globally. To start our journey towards becoming a world-class club with the support of a partner with the caliber of Mercedes-Benz is truly a privilege."
Mercedes-Benz recently relocated its US headquarters from New Jersey to Atlanta, and will now have their brand attached to the city's cutting-edge new stadium. The multi-purpose,retractable-roof facility is set to open in 2017, the same year in which ATL United will make their MLS debut.
Sporting an array of unique features, including a retractable roof structure inspired by the oculus in the ancient Rome Pantheon and a 360-degree HD video halo board that – at nearly six stories tall and 1,100 linear feet in diameter – will be the largest in the world, the new facility is currently under construction in Atlanta's downtown tourist and entertainment district.
