The MLL put their grand expansion plan in motion last season with the additions of the Charlotte Hounds and the Ohio Machine. If everything goes as planned and the MLL adds their two new expansion teams every other year, fans should be getting prepared for two new teams next season. All signs seem to point towards Atlanta being the host of one of those two new teams.
For the second time this season the MLL will host a game in a neutral location, with the first taking place in Florida. On Friday the Boston Cannons and Rochester Rattlers hope to put on a show for the fans at Kennesaw State University, located about 20 miles out of Atlanta. It could be seen as somewhat of a test for the market, which is relatively untested.
The facilities for the event, the Fifth Third Bank Stadium, seemed to be a good possible destination for the league despite its distance from downtown. With a capacity of more than 8,000 it is a reasonable size, and there is little competition. The facilities are only home to KSU’s women’s soccer and lacrosse teams and the Atlanta Beat, a professional women’s soccer team.
Atlanta has been eyed as a growing market due to a huge boom at a youth level. Despite the state having only one Division I program in Mercer it has grown heavily at the high school level. The University of Georgia has had success in the MCLA as well, which Dawg Sports pointed out may be due to the large amounts of Georgia students who come from these successful high school programs.
If there is a poor crowd could it scare the MLL off, or be a bad sign for a future team in the area? If the attendance is solid is it a shoo-in that the league will head down south next year? Only time will tell. For more information on the game, location, and how to purchase tickets head to the official website, MLLATL.com.
