Atlanta United Final
Lexi Stretch
Lexi Stretch
In some ways it feels inevitable that Atlanta United would be in the MLS Cup Final, in others it feels somewhat unbelievable. This year has been a historic year for the team. Josef Martinez set records for hat tricks and goals scored, the team had the second-best season for an MLS team all-time, and the fans showed up with United becoming the first MLS team to draw one million fans in a season. It has no doubt been a special year, and it became a legendary one when they won the last game against the Portland Timbers.
Atlanta is a sports town and sports bring us together, literally. Atlanta has pro basketball, baseball, and football teams. The only championship we ever won was when the Braves won in 1995. Now Atlanta has a brand-new Major League Soccer team moving in and they brought another win for us and people cannot be more excited.
Donald Stretch a proud Atlanta United fan explains how he was so proud of how they played. “As we were in the last couple minutes of the game, I could believe we were about to win I was so proud of them and I am happy to say that we won another championship game.”
Atlanta United FC, commonly known as Atlanta United, is an American professional soccer club based in Atlanta, Georgia, that competes in Major League Soccer, the highest level of American soccer, as a member of the league's Eastern Conference and the most recent winner of the MLS Cup.
Atlanta United began to play in 2017, as the twenty-second overall expansion team of the league. It is the first franchise to be based in the city, and the club plays home games at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which they share with the city's National Football League franchise, the Atlanta Falcons. Both are owned by Arthur Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot. The club also owns Atlanta United 2, a reserve team that competes in the USL Championship.
Gerardo "Tata" Martino was appointed as the club's first coach, who guided Atlanta United to their first MLS Cup playoff appearance in his debut season, before securing the team's first MLS Cup in 2018, in just their second season. Martino's team also set Major League Soccer records for the largest improvement in points for a consecutive season.
Based on attendance from the 2018 regular season, Atlanta United's fanbase is one of the largest in the league. They have set several Major League Soccer records for single-match and highest average attendances. In 2018, Forbes estimated the franchise was the most valuable in MLS, worth over $300 million.
There are so many fans in Georgia including ones here at Hillgrove. Cheyenne Moon is a huge fan. “I love going to the games, I am such a big fan and my favorite player is Almiron.” She says she has never missed one game.
Another fan, McCarthy Lewis, says she is not a crazy fan but enjoys watching them play. “I do not play soccer and I am not a big fan but when they won on Saturday I was so happy.”
Before the game started, Atlanta United had already won just by how infused they have become with the city. Standing in the stadium before the game and hearing thousands upon thousands of diverse people roar as if they wanted the stadium to come down made it clear that the Timbers had no chance at victory.
The Falcons could not do it, the braves could not do it, but Atlanta United could.
Atlanta is a sports town and sports bring us together, literally. Atlanta has pro basketball, baseball, and football teams. The only championship we ever won was when the Braves won in 1995. Now Atlanta has a brand-new Major League Soccer team moving in and they brought another win for us and people cannot be more excited.
Donald Stretch a proud Atlanta United fan explains how he was so proud of how they played. “As we were in the last couple minutes of the game, I could believe we were about to win I was so proud of them and I am happy to say that we won another championship game.”
Atlanta United FC, commonly known as Atlanta United, is an American professional soccer club based in Atlanta, Georgia, that competes in Major League Soccer, the highest level of American soccer, as a member of the league's Eastern Conference and the most recent winner of the MLS Cup.
Atlanta United began to play in 2017, as the twenty-second overall expansion team of the league. It is the first franchise to be based in the city, and the club plays home games at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which they share with the city's National Football League franchise, the Atlanta Falcons. Both are owned by Arthur Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot. The club also owns Atlanta United 2, a reserve team that competes in the USL Championship.
Gerardo "Tata" Martino was appointed as the club's first coach, who guided Atlanta United to their first MLS Cup playoff appearance in his debut season, before securing the team's first MLS Cup in 2018, in just their second season. Martino's team also set Major League Soccer records for the largest improvement in points for a consecutive season.
Based on attendance from the 2018 regular season, Atlanta United's fanbase is one of the largest in the league. They have set several Major League Soccer records for single-match and highest average attendances. In 2018, Forbes estimated the franchise was the most valuable in MLS, worth over $300 million.
There are so many fans in Georgia including ones here at Hillgrove. Cheyenne Moon is a huge fan. “I love going to the games, I am such a big fan and my favorite player is Almiron.” She says she has never missed one game.
Another fan, McCarthy Lewis, says she is not a crazy fan but enjoys watching them play. “I do not play soccer and I am not a big fan but when they won on Saturday I was so happy.”
Before the game started, Atlanta United had already won just by how infused they have become with the city. Standing in the stadium before the game and hearing thousands upon thousands of diverse people roar as if they wanted the stadium to come down made it clear that the Timbers had no chance at victory.
The Falcons could not do it, the braves could not do it, but Atlanta United could.