Atlanta lands NWSL expansion team with debut season planned for 2028

FILE - Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank stands on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Oct. 13, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Arthur Blank’s Atlanta sports empire is growing again with Tuesday’s announcement that the city has been awarded a National Women’s Soccer League expansion franchise.

Blank owns the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United of Major League Soccer, both of which play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Blank’s NWSL team is set to debut in 2028 and will also play at the massive downtown dome.

Atlanta will become the NWSL’s 17th team, following the additions of Boston and Denver in the league’s most recent expansion.