North American Soccer League (NASL) club Atlanta Silverbacks have released a statement in the wake of Major League Soccer's major announcement this week.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank announced that MLS will be expanding into Atlanta with a new team set to enter play in 2017.
Despite the franchise not getting started for another three years, the Silverbacks believe the expansion could have great benefits for their club who took out the 2013 NASL Spring championship.
"The Atlanta Silverbacks organization would like to congratulate Mr. Blank and his group for securing the MLS franchise that they have been working to acquire. It's always encouraging to see significant investments being made in our sport, especially here in Atlanta, a soccer market that we truly believe can be one of the most successful in the country," read the statement.
"As Georgia's only active professional soccer team, we hope that today's announcement generates a high level of excitement among the city's soccer supporters and helps increase the sport's awareness locally.
"At the moment, our organization is solely focused on having a successful North American Soccer League season on and off the field. Whether it's the team defending its NASL Spring Season Championship or the front office continuing to bring sellout crowds to Atlanta Silverbacks Park, we believe great things are happening with our franchise.
"We have already met with Mr. Blank's group, and in those discussions, one thing is very clear - we both have an extreme passion for growing the sport of soccer in Atlanta. We look forward to expanding on those preliminary meetings, and speaking with their group further about ways we can achieve that continued growth."
