Nov 19, 2008
Atlanta Silverbacks USL-1 Shut Down
The Silverbacks website says "Silverbacks Men Sit Out 2009 Season." But given what a struggle it is to build and keep momentum in the world of pro sports, I bet that this is the end of this USL-1 team in Atlanta. Imagine if they were to try to start back up again in 2010, how many fans they'd have lost, due to this "sitting out" season.
Besides, why would that possibility keep the USL-1 side from playing next year? The only reason I can think of is that they're losing money each season, and are afraid they'll be run out of town in the future, after they've become profitable. But we know for sure that MLS couldn't come to Atlanta until 2011 at the soonest (Seattle & Philadelphia announced for the next 2 years), so if that's the rationale, then their profitability outlook must be pretty bleak for several years out.
In any case, this can't be seen as anything but bad news for USL-1. Now, rather than remaining the same size next year when the Aztex join the league (effectively replacing Seattle), it will contract by one.
The Atlanta Silverbacks announced today that the Atlanta Silverbacks Men’s professional team will take the 2009 season off.I'm fully in blogger commentary mode here (i.e., I know not of what I speak but I'm not letting that stop me). But I'll go on to claim that "the potential of an MLS team coming to town" is a red herring. As I say, I'm not in the loop on what bids have been made or are going to be made, but I haven't seen anywhere that Atlanta is at the top of anyone's MLS expansion list.
Due to the state of the economy and the potential of an MLS team coming to town, the men’s pro team has decided to sit the year out while the Silverbacks assess the landscape.
Besides, why would that possibility keep the USL-1 side from playing next year? The only reason I can think of is that they're losing money each season, and are afraid they'll be run out of town in the future, after they've become profitable. But we know for sure that MLS couldn't come to Atlanta until 2011 at the soonest (Seattle & Philadelphia announced for the next 2 years), so if that's the rationale, then their profitability outlook must be pretty bleak for several years out.
In any case, this can't be seen as anything but bad news for USL-1. Now, rather than remaining the same size next year when the Aztex join the league (effectively replacing Seattle), it will contract by one.
// posted by Chris @ 12:24 PM 
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