Who Owns Atlanta United? A Clear Guide for Atlanta Fans

If you live in Atlanta, you’ve probably seen the Atlanta United FC crest all over town—on jerseys at Piedmont Park, flags flying in Midtown, and packed into Mercedes-Benz Stadium on match days. But who actually owns Atlanta United, and how does that ownership shape the club and the fan experience?

Here’s a clear, Atlanta-focused breakdown.

Who Owns Atlanta United?

Atlanta United is owned by Arthur M. Blank, an Atlanta-based businessman best known as the co-founder of The Home Depot and the owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

The team is operated through Blank’s organization, commonly known in sports conversations around the city as part of his larger family of businesses and philanthropic efforts based in Atlanta.

In simple terms:

• Primary owner: Arthur M. Blank
• League: Major League Soccer (MLS)
• Home city: Atlanta, Georgia
• Home stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (also associated with Blank’s ownership)

Blank was awarded the MLS expansion franchise that became Atlanta United, and the club officially joined the league for the 2017 season.

Why Arthur Blank’s Ownership Matters in Atlanta

For people who live in or visit Atlanta, the identity of the owner is more than just a trivia point. It affects:

• Where the team plays
• How much is invested in facilities and players
• How integrated the club is with the broader Atlanta community

Ties to Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Atlanta United plays at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, located at:

The stadium is also home to the Atlanta Falcons, which Arthur Blank owns. Because the same ownership group is behind both teams, Atlanta United benefits from:

• Shared world-class facilities
• A central downtown location next to MARTA and major highways
• A consistent fan experience across both clubs (game-day operations, concessions, security, etc.)

This setup is one reason soccer in Atlanta feels so big-time so quickly—MLS fans share the same venue as NFL fans, right in the heart of the city.

Quick Snapshot: Who Owns What?

Here’s a simple overview of Arthur Blank’s role in Atlanta’s sports landscape:

For an Atlanta resident or visitor, this means the same core leadership influences both major teams and the stadium experience.

How MLS Ownership Works in General

If you’re trying to understand how ownership works specifically in Major League Soccer, it’s helpful to know that MLS is structurally different from some other leagues:

• MLS uses a single-entity structure, where the league has central influence over player contracts and some business decisions.
• Individual teams, like Atlanta United, have investor-operators (often called owners) who run the club and make key local decisions within league rules.
• In Atlanta, Arthur Blank is that investor-operator.

For fans in Atlanta, you’ll mostly experience this as:

• A club with local control over branding, community presence, and fan engagement
• League-wide rules that shape things like salary caps, player transfers, and designated players

How Ownership Shapes the Fan Experience in Atlanta

Investment in Facilities and Infrastructure

Because Atlanta United shares ownership with the Falcons, the club benefits from:

• High-end training and game facilities
• A centrally located home stadium that’s easy to reach from many Atlanta neighborhoods
• Modern amenities that appeal to both passionate supporters and casual visitors

If you’re attending a match from Buckhead, Decatur, East Point, or the suburbs, the stadium’s central location and transit connections (such as MARTA’s GWCC/CNN Center Station and Vine City Station) are the result of long-term planning around downtown sports and entertainment by the stadium’s ownership group.

Community and Local Identity

Ownership also affects how closely a team connects with its city. In Atlanta, that looks like:

• Strong branding around “Unite & Conquer” and regional pride
• Partnerships, appearances, and outreach throughout Metro Atlanta
• A focus on making match days feel like major Atlanta events, not just sports games

For many locals, Atlanta United has become a symbol of a modern, growing Atlanta, and that identity is heavily shaped by the direction set from the top.

If You Want to Interact with the Club or Stadium

If you’re in Atlanta and want to get closer to the team or stadium operations, here are some practical points.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Game-Day and Venue Questions)

Most fan-facing questions—tickets, parking, tours—go through stadium or team service channels, not the owner personally.

Typical needs include:

• Tickets and seating
• Stadium tours
• Parking and transit information
• Accessibility services

For the most accurate, up-to-date details, Atlantan fans usually check:

• The stadium’s ticket office information
• Official team or stadium customer service channels
• Posted information at the stadium on event days

Front-Office and Club Information

If you’re interested in how the club is run:

• Front-office staff and executives operate under the umbrella of Arthur Blank’s ownership.
• Club decisions about coaching, player signings (within MLS rules), and marketing strategy reflect the direction he sets.

While fans don’t typically contact the owner directly, understanding who owns the club can help you make sense of:

• Why the team spends the way it does
• The long-term vision for soccer in Atlanta
• How closely the club is tied to other major sports in the city

What This Means for Atlanta Residents and Visitors

For someone living in or visiting Atlanta, Georgia, here’s what you really need to know:

• Arthur Blank owns Atlanta United.
• He also owns the Atlanta Falcons and is behind Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where both teams play.
• This shared ownership is a big reason Atlanta United feels like a major, well-supported club from top to bottom.
• When you go to a match in downtown Atlanta, you’re experiencing a sports environment shaped by one of the city’s most influential sports owners.

So when you see Atlanta United flags flying along Northside Drive or hear the chants echoing through downtown, you’ll know exactly who’s behind the club that helped make Atlanta one of the most passionate soccer cities in the country.