Off Topic » black and gold scarf draped over his dark suit

ATLANTA -- Arthur Blank donned traditional soccer garb to mark his newest venture -- an MLS team for Atlanta. "I love this one," Blank said, looking down at the red, black and gold scarf draped over his dark suit. "I havent taken it off since it was given to me. I may not sleep in it tonight, but I may. I havent decided yet." Major League Soccer announced its latest team Wednesday, an expansion team for Atlanta that will begin play in 2017 at the citys new retractable roof stadium. The team will be owned by Blank, who also controls the NFLs Atlanta Falcons. He said it was the culmination of a process that started about a decade ago, when he first started talks with MLS about bringing a team to the city. The off-and-on discussions picked up again after Blank reached a deal with the city last year to build a new $1 billion downtown stadium next to the soon-to-be-demolished Georgia Dome. He is putting up most of the money, with the city kicking in $200 million from a hotel tax. "I think Atlanta is a natural fit for Major League Soccer," said Blank, who was serenaded by a burgeoning fan group that calls itself "Terminus Legion," a reference to the citys former name. The teams name has not been determined. Blank said he will get input from the fans before deciding on the new moniker, though he already knows the colours: red and black -- matching the Falcons -- with a substantial amount of gold as well. "What the name will be, we really dont know," he said. "We will spend a lot of time listening to our fans and trying to understand why some names are more important than others, why certain designs are more important than others, why certain logos are more important than others." One name that wont be considered: Atlanta Chiefs, the name of two previous teams that played in the old North American Soccer League. While the Chiefs won the first NASL championship in 1968, both versions struggled financially and eventually folded. MLS Commissioner Don Garber said there was no hesitation about putting a team in Atlanta once Blank worked out a stadium deal. It is the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and the biggest without a top-level soccer team. The city has a large Hispanic population and last month drew more than 68,000 fans to the Georgia Dome for a friendly between Mexico and Nigeria. "This is something that will help elevate our league," Garber said. "It will also elevate our sport in the entire Southeast, which is something that is very important to us strategically." The league went all out to tout its newest team. Hundreds of fans turned out for a street festival before Blank and Garber arrived by helicopter for the introductory news conference, touching down on the roof of a downtown hotel overlooked Centennial Olympic Park. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed also attended. While the new stadium is primarily designed for the Falcons, Blank stressed that it will be soccer-friendly. The stands along the sideline will have the capability to retract, accommodating the larger soccer pitch while maintaining sightlines. Curtains will descend from the roof automatically to close off the upper sections, creating the sort of intimate atmosphere that works better for less-attended MLS games. The new facility is designed to seat about 71,000 for NFL games, Blank said, but can be reduced to about 29,000 for soccer using only the lower bowl. "There will never be an MLS game in Atlanta where NFL lines are shown on the field," Blank said, drawing a big cheer. MLS, which has 19 teams this season, is expanding rapidly with a goal of having 24 teams by the end of the decade. Orlando and New York City are scheduled to begin play next season, and the league has awarded a provisional team in Miami to a group led by David Beckham, contingent on a soccer-specific stadium being built. The league has added five teams in the past five years, including the hugely successful Seattle Sounders. Garber said there is no worry about growing too fast given the abundance of soccer talent around the world. "When we expand, we can pick from players around the world," Garber said. "We could change the roster rules, the international player limits, and have no dilution in talent." Blank said he will try to encourage some crossover between Falcons season-ticket holders and those interested in attending MLS games. But he acknowledged the teams are likely to have very different fan bases, making it clear the new soccer team will not merely be a side business for the Falcons. His first priority is to hire a team president for the MLS venture. He will also be exploring possible locations for a state-of-the-art training facility. "We dont want any stepchildren in our family," Blank said. "We want to make sure the people running soccer get up in the morning thinking about soccer and go to bed thinking about soccer." Cheap Texans Jerseys .Y. - Carey Price had an early feeling that one goal might be enough to settle the latest matchup between his Montreal Canadiens and longtime Original Six foe, the New York Rangers. Kahale Warring Jersey . Not only that, when Julian de Guzman first stepped on the pitch for Deportivo de la Coruna he became the very first Canadian to play in Spains top tier. http://www.cheaptexansjerseysauthentic.com/ . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. Max Scharping Jersey .com) - Joe Pavelski scored twice to lead the San Jose Sharks in a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers to split a home-and-home set. Cheap Texans Jerseys Authentic . - John Elways philosophy is to address immediate needs in free agency, even though some of his own veterans may prove too pricey to keep around.PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A few days off paid off for the Pittsburgh Penguins.Blake Comeau and Kris Letang scored early in the first period to lead the Penguins to a 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Friday night.We had three days without games, so we tried to get into the game as quickly as we could, said defenceman Letang, who returned after a five-game absence because of a groin injury.Rob Klinkhammer got his first goal with Pittsburgh to help the Penguins beat the Flames for the eighth straight time. Pittsburghs last loss to Calgary was on Dec. 3, 2005. Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves to improve to 6-1 all-time against the Flames.Johnny Gaudreau had the only goal for the Flames, who have lost four in a row.We had a tough start, Calgary coach Bob Hartley said. We knew against a team like the Penguins theyll make you pay for it.The Penguins played without defending NHL scoring champion Sidney Crosby, who also will miss Saturdays game at Columbus while he awaits results from medical tests for an illness that caused the right side of his face to swell. Though there have been more than a dozen cases of mumps around the NHL, Crosby doesnt believe he has that illness.Crosby missed Thursdays practice because he was wasnt feeling well. He returned for Pittsburghs game-day skate and afterward declared himself fine for the game against the Flames, noting that he would not be at the arena if he had mumps.However, the swelling was pronounced. Reports and images of the swelling caused a widespread Internet buzz, and by late afternoon the Penguins announced his two-game absence based, they said, on the recommendation of medical specialists.There is no indication at this time that this is the mumps, but we are going to hold him out as a precaution, General Manager Jim Rutherford said in a release. Well have additional test results in a few days.Crosby is among the league leaders with 35 points and had not previously missed a game.Pittsburgh coach Mike Johnston insisted Crosby is not dealing with mumps.All of our players have been tested, he said. There have been no tests that come back and show anything different. We were just being cautious. You saw the swelling of his face, and the doctors just thought, Lets be cautious.dddddddddddd Lets just be careful. Thats why hes not playing.Both teams finished 0 for 5 on their respective power plays.It was not a good night for both power plays, Hartley said. I think we did a good job on our penalty killing, and so did the Penguins on theirs.The Penguins, who had not played since Monday, looked rested and energetic early.Comeau, on a 2-on-1 break with Jayson Megna, gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead 48 seconds into the game with a shot that sailed over the blocker of Calgary goalie Jonas Hiller.Letang tipped in a shot from the right point by Simon Despres at 4:43 of the period during a 4-on-4 play for a 2-0 Penguins lead.Four-on-four, you try to find open space, try to give time to other players. I was already on the rush, Letang said. When I saw the puck going to Simon, I just tried to find a spot where he could shoot it at me.The Flames closed to 2-1 with 7:45 left in the opening period when Gaudreau jumped on the long rebound of a shot by Markus Gralund and put the puck in a near-open net with Fleury caught near the right post.Klinkhammer then scored off a pass from Steve Downie with 2:47 left in the third period.They put up two goals early and were fighting our way back. Its tough, Calgary winger Curtis Glencross said. We have to be ready to go from the get go, and the other team, they came out hungry and (Comeau) made a great shot on their first goal, 40 seconds in or whatever. And got that 4-on-4 goal right after that.NOTES: In addition to Letang, Pittsburgh RW Patric Hornqvist returned after missing two games because of an unspecified injury. ... C Evgeni Malkin had two assists, giving him at least one point in 23 of the Penguins 28 games. ... Pittsburgh winger Zach Sill left in the first period after slamming into the end boards. Johnston declined to divulge the nature of Sills injury but said he will probably miss a couple of weeks. ... Gaudreau, the Hobey Baker Award winner last season, helped Boston College win the Three Rivers Classic last December at Consol Energy Center. ... Calgary D Deryk Engelland played against his former club for the first time. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '