Silverbacks to remain in Atlanta, play 2015 season

There had been some talk recently of the Atlanta Silverbacks being sold, and possibly moved out of the Atlanta market. On Tuesday, the NASL announced that the Silverbacks will remain in Atlanta and play the 2015 NASL schedule, though they'd do so under the supervision of the league.

Commissioner Bill Peterson had the following to say about the market, and the search for new ownership:

"We have tremendous belief in the Atlanta market, and we know that we can have long-term success there. Silverbacks fans are among the most passionate in the league, and they deserve a committed ownership group that will run the team at a high level for years to come."

"The Greater Atlanta area is one of the biggest sports markets in the country, and the number of people involved in soccer is staggering. Our commitment to the global game and our emphasis on a competitive structure has resulted in unprecedented growth and momentum. We are confident today that the NASL will thrive in Atlanta for decades to come."

The SIlverbacks had drawn well, and while there was certainly legitimate concern going forward because of the impending arrival of MLS, the biggest obstacle the Silverbacks' seemed to face was a somewhat disappointing ownership group unwilling to invest much into the squad.

It will be interesting to see what the league ends up doing with its Atlanta club, and whether new ownership can be located knowing that they'll soon be facing MLS competition. For now though, it's business as usual (of sorts) in Atlanta.