Begrüßung » frenzy at the end of the campaign

ATLANTA -- Major League Soccer is closing in on a deal with Falcons owner Arthur Blank to bring an expansion franchise to Atlantas new downtown stadium. Stitched Athletics Jerseys . The team would likely begin play in 2017, when the $1 billion retractable roof stadium is set to open next to the Georgia Dome to provide a new home for the NFL Falcons. "Our discussions with Major League Soccer continue, but we do not have a final agreement at this time," Kim Shreckengost, the chief administrative officer for Blanks AMB Group, said Tuesday in an email to The Associated Press. "We hope to complete the agreement soon, at which time we will make a formal announcement." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that a new team will be announced April 16. "We are continuing discussions with Arthur Blank to bring a Major League Soccer expansion team to Atlanta," said Dan Courtemanche, a spokesman for MLS. "However, we have not finalized an agreement at this time." The MLS has long coveted the Atlanta market, the largest in the U.S. without a team, as it moves toward its goal of expanding to 24 franchises. The 19-team league has already announced expansion franchises in New York City and Orlando that are scheduled to begin play next season, in addition to a provisional franchise in Miami owned by a group that includes David Beckham. That team is contingent on a deal for a new soccer-specific stadium in south Florida. There are no such concerns in Atlanta, where the Falcons new stadium was designed to accommodate an MLS team, providing Blank with additional revenue streams for the elaborate facility. While most MLS teams are moving toward smaller stadiums that are built solely for soccer, the Atlanta franchise would follow the model of teams in Seattle and Vancouver, which play in larger facilities downsized to provide a more intimate setting. For instance, Vancouvers BC Place has a curtain system that blocks off the upper deck, reducing capacity from 54,000 to 21,000. Atlantas new stadium will likely have a similar capability. Atlanta had two franchises in the old North American Soccer League. The Chiefs won the leagues first championship in 1968 but folded after the 1973 season, having spent their final year known as the Apollos. The Chiefs returned to the NASL in 1979 when the Colorado Caribous moved to Atlanta. That incarnation lasted only three seasons, never drawing as many as 8,000 fans a game before folding due to heavy financial losses. Atlanta has a team in a new version of the NASL, a league that ranks below MLS on the U.S. soccer ladder. The Silverbacks play at a 7,500-seat stadium on the outskirts of the city and are apparently not involved in talks on the MLS expansion team. Oakland Athletics Shirts . He was signed to help with depth to the receiving corps because of the loss of Shamawd Chambers to the 6-game injured list. Cheap Athletics Jerseys . Tottenham claimed top spot in Group K by winning 2-0 at Tromso after defender Adnan Causevic scored an own goal before Mousa Dembele put the result beyond doubt. Valencia made sure it will finish first in Group A with a 1-0 win at Swansea thanks to an early goal from Dani Parejo. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . Raonic, the No. 8 seed from Thornhill, Ont., had 18 aces in the match. He needed one hour 39 minutes to complete the victory.As the new breed of racers look to lay down their marker once again in 2016 the pressure is firmly on many established drivers, experienced minds and even former world champions to secure their seat for next year. After an off-season which saw only two teams - Manor and Renault - change their line-up, Formula 1 can expect a transfer frenzy at the end of the campaign.While Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel can already look forward to 2017 at Mercedes and Ferrari, team-mates Nico Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen are just two of the current crop whose contracts expire before the expansive rule changes kick in. Jenson Buttons future at McLaren beyond this year is up in the air and although fellow former champion Fernando Alonso is in theory signed on for a further season, much of that depends on the progress of the Honda engine.Daniel Ricciardo is another who should have no shortage of suitors if he leaves Red Bull when his contract expires at the end of the season while Valtteri Bottas, heavily linked with Ferrari last summer, can expect more of the same speculation should he impress in the Williams again. Fernando Alonso and Jenson Buttons futures are up in the air Their respective contract talks and transfer dilemmas look likely to provide the main off-track talking points of the year as the drivers prepare to arrive in Melbourne to get back to business. Rarely does the sport head into its first grand prix weekend with so few new faces.Manor have brought two rookies onto the grid in Pascal Wehrlein and Ryo Haryanto. Renault, formerly Lotus, have signed Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer while Romain Grosjean has joined debutants Haas along with Esteban Gutierrez. The Frenchman is another with it all to prove. Every race live Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here With Ferrari powering Americas first team in F1, Grosjean made no secret that he sees his move as a great opportunity to earn a drive in the famous red in the future.For everyone working in motorsport - engineers, mechanics, drivers - its a dream team. That red colour is something special, Grosjean told Sky Sports News HQ upon being confirmed at Haas.It would be good in the future, but there are more steps behind that.Grosjean comfortably outperformed Pastor Maldonado last season and, while he has always been quick, the 29-year-old seems to have transformed his reputation from an unpredictable, often careless, driver to a steady set of hands behind the wheel. Romain Grosjean hopes to impress at Haas this year Come lights out at the Australian Grand Prix this Sunday, exclusively live on Sky Sports F1, Bottas, Ricciardo and Grosjean will be starting possibly the biggest season of their careers. Athletics Jerseys China. But it is perhaps the form of an 18-year-old which the elite will focus more of their attention on.Max Verstappen will be eager to prove his many admirers right about his title-winning potential after an incredible first year at such a young age. Accompanied by Carlos Sainz, the Toro Rosso man took it to his far more experienced rivals in a breathtaking debut season. Australian GP on Sky Sports Full schedule and TV times As Sky F1 commentator David Croft puts it: If youre Toto Wolff, if youre Maurizio Arrivabene, there is only one name on your list for the medium and long-term future at the moment,There are no two ways about it: there is no other driver who they havent already got who would fit the bill.Depending on how Raikkonen performs this season and how he supports Vettels title charge, Ferrari will surely have Verstappen firmly in their sights. But what about Mercedes? Ferrari and Mercedes will keep track of Max Verstappen Rosberg will be more fired up than ever to claim his first world championship after Hamiltons dominance in 2014 and 2015, but as their sour relationship shows no sign of improving any time soon, the Silver Arrows may be in a position where one of their star drivers suddenly becomes expendable. If that happens, the German is surely the fall guy.Despite concerns over the intra-team balance of power Rosberg is not panicking, yet.Im sure there is going to be many more years to go here at Mercedes, he told Sky Sports News HQ last month.I feel comfortable here, I really enjoy being part of the team, weve achieved so much, and theres even more to achieve in the future.Rosberg evidently has the pace to compete with Hamilton but whether he can consistently be as fired up as he was towards the back of 2015 is another question entirely. When it comes to answering and stepping up this year when it really matters, he finds himself in esteemed company.The transfer market is ready and waiting.The first race of the 2016 F1 season, the Australian GP, is exclusively live on Sky F1. The race in Melbourne starts at 5am on Sunday March 20. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: F1 gossip column When is the Australian GP on Sky? ' ' '