ATLANTA — Billionaire team owner Arthur Blank is thrilled with Atlanta’s showing during the World Cup.
So is FIFA, he said.
The Atlanta Falcons, United, and future NWSL team owner told reporters during Argentina’s 2-1 semifinal win over England on Wednesday that he met with FIFA leadership including president Gianni Infantino during the match. Blank said FIFA “couldn’t be more enthused, excited, supportive of what we’ve done here in Atlanta.”
“[Infantino] was kind enough to say to me, ‘After this is said and done, I’d love to come back to Atlanta, spend some time with you, talking about how we can continue to expand our relationship with FIFA,’” Blank said. “I said, ‘We’d be honored and privileged to do that.’”
Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which Blank opened in 2017, was widely ranked as one of the best venues of the World Cup, for which it hosted eight matches. The retractable “iris-style” roof forms an indoor stadium that was deafeningly loud on Wednesday. Fans enjoyed low prices at concessions stands because Atlanta refused to let FIFA jack up the costs as they did at other stadiums.
