[3] Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank's AMB Sports and Entertainment Group had submitted a bid for an expansion franchise in 2008,[4] but withdrew the bid in early 2009 due to state and local government budget shortfalls and Blank's inability to find partners to build an appropriate stadium for the proposed team.

[5] On July 10, 2010, Dan Courtemanche, MLS's executive vice president of communications, said that despite the bid withdrawal, regular discussions with Blank regarding Atlanta's potential as an expansion market were occurring.

[8] In May 2012, while the Falcons' proposed new stadium was going through the approval process, MLS commissioner Don Garber cited Atlanta as one of three "intriguing" markets for future league expansion.

[12] Dan Courtemanche said, "We are big believers in the Atlanta market," and cited the city's growing Hispanic population and corporations that could serve as its sponsors.

[12] Atlanta remained at the top of the list for an MLS expansion team, as Garber, in the December 2013 MLS State of the League address, emphasized that it was a goal to continue to expand in the Southeast, and added, "if we can continue to advance our discussions positively with Arthur [Blank] and the [Atlanta] Falcons, we hope to be able to get a situation finalized so that could potentially be our second team.

[22] On March 18, 2017, the team registered its first win at home, beating Chicago Fire, who went down to ten men in the eleventh minute, 4–0 in front of a sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium.

[citation needed] The win also allowed Martino, who had announced earlier in the season that he would not return for the 2019 campaign, to end his two-year tenure on a high note.

Following their elimination from the MLS is Back Tournament, De Boer and Atlanta United mutually agreed to end his relationship with the club.

[citation needed] At the end of 2020, former Argentina international defender Gabriel Heinze signed a two-year contract to be the next head coach.

[30] During the offseason prior to the 2021 MLS season, Atlanta United brought in 9 new players including Santiago Sosa and veteran striker Lisandro López.

[33] On April 13, Atlanta United beat Costa Rican side Alajuelense 2–0 on aggregate to advance to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.

[citation needed] In their largest home defeat to date, they lost the first leg of the quarterfinals to Philadelphia Union on April 27, 2021, by a score of 3–0.

[citation needed] On July 18, Atlanta United announced the firing of head coach Gabriel Heinze, after the team hit a club-record eight-game winless streak, with only two wins out of their first thirteen games of the 2021 MLS season.

[citation needed] On November 7, Atlanta United clinched a spot in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs after a 2–1 victory over FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium.

[citation needed] Atlanta United finished 6th in the Eastern Conference in the 2022 season and were knocked out in Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs by the Columbus Crew.

[citation needed] On June 3, 2024, Atlanta United announced the firing of head coach Gonzalo Pineda, after the team lost a club-record 5 consecutive home matches.

They also sold Giorgos Giakoumakis and Caleb Wiley, which resulted in Atlanta United having over $50 million to spend in the summer transfer window.

[38] Atlanta United finished ninth in the eastern conference, allowing the team to qualify for the wild card round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.

[42] On February 4, 2025, Atlanta United announced the signing of Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough for a reported $22 million with a contract through 2028 with an option for 2029 and would occupy a designated player spot on the roster.

[70] However, the results of an environmental and geotechnical feasibility study found that the site on Memorial Drive was unfeasible, and in November 2015 plans for the facility were canceled.

[74][75] Although the club sought a balanced home-and-away schedule during their spell at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta United did not play any home matches from March 19 to April 29 to avoid conflicts with the Yellow Jackets' spring football scrimmages.

[91][92] On March 11, 2018, the team broke the league single-match attendance record for the third time, selling 72,035 tickets for their 2018 season home opener against D.C.

[97] During their inaugural season, Atlanta United introduced a ritual called the Golden Spike in a nod to the city's railroad history.

[98][99] Local celebrities that took part in the Golden Spike tradition during 2017 included hip hop artists 2 Chainz, Yung Joc, and Waka Flocka, as well as country musician Zac Brown, retired Atlanta Braves star Andruw Jones, and Atlanta basketball players Tiffany Hayes and Dennis Schröder.

[110] 2019 saw celebrities such as wrestling legend Ric Flair,[111] Hollywood icon Ron Howard,[112] hip hop group Goodie Mob,[113] and basketball star Dikembe Mutombo[114] participate in the tradition.

It is a component of AMB Sports & Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Blank Family of Businesses that also includes the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

"Atlanta United aims to recognize that from the very beginning, the fans, the city, and the people define the spirit and essence of this club," the team explained in the official statement regarding the number's dedication.

[120] Rights to all Atlanta United FC first team matches not broadcast by MLS' national television partners were originally held by Bally Sports.

Starting in 2021, former MLS midfielder Maurice Edu was the color commentator, with Jillian Sakovits serving as the pre- and post-game show host and sideline reporter from 2018 to 2022.

[citation needed] Rights to Atlanta United 2 matches were held by ESPN as part of the USL's broadcast agreement until ATL UTD 2 joined MLS Next Pro in 2023.