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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. 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Wholesale Penguins Jerseys . -- Kevin Stadler might be playing in the Masters for the first time, but hes already showing his old man a thing or two. HOUSTON -- This is exactly what the Houston Astros were looking for when they signed Scott Feldman over the winter. Feldman tossed seven innings of one-run ball, and the Astros stopped a three-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. "I just tried to go out and make my pitches," Feldman said. "The guys went out and got some early runs for me again. From there, just trying to throw strikes and not walk many guys." Feldman (2-0), who signed a $30 million, three-year contract in December, allowed three hits and walked two in his second start of the season. He also pitched 6 2-3 scoreless innings in a victory over the New York Yankees on opening day. He became one of four pitchers in Astros history to go at least 6 2-3 innings in his first two starts while allowing one run or less, joining Roger Clemens, Robin Roberts and Dean Stone. "Hes been outstanding," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "Again, giving us the start that he did today, obviously, we needed it with the bullpen getting taxed the last couple days. He gave us seven solid innings the way he did today was outstanding." Chad Qualls got two outs for his first save of the season. The Astros hit five homers. Jason Castro, Matt Dominguez, Jesus Guzman and Alex Presley connected against Jered Weaver (0-2), and Jonathan Villar added a two-run shot in the seventh off Matt Shoemaker. Feldman did not allow a hit until Josh Hamiltons two-out dribbler in the fourth went under the glove of the pitcher, who charged at it off the mound. He allowed his first run in 11 1-3 innings this season in the fifth on Erick Aybars groundout to second that made it 4-1. Feldman said he did not have great command of his pitches, but his curveball was there throughout the game. Castro, Feldmans batterymate, said the pitcher was helped by early run support. "Any time we can put some runs up and then shut them out is huge moving forward," Castro said. "It keeps the momentum on our side. We were able to keep putting the pressure on the offence and he just kept doing his job coming out putting up zeroes." Castro hit a two-run shot off the left-centre facade in the ffirst, and Dominguez, Guzman and Presley had solo homers in the second, fourth and fifth, respectively.dddddddddddd "We had some good swings on some pitches and the ball went out of the park," Presley said. "We had seven hits and five were home runs. Thats a pretty good percentage. Its something you dont see every day, and we took advantage of it." Weaver allowed five runs and five hits with six strikeouts over 5 2-3 innings. It was the third time that he had allowed four homers in a game and the first since Aug. 2, 2008, against the New York Yankees. "I made a couple of mistakes and they did not miss them, obviously," Weaver said. "You know you are going to have games like that, but it is frustrating personally to start the year off like this. I have a bunch more to go, so I am just going to shake this one off and start thinking about who weve got next." Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said he thought Weaver struggled with his command at times. "He threw some good pitches and located some good fastballs," Scioscia said. "As the game went on, his changeup became part of what he was doing and had some success with it. But, just from the get-go he was having problem with commanding counts and repeating pitches, and he got behind." Raul Ibanez cut Houstons lead to 7-3 with a two-run single in the ninth against Anthony Bass, and Howie Kendrick followed with another base hit. Qualls got Hank Conger to fly out before Aybar had a run-scoring single. Qualls then struck out Kole Calhoun to end it. Houstons five homers were its highest total since it hit five at the Chicago White Sox last Aug. 26. NOTES: Houston OF Dexter Fowler was out of the lineup for a third straight game due to a stomach virus. Fowler spent Friday night at Methodist Hospital and was released Saturday. Porter said Fowler was at home resting. ... Castro returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games with a bruise on his right foot. ... "A Haunted House 2" star Marlon Wayans threw out the first pitch. ... The Astros will send RHP Jarred Cosart (1-0) to the mound in the finale of the four-game series Monday against LHP C.J. Wilson (0-1) for the Angels. ' ' '