Southern Supporters Group BOSS Launches Website

A few weeks ago the Brotherhood of Southern Soccer (BOSS) officially launched their website. BOSS is a soccer supporters group founded with the aim of bringing more professional soccer to the south with a strong focus on bringing MLS to Atlanta.

In an email interview, I spoke with BOSS spokesman Will Clearman about the group's goals and origins.

"...This is a grassroots group that was started by true southern soccer fans. We all firmly believe that in order for MLS to grow, it is absolutely necessary for the league to gain a presence in the southeast and with Arthur Blank (NFL Atlanta Falcons owner) considering an MLS investment, Atlanta currently provides us with the best chance to see top class soccer..."

Will laid out the group's goals to:

1. Bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Atlanta and act as the base for the formation of Atlanta's first MLS supporters group.
2. Demonstrate Atlanta's potential as an MLS market to both Major League Soccer and to potential investors by enlisting the support of Atlanta's many soccer fans from multiple ethnic backgrounds.
3. Unify the Southeast's soccer fan base into one collective voice to advance the development of soccer, and Major League Soccer, not just in Atlanta, but in the entire region.
4. Provide potential owners and investors with a direct line of communication to the metro area fan base and to provide Atlanta soccer fans the mean to voice their support for the movement.

He goes on to say,

"[BOSS is] as much a movement as an organization, we will rally support for the cause of southern soccer while organizing the already strong base of local soccer fans into one voice to proclaim our preparedness and collective will to bring a franchise home and will continue to pursue our goals until they are achieved. "

If you are interested in joining the group, visit the Join BOSS page on the website.

Southern MLS Expansion Links

Here are some recent articles about MLS expansion in the south:

Fans Wanting MLS In Atlanta Keep The Faith This article about a new supporters group called the Brotherhood of Southern Soccer (BOSS).

Following the example of the Sons of Ben, who successfully organized Philadelphia soccer enthusiasts and eventually influenced enough of the right people to have an MLS expansion team awarded to Philadelphia, BOSS intends to gather soccer fans from the south to show the powers that be in the MLS that the south can support and truly deserves a team or multiple teams in the top flight.

BOSS is currently working on a webpage, but has a Facebook page with around 200 members.


Soccer In The South: Where Atlanta Went Wrong

This article discusses why Atlanta may not be the best place in the south for MLS expansion and mentions the success of Chattanooga FC as a reason that a smaller market may be better suited.

MLS Expansion: TV Must Be The Key

Very interesting article from a few weeks back, where the author argues that TV exposure is vital to the league's health and that expanding to Miami or adding another team in New York will increase that exposure.

Lastly...

I'll leave you with this quote from MLS Commissioner Don Garber from a recent interview,

"We need a team south of DC. Where that is and when that comes we don’t know today – but I have always said it is a ‘when’ not an ‘if’. I don’t know when that ‘when’ is though."