Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced on Wednesday that Atlanta has been awarded the league's 22nd team, the culmination of six years of courtship between the league and the one of the nation's most diverse and influential markets.

The expansion team -- which will begin play in the 2017 season -- will be owned by Arthur Blank, the co-founder of The Home Depot and the owner of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. A state-of-the-art retractable roof stadium in downtown Atlanta will house both the Falcons and the new MLS franchise, and is expected to host more than 29,000 fans for soccer matches upon its completion.

"We are thrilled to welcome Atlanta to Major League Soccer as our 22nd team," Garber said in a statement. "Atlanta is one of the largest and most diverse markets in North America and has a rich tradition in sports and culture."