Atlanta Blaze

On August 7, 2015, the MLL granted an expansion franchise to Atlanta, Georgia for the 2016 MLL season. The league had previously held several games there before including the 2014 and 2015 championship games which drew 8,149 and 8,674 people (the latter is a Steinfeld Cup record). The league suspended the Blaze for the 2020 season.^[1]

The Blaze hosted the first game in franchise history on Saturday, April 23, 2016 against the storied Chesapeake Bayhawks. Kevin Rice scored the first goal in franchise history only 44 seconds into the game, and Conrad Oberbeck scored 14 seconds later as Atlanta took a 6-0 lead to start the game. Despite the great start, the Blaze were not able to finish it out and lost 16-13 in front of 4,145 fans. After losing in Boston, the Blaze came back home on May 14 where they smoked the Denver Outlaws for their first win in franchise history by a score of 23-12.^[2]

The rest of the Blaze's first year included some very questionable moves. On June 14, the Blaze traded their top draft pick, Myles Jones, to the Bayhawks after Jones had only played two games for the Blaze.^[3] On July 21, the team released Hall of Fame head coach John Tucker and replaced him with assistant coach David Huntley after a 3-7 start. The Blaze finished their inaugural season in eighth place at 4-10, ahead of only the Florida Launch. Former Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers executive Jim Pfeifer was named the team's new president on December 29.^[4]

In 2017, the Blaze returned much more competitive. The team still had playoff hopes as they entered the second-to-last week of the regular season, but a loss to the Rochester Rattlers eliminated them. However, they were still able to post an improved 6-8 record. Highlights from the season included a 17-4 drubbing of the Florida Launch on July 1, playing in their first Fourth of July game in Denver, and Kevin Rice becoming the first Atlanta Blaze player to score 100 points in a Blaze uniform.^{[citation needed]}

On December 18, 2017, Blaze coach Dave Huntley died at the age of 60.^[5] Former MLL player Liam Banks was named the Blaze's third head coach.

Before the 2018 Collegiate Draft on April 18, MLL commissioner Sandy Brown announced the league had approved the sale of the Blaze to Andre Gudger, founder and CEO of technology and investment company Eccalon.^[6] This came five months after former owner Peter Trematerra sold the team back to the league, a move that also included a lawsuit.^[7]

The 2018 summer season was the best season that the Blaze had since their inception, posting a 7-7 record. They were one win away from their first playoff berth, but lost to the Denver Outlaws on the final week of the season to be eliminated.^[8]

During this season they had to move to Atlanta Silverbacks Park because their Grady Stadium was being renovated.

After, they ceased operations and were relocated to Philadelphia as the second incarnation of the Philadelphia Barrage.^[9]

Despite drawing near sellouts for the 2014 and 2015 Steinfeld Cup championship games, the Blaze have so far failed to draw similar numbers for their home games.^[10]

2019 Atlanta Blaze
No.	Name	Nation­ality	Position	Height	Weight	College
3	Alex Woodall		FO	6 ft 0 in	215 lbs	Towson
6	Carlson Milikin		DM	6 ft 0 in	195 lbs	Notre Dame
10	Colton Jackson		M	6 ft 1 in	200 lbs	Denver
11	Chris Madalon		G	6 ft 3 in	210 lbs	North Carolina
12	Joe Reid		M	6 ft 0 in	210 lbs	Denver
21	Liam Byrnes		D	6 ft 3 in	195 lbs	Marquette
24	Brendan Sunday		M	6 ft 5 in	200 lbs	Towson
26	Christian Mazzone		M	5 ft 9 in	165 lbs	Rutgers
29	Brock Turnbaugh		G	5 ft 11 in	195 lbs	Johns Hopkins
30	William Nowesnick		D	6 ft 5 in	200 lbs	Salisbury
31	Chad Toliver		M	6 ft 1 in	200 lbs	Rutgers
32	Shayne Jackson		A	5 ft 9 in	175 lbs	Limestone
33	Matt Whitcher		M	6 ft 3 in	200 lbs	York
41	Dylan Gaines		D	6 ft 2 in	205 lbs	Denver
43	Erik Evans		D	6 ft 4 in	203 lbs	Ohio State
44	Fred Freibott		LSM	6 ft 0 in	200 lbs	Ohio State
45	Leo Stouros		LSM	6 ft 1 in	185 lbs	Colgate
55	Bryan Cole		M	6 ft 3 in	175 lbs	Maryland
59	David Manning		D	6 ft 3 in	210 lbs	Loyola
83	Randy Staats		A	6 ft 2 in	200 lbs	Syracuse
84	Tommy Palasek		A/M	5 ft 11 in	185 lbs	Syracuse
91	TJ Comizio		DM	5 ft 10 in	165 lbs	Villanova
99	Dylan Maher		A	5 ft 10 in	180 lbs	Dickinson

• As of May 10, 2019^[update]

Rookie of the Year

• Alex Woodall: 2019

Defensive Player of the Year

• Liam Byrnes: 2019

David Huntley Man of the Year

• Scott Ratliff: 2018