If we were to grade Atlanta’s pro sports franchises from conception to present day, Atlanta United would be the kid who calmly sits in the front row of the classroom, shirt tucked in, eyes down in his book, while spitballs and paper airplanes are flying over his head.



They are, by any metric, way ahead of the curve.



They have made the MLS playoffs in both seasons of their existence and play the first leg of the conference finals Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against the New York Red Bulls. They have set league attendance records, recording the eight largest crowds in MLS history. Forbes magazine has estimated the franchise’s value at $330 million, the highest of 23 clubs, and reports the team accounts for one-quarter of all merchandise and swag sales.



To recap: They win. They’re worth more than anybody else. Everybody wears Josef Martínez and Miguel Almirón jerseys. Owner Arthur Blank hasn’t been this happy since that...