I've seen the argument made several different places that MLS is "overtaking" MLB and the NBA due to average game attendance numbers. I don't think that's fair, bc Atl United (btw, i also think it's stupid that more than one city has the same team name, but I chalk that up to the commie "sharing" nature of soccer) plays 17-18 home games this year. That means a fan only has 18 chances to see its team over a season. I'll be impressed when they average 40-50 thousand plus while playing a 41-81 home game schedule. Right now, the only team they're outdrawing is the Jackets, and that worries me....
The number of games is definitely a fair point. That said, I don't think anyone here is arguing that MLS has overtaken MLB or NBA, just pointing out that MLS attendance numbers are increasingly competitive in the US sports landscape as shown by comparing those averages. TV ratings for MLS are still way behind. Also, if your bar for being impressed with Atlanta United's attendance is 40-50k per game over 41-81 home game schedules, that is quite a bar (and ultimately unprovable). The Hawks only average 17k over 41 games and the Braves 25k over 81 games. Not sure how Atlanta United is not outdrawing them so far, given that they have sold out both games and have averaged 50k. I am sure that will drop, but I do expect it to remain competitive. (FWIW, the Seattle Sounders have averaged in the mid-40 thousands in attendance for years. Also, most MLS stadiums are smaller than 30k, which is common for international soccer stadiums, so most teams could never average that much.)
As for team names, the team name is not "United FC." It is "Atlanta United FC." While generic, there is only one of those. In contrast, good thing there is only 1 "Bulldogs" in college football (there are 15), or "Eagles" (also 15), or "Tigers" (there are 12), or "Wildcats" (9), etc. Lol.