New Falcons Stadium Naming Rights Reportedly Purchased by Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz already has a major presence in the NFL due to its partnership with the New Orleans Saints, and it is reportedly set to make another big splash by acquiring the naming rights to the Atlanta Falcons' new stadium.  

According to Don Muret of Sports Business Daily, the luxury car line will have its name attached to the Falcons' venue when it opens in 2017. The organization is expected to make the agreement official Monday.

This report comes nearly two weeks after Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay revealed that a naming rights deal was imminent, per Dave Williams of the Atlanta Business Chronicle: "We'll make that announcement ... any time now."

The Falcons have played at the Georgia Dome since 1992, but they will move into a more modern facility in two years along with the MLS expansion club Atlanta United FC, which is scheduled to begin play in 2017.

Landing a sponsor with the cachet of Mercedes-Benz is certainly a major coup for the Falcons, but it creates an interesting dynamic since the NFC South rival Saints already play in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

As pointed out by Lyons Yellin of WWL-TV in New Orleans, that could kick their rivalry into another gear:

Terms of the potential deal between the Falcons and Mercedes-Benz have yet to be announced, but the company's contract with the Saints is worth upward of $10 million per year, according to Keith Levy of Forbes.com.

The Falcons' stadium is an extremely costly endeavor at $1.5 billion, so the new deal with Mercedes-Benz promises to alleviate at least some of the financial burden shouldered by owner Arthur Blank.

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