Yes, fast growing trees are usually weak wooded. Why an Autumn Blaze maple though? they are so main stream. Just about everyone has one.
If you really want to impress and get some oohs and aahs I recommend Nyssa sylvatica 'wildfire' (black gum) or Oxydendrum arboreum (sourwood).
The fall coloration on these trees is off the charts..you need sunglasses to view these because they will burn your cornea.
-Both are slow growers but will last hundreds of years and will never break in wind or snow.
check out
=http://www.nichegardens.com/catalog/list.php?type=tree for the sourwood and http://www.soonerplantfarm.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=2006 for the gum (only 3 gall available)

Autumn Blaze is so commonly planted because it works. The biggest practical concern has to be that with sooooooo many clones around eventually a disease or bug will come along and kill em. Ask the neighborhoods full of ash in Ohio if thats an impossibility.

Second is even though Autumn blaze is beautiful they are soooo common. I own both wildfire and a sourwood btw lol.

Stack, you certainly have sufficient room there for an AB-or for any full-sized shade tree. I like this tree just fine. As the other gentlemen have pointed out, it has become ubiquitous. The only knock I've got against it is that it's not exactly a "plant it and forget about it" kind of tree, simply because for best results, considerable structural pruning should be done in its youth. It has a propensity towards narrow crotch angles and these are often weak points in the tree later on when limbs get large and heavy. "Subordination pruning" is the answer but not every guy with a saw knows what that is.

For my part, I like the idea of genetic variability. As such, I'm into species, not just named cultivars which are clones. But ironically enough, it is harder to find straight species of many, uh, species than it is to find named cultivars!

Some kind of oak could be a good idea there too and they don't grow as slowly as you will sometimes hear. I put two swamp white oak whips in my folks yard oh, eight or ten years ago, and they're nice good-sized trees already.

One final point-the oft-heard rule that fast-growing tree=weak-wooded tree is true among broadleaved deciduous trees. But while you're not asking about conifers at present, that rule breaks down quickly within that class of trees. Out west for example, there's this tree called the redwood. Grows very fast, lasts a thousand years or more! There are similar though less dramatic examples throughout the conifer kingdom.

+oM

Thanks for the responses. As for why the AB, I guess there isn't any reason other than someone suggested it after I said I was looking for a somewhat fast growing tree that would provide shade in the front yard and have great fall color. Also, it's going to be in full sun all day and in soil with a high clay content. I'm right outside Milwaukee.

I'm open to any and all suggestions, and greenthumbzdude, I am loving the Black Gum! My only concern is that it's slow growing. I'm trying to not have unrealistic demands, but at the same time, I'm not going to be around in hundreds of years to appreciate the full beauty of it.

wisconsitom, thanks for letting me know about the structural pruning that needs to be done. That really isn't something that I'm interested in doing, so I guess AB is not the tree for me.

Other suggestions?

The sycamore might be the only exception of the fast=weak axiom for broadleaves

Any thoughts on a Katsura? I just came across this one.

Stack,
Can't say what it would do in your area, however our Blackgum is growing ~18-22"/yr for seed grown tree. I have seen one in the local botanical garden in a wide well mulched area grow as much as 3+' in one season. Also I have seen reports that Wildfire Blackgum is significantly faster growing that typical seed grown trees.

Also look into Shumard and Nuttall Oaks. Both can grow remarkable fast and don't mind clay soil at all. Northern Red Oak in another rather fast growing Oak that should be fine in clay soil as long as it does not stay waterlogged.

Tulip Tree, and Dawns Redwood Metasequoia are also fast growing long lived trees. Bonfire Sugar Maple is fast growing for a Sugar Maple.

In fact most trees are perfectly happy on clay soil as long as it drains reasonable.

All trees will grow best if provided with a wide well mulched area around their base. I am currently widening my mulch rings for this reason, as I have seen the impact locally that it can have.

Take a look at these, and see what you think. If you would like more ideals, then come back and we will help you.

Arktrees

the few Katsuras I have seen in pictures are just phenomenal. I am going to plant several in my garden. Looking forward to it. Apparently they are quite fast growers