The long-rumored marriage between Spanish power FC Barcelona and the city of Miami is set to move one step closer to becoming reality.
The Miami Herald is reporting that Barcelona will formally apply for an MLS expansion team in Miami. The news comes the day before the MLS deadline for prospective ownership groups to apply for one of the two expansion slots to be filled by 2011.
Count me among the people who like the idea of a team in Miami. I know there is concern about the fact that the Miami Fusion failed, but it is pretty clear that an ownership group including FC Barcelona would have the financial and soccer business acumen to make MLS in Miami a success.
What do you think of the possibility of an MLS team in Miami? Share your thoughts below.
I suggest reading some of the posts.
I have not read the other posts but I wonder why Ives do think this is a good idea? What can Barcelona do in that market that will actually work? Will this market actually support a 1st division franchise? Is there strong interest from a large portion of the South Florida community? The only team there that appears to get storng support down there is the Heat.
Wascfan – thanks for the reality check. I’m going on as if Miami has the team already! There’s some great cities on that list. Who knows how this is going to turn out.
Brant – for what it’s worth i thought it was pretty funny. We can use that for the fans in the “fancy” seats.
Tom P – I AM typical South Florida and PROUD to be so. Your contempt for the area weakens all your arguments. We will have to just have to disagree. The future will provide the answer (which I will venture to guess lies between my optimism and your cynism). I wish you good luck in Dallas.
Miami wouldn’t be my first choice, then again I’m not putting up the money for an expansion franchise.
Those who have the financial backing and the soccer accumen will be the ones who truly “deserve” a team. A soccer friendly stadium is a plus.
I think MLS will be a 20 or 22 team league by 2016 as long as “the game’s” integrity continues to move forward. Soccer people will spend the money and throw their support behind a solid product.
It doesn’t mean MLS has to equal EPL, but that MLS needs to continue to focus on the Football, Futbol, Soccer part of the business.
So far we have these official bids, if the Miami rumor is true.
2011 Official Bids (alphabetical, not likely hood):
Atlanta
Miami
Montreal
New York(2)
Ottawa
Portland
Vancouver
Betinho- there is one thing we can be sure of: you won’t be going to the games because:
1. it will be too hot
2. there will be lines on the field
3. The talent isn’t equal to your expectations
4. it rains too much.
5. there is an accident on the 836
7. Combebol qualifiers are on the TV that night.
etc etc.
You will ove it and support right up to the moment you have to put your money where your mouth is. You my friend are typical South Florida.
Lastly- a failed franchise is the worst thing for the MLS and this is exactly what this will end up being so don’t act like you care about the future of the MLS. I spent this whole summer working on a project in Barcelona when these rumours first came out in Spain. My Barcelona freinds, who know Miami well because I work for a spanish firm based in Barcelona and with Latin American offices here, agreed that this would be a disaster for the MLS – not Barcelona because they would just right it off after 3 years.
LastLast thing- we are moving the offices to Dallas and Panama from here because Miami is a lousy place to business.Its a city of shop keepers and bankers-nothing more.
So many other more deserving cities:
Portland
St. Louis
Vancouver and Montreal
New York Proper
then, maybe then, Miami
Man, I thought my “Barca Loungers” joke would’ve at least gotten a groan or two…
Mfree – It doesn’t have to be a weekend my friend! South Beach is as advertised every night.
And I don’t know who Real United is. I meant Real Madrid in the last post….
Tom p – ok so we’ve established you don’t like living where you live so that explains why you would hate on your own area possibly getting a team.
FIU is 30 minutes from South Beach on a Saturday. I do it every single Saturday. Most MLS games are – you guessed it – on a Saturday nights. So that would make the trip TO South Beach after the game, yes, 30 minutes too. So that argument is flawed.
Chivas went to a market with a lot of Mexicans. Mexicans have more than 1 team in there league. The assumption Mexicans who weren’t Chivaas fans would jump on board was flawed.
Real United are not playing on ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX. The average Ute doesn’t know who Real Madrid is. However the Spanish speaking major networks DO braodcast La Liga and many of the South and Latin American people living in Miami Dade have a passing knowledge of who FC Barcelona is,and to go even further, do not have a La Liga (or MLS) team they are already emotionally tied to.
So you see the Chivas, RSL argument is very flawed.
Where’s the cheapest least desirable real estate in South Florida? 1/4 on either side of 95.
I would venture to guess that the business model that was put forth isn’t really worried about the “gringo” turn out. So put that one away too. If they were the location would be elsewhere.
And friend, the Fusion were simply mismanaged. It’s that simple. I’m sorry you are grumpy about this. Take solice in the fact that one day you will be reunited with Ray Hudson and your Strikers buddies (Wilbon will probably be there too) in the great beyond and you can compare memoirs while the Miami MLS squad battle for hardware.
In the meantime stop hating on what could be a great thing for Miami and soccer in the USA.
This would be Amazing. How many talented young Argentinian players would like to both sow their wild oats in Miami and get on FC Barcelona’s radar. To quote Dwayne Wade, “Every weekend in Miami is like being in heaven”.
one problem i have is with location. Almost all of the other expansion teams will offer an immediate rivalry because of proximity to other teams (rivalry builds interest->attendance->profits), a team in miami is completely isolated
I hope that tomorrow also Wilpon will present the bid for NYC !!!
Maybe Real Madrid buys a New York franchise? They are often compared to the Yankees . . .
betinho – when I can sell my house I will.
Now don’t spend the rest of your evening being a Miami apoligist. Also read my latest post that basically one by one discounts any other points you made.
Ives,
“The reason why the Fusion failed is because of the place it was situated in. They put them in B.F.E (Butt F#$# Egypt) in the middle of REDNECK Ville. They put them next to trailer parks, Lockhard Stadium was near a dump of a neighberhood where there was not a big following. I live in Miami and it was a 45 minute drive to this dump. I know I should not say that when there are members of the Barra Brava that don’t even have a home and follow DC wherever they go. BUt dude, the place and area sucked it was a toilet bowl.I’m so happy to have the FC Miami Barcelona team now in Miami or in 2010 whenever.
I love it a team in my backyard.” Julio
Julio-
1. Hispanics live all over the 2 county area with more Argentians and Brazians in Broward then Dade County.
2. More Gringos went to Fusion games then any latin groups because they weren’t more interested in the European Leagues or the league in their home country.
3. It is 1 hour to FIU from easr Miami so unless you live in Kendall it is the same distance as Broward.
4. The Fusion Games were in a small stadium that became the rough blueprint for the soccer specific stadiums being built in MLS cities today.
5. I’d bet my last dollar that if the Barca Miami team had a 1st 2 years like RSL or Chivas you would never go to another game after year one.
6. The “dump of a neighorhood” were the Fusion played was 1/4 mile off I95 with plenty of parking and you didn’t have to worry about you car being robbed. It was also just 3 miles east of the turnpike – 95 and the turnpike beingh the only dependable north to south freeways for traffic in all of Southj Florida
7. Anyone who lives in South Florida knows the biggest bottleneck is going east to west and not north to south and FIU is way out in west Miami – roughly about an hour with no traffic from the bright lights of south beach so unless you want to hang out a botanica after the game and strangle chickens in an offering to Chango you still got to drive an hour to get anywhere of interest.
Arthur Blank’s bid gives me a lot of confidence in ATL’s chances. MLS would love to have an owner with his stripes. Now where the stadium winds up in this crazy metro area is another thing altogether. . . Bellwood Quarry gets my vote!
Seriously?
Disastrous Barcelona USA branding? Check.
Sharing a football-lines FieldTurf stadium? Check.
Not in the urban center? Check.
South Florida’s history of pro sports support? Check.
What about this doesn’t have utter disaster written all over it?
Tom P – nice one. That would be the pessimistic view of the place where we call home. Why don’t you move you and your wife somewhere else??? You couldn’t be more wrong. The Fusion were ill-promoted and I don’t know what you are talking about when you say Lockhardt is a nice stadium. I guess we differ in that respect. The same argument can be made about your hour drive south ans for the communities from the south driving north. And the communities you listed are much more numerous in Dade than in Broward and West Palm. About the Brazilians not going to see Romario. When was the last time you saw a Miami Fc commercial or heard one on the radio. This season was the first they did ANY promotion whatsoever. They banked on his name and Zinho’s to bring out the Brazilians to west Dade. Est Dade is not the haven of the Brazilian in Miami. The plan as written about by Michelle Kaufman (did you read the article?) puts the heart of the team exactly where it needs to be and you cannot under estimate the pull a Barca backed team would have.
Let’s make this next announcement a southern thing. ATL & Miami!!!
Welcome to MLS: Portland and Miami!
Let me tell you IVES and everyone on this board this is horrible idea. This city may be full of Hispanics-yes I live here and I am a Gringo- but no one here supports anything because they don’t feel a sense that this is their home. (Palm, Broward and Dade Counties are one continuous metro zone for all you not familiar with this area)
When the Fusion were here and I was a season ticket holder, no one came. They brought in Haitians, Jamaicans, Brazilians, Argentines, Columbians etc. and no one came. They played at a wonderful park that was excellent for soccer and no one came. It was also very family friendly and catered to all nationalities with its food, music etc. The only people who showed up regularly were the core 4000 from the days of the Strikers. PERIOD!!!!!
Putting the team in Miami will not make a difference. South Florida has the worst fans in America regardless of the sport. When Romario was playing with the USL team in Miami chasing the all time goal record they couldn’t draw 1000 fans. ROMARIO!!!! There are approx. 100,000 Brazilians living in 3 tri county area and no one came. And if you think those 4000 Striker fans are going to make the hour drive to Miami during rush hour then you got that wrong as well.
Miami/South Florida is like a very sexy yet stupid model: Plenty of going on the outside but no brains or heart at its core. It is also very trendy and non loyal and quickly moves on to the next new thing.
Barcelona will be looking for a new home in America within 3 years if this comes true. Mark my words.
PS- I am a diehard soccer fan who is fluent in Spanish, Married to a Columbian and has worked in Latin America for 20 years so don’t write me off as some crack pot gringo/cracker. I know this town and if this isn’t a fact ask the Marlins and how many baseball loving Cubans and Dominicans turn out every home game. It transcends ethnic and cultural roots and nationality- it is a culture all its own once you arrive in South Florida. It is a culture of not supporting anything because this is not there home and they take no sense of ownership period regardless of sport or anything else for that matter.
Shame on you EDB,
We know there are better leagues man, but don’t say it like that man. Second rate!??!?! Support your home grown league, it’s the only way it will grow to respectability. It is why I go to Miami FC games. La Liga or the EPL league all started somewhere…give it time.
i think it would be a mistake. They won’t draw well, so many other things to do in miami.. and with the high rollers there they dont want to see a second rate league, they will go to spain , italy or england if they want to catch a match
I passed three parks filled with kids and adults playing organized and pick up soccer games on my 5 mile drive home. I walked by the park across the street where there is a kids league and told them the news. They freaked. The parents started asking me questions, the coaches… it was great. No one needs to worry about attendence. With Barcelona behind the team it will get every soccer fan in Miami’s attention. I have to admit I would worry if Barca wasn’t involved. (But they are! woo hoo hee hee haa haa ho ho!)
I agree, the’re are many talented latino playes in Miami.
amen Julio!
As far as we know, Barca could very well be planning to build an indoor SSS, much like Pachuca has been discussing with Phoenix area cities for their proposed USL feeder team. The climate would certainly favor such a stadium.
I figured the “who” and the “what and why” was more of a “doubt we get it” deal.
Sure Blank has the money, but the fan support in all honesty just likely won’t be there. Plus, they’d prolly get rid of the Silverbacks, and I enjoy going to those games for 20 bucks, seeing attacking soccer, and just chillin out.
Geoff,
Dude you have no clue of what you are saying. In Miami when you win, they sell out stadiums. Marlins got burned by what the owner did to the fans, he had a freaking FIRE SALE and lied to everyone after the playoffs and World Series sold out. Miami Heat sold out during their run in 2006 and Phins sell out I don’t know what you are talking about. If you win they will show up, just ask the Florida Panthers during their “YEAR OF THE RAT” in 1996 when they went to the Stanley Cup, you could not get a ticket…a HOCKEY team…..so dude, get your stuff straight first when you want to Bash Miami..>BRRROOOOTTTHHHHHAAAA!!!!!!!
imagine the use of naturalized players in the futur of the USNT squad. why i say that.cause there’s a lot of latino and cararibean people who enjoy the game over there.the idea of putting a club in Miami is no a bad idea at all. I play soccer and i know people who can and can’t play soccer when they play on a soccer field. In florida there are a lot of young people who can really play the game and can bring skills, techniques and everything else.
I don’t know if the quality of soccer will suffer from the heat. I like to think that we played pretty well when we were at the U, Florida and FIU have pretty good teams and even Barry and FAU have decent sides. Once you get aclimated to it, it’s just a matter of knowing you need to stay hydrated. Though other teams might not do so well in this heat, but then again that’s all just part of home field advantage.
Ives,
The reason why the Fusion failed is because of the place it was situated in. They put them in B.F.E (Butt F#$# Egypt) in the middle of REDNECK Ville. They put them next to trailer parks, Lockhard Stadium was near a dump of a neighberhood where there was not a big following. I live in Miami and it was a 45 minute drive to this dump. I know I should not say that when there are members of the Barra Brava that don’t even have a home and follow DC wherever they go. BUt dude, the place and area sucked it was a toilet bowl.I’m so happy to have the FC Miami Barcelona team now in Miami or in 2010 whenever.
I love it a team in my backyard.
The location is right smack dab in the middle of the soccer loving community. The other sports in “Miami” try to ride the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale lines and alienate most of thier fans. It’s a hike from both cities to Dolphin Stadium. Sports teams here need to pick one a stick to it. This is perfect planning by the investment group. They’ve obviously done their homework.
@Jacob A.,
1. Yes. Atlanta put in a bid.
2. not sure how to answer the what
3. Arthur Blank
4. I assume b/c he can afford to and thinks he’ll make money doing it.
Has anyone looked to see where FIU plays their footbal games???
“As a result of construction begun March 2007, the FIU Stadium is undergoing an expansion for the 2008 football season. Upon completion, seating capacity is increased to 23,500, including 1,400 club seats. In addition, the stadium will have a 6,500 square-foot Panther Club, an upper concourse, a new press box, new lighting, a jumbotron scoreboard, new coaches’ offices, locker rooms, expansion of the weight room, and 19 suites. Seating will include chairback seats and bench seating, all with backrests for fan convenience. Additional phases of construction will include a student support complex and will bring the stadium’s seating capacity to approximately 45,000 by the 2010 football season”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIU_Stadium
That’s better than RFK, Gillete, and where ever the heck Houston plays. Whe are they getting SSSs?
No professional sports team does well in Miami. Even the Dolphins don’t sell out. The Marlins have won 2 World Series and they can’t get any fans. Barcelona USA will be no different. Montreal and Portland should be the next two by a million miles
From the Alanta Business Journal:
“Blank makes bid official for MLS team”
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/10/13/daily29.html?ana=from_rss
“Atlanta put in a bid? What? Who? Why?”
Arthur Blank – owner of Home Depot and the Atlanta Falcons… Wants to bring *real* football to Atlanta. Can’t wait for the Atlanta – Atlante game in the SuperLiga, either 🙂
And the death clock is set to strike on NYC2.
They are miles behind these other suitors and the new credit crunch sure as hell is bad news for a huge stadium cost in Queens right now.
Given the laid-back nature of Miami’s lifestyle, and the appalling heat in which the games’ll be played, can we name the team the Barca Loungers?
thankyou, thankyouverymuch… I’m here all week… please tip your waitresses…
Atlanta put in a bid? What? Who? Why?
People complain about the heat in the summer and list it as the top reason they don’t go to Marlins games. Why would they brave the extreme heat and humidity for MLS? Also, can you imagine how poor the quality of soccer would be if played in the Miami weather.
NO, NO, NO, NO
Well, when Barca come knocking on the door of a second tier league (and I’m trying to put that nicely) you can’t really say no. It’d be an even bigger coup than Chivas USA. Too bad for St. Louis, Portland, Vancouver and etc. if Miami, New York, Montreal and Las Vegas all make serious bids they’ve got no chance. Oh well, it’s not like this is the last time MLS will ever expand.
The Fusion failed here for a number of reasons.
1- Playing an hour north of Miami
2- A less than committed ownership group
3- The general sense MLS was an inferior league that Argentine and Brazilian fans didn’t want to patron.
The first two are addressed by playing at FIU near the ethnic communities and having Barca involved.
The third point however is still an issue and could be fatal to this whole thing sadly.
I like Barcelona being involved in MLS, but not sure about Miami. Seems even traditional American sports have trouble making money there (with the exception of the dolphins)
If they go ahead with FIU Stadium as their home, that means games in a 45,000 seat stadium.
This is how to turn MLS into a permanent third-rate league. Barca will undermine the league, not build it, esp. by treating it as a colonial outpost. Time to re-declare US and Canadian Independence.
I love Barca, but my #1 loyalty is to the Galaxy and that won’t change. Miami == Bad. They can’t support baseball! Not the greatest support for their other sports either. I don’t think this is a good idea at all. I’d much rather see Portland, St. Louis, Vancouver, Montreal, and NYC2 before Miami.