Miami-Barcelona Expansion & Bid Discussion Part 2

I don't think this is a surprise to anyone that follows sports at all. People in Miami just don't attend sporting events. The Dolphins have to be good for people to show, the Marlins had tons of empty seats during the NL Pennant, the only reason people went to Heat games was Shaq. It's just not a good sports town. It's too hot to just go sit around outside for 3 hours when there is AC inside and if they are outside they're going to be outside doing something in the water.

 

Please direct to me an exact quote in the articles that shows Claure/Barca are rethinking their bid due to low interest in season ticket sign ups. I must have missed that part.

 

What happens when only a few hundred people show up instead of 40,000?

Seriously though. What will they do? Have Barca come over to play a friendly against some other MLS club in Dolphin Stadium and they tell the Barca players to make it look close so all the foreigners in Miami will see that the MLS is just as good as Serie A?

Look, their USL squad only draws 1700 a game. They're the worst draw in the USL. Nothing is going to change the fact that Miami just isn't a sports town let alone a soccer town.

 

And, as a Timbers fan, you're able to be completely objective right?

 

Definitely could be the case. If the economy in the U.S. is truly 100% the issue, then what are Barca "negotiating" about? And if Barca are not investing money into the team, only personnel and expertise, then what is this "financial risk" they are talking about?

It sounds like there's cold feet from some or all of Barca, Claure and MLS HQ - the economy talk is pure spin and not hard to see through.

 

Exactly. It also is very suspicious that they are releasing this statement now, when Garber is in Barcelona, taking into account that the economic crisis has been apparent for some time now. It doesn't make sense that they were suddenly, in the last week, blindsided by the economic crisis. This is most certainly a part of the negotiation.

Garber wants this to happen and it is now up to Barcelona and Claure to make it happen. They will close the deal.

 

Well, the season ticket sales would one of the last possible causes for whether this plan can be implemented in Miami (in this situation). Claure's comments about the possible disappointing season ticket situation were a long time ago and the ticket reservations have been up for some time now. Meanwhile, Barcelona had not made such a comment, on the contrary, they released statements showing their willingness to get the team. I really don't see how that has much bearing on this statements.

 

Yep, exactly. It sounds like somewhere along the line Barca may have been asked to put a little more than just their name and prestige on the line, and now are saying wait a minute. Otherwise, I'm not sure what financial risks they are so concerned about? Claure is supposed to be footing the entire $40m fee, and the stadium is pretty close to rent free. Are Barca being asked to pay player, coach, staff, etc salaries? Are they being asked to pay a huge salary for a DP player? Who knows, but something other than just "the economy blows ass" is afoot. I hope Claure comes out with his own press release soon.

 

This appeared in today's Broward edition of the Herald (Saturday) on the sports front beneath the fold. Guess it is now official.

IMvhO, this is not necessarily the kiss of death, but it sure isn't the best news I've heard about MiamiMLS. I have the feeling that after the Marlins stadium fiasco Barca is beginning to get a taste of the politics involved in trying to get anything done in the Magic City, especially as it pertains to sports. That, and the possibility that they may now have to ante up some $$$ to get this team on the field. Althought Barca's name and rep may add glitter to the bid, I'd still feel better if it was a local effort involving Claure & a few other local jillionaires to finance and found the team with a commitment to Miami & the rest of South Florida, and not be doing it to spread someone else's "brand" onto foreign turf.

As I've mentioned a few times - this is a done deal when MLS says it's a done deal, not one second before. Anyone that thinks otherwise is a fool. Simple assertions from some unknown source won't do. I've had my heart broken too many times by local pro sports teams - especially soccer - to beleive something that is not official. And then just barely.

As ever, we'll see what we'll see when MLS & others let us see it. Now, more than ever, we might not like what they show us.

Awaiting the inevitable announcement, whenever it is done, whatever it says.

 

Barcelona's Miami MLS expansion bid in jeopardy


Doesnt sound too promising. Guess we will find out next month.

 

This blogger hasn't given up hope, tough.

http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/miami-bid-far-from-dead/2132

 

It ain't over, until it's over. And even then, Schwarzenegger says: I'LL BE BACK! It ain't over until fat lady sings, and I have radio turned on in my room, and I hear no fat ladies, just some anorexic voices.

Still, big question is would Claure go on his own without FCB or not. Claure has it all, and doesn't need no help. He's got the money, the passion and the knowledge (he's in the business, he owns a club in Bolivia). They say about Barcelona that we are Messi-dependant, the best in the world with him, but useless without him. It ain't true, btw. If Barca really bails out, which there is still a high possibility it won't, let's see if Claure is Barca-dependant.

 

Actually what we need is bigger partnership like they got in Seatle (NFL Owner + USL owner + big corporate owner + drew carey + whoever else) We need to reach out to Traffic and to owners in other leagues AND keep Barça. That would make our bid a lock.

 

Dwyane Wade would put us over the top, but I dont see him as the soccer type.

 

Well, if im not mistaken, wasn't somebody on this blog reporting he had a soccer jersey in his locker, when he was being interviewed? I believe it was a Chelsea, or Tottenham jersey??

 

Then I might very well be mistaken, but if thats true, that makes me like Wade ever more then I do now.