Miami MLS Stadium News thread

You're wrong. They're better than croutons.

 

All depends on the flavor

 

Orlando City's new site for it's downtown stadium, they did say it was downtown right?

 

Ha! Well...that literally is their downtown. Orlando really is just one giant suburb.

 

Given the information that is starting to come out on Sacramento, could it be that MLS/Garber is starting to prefer Sacramento and Minnesota over Miami? In other words, you were right that Garber's statement took away leverage, but not necessarily because he doesn't know how to negotiate.

I'm sure MLS "wants" the Miami market for its size and allure, but the situation needs to be near ideal.

 

Beckham Backer Moving, But Focus Still On MLS Team In Miami:

Beckham United said in a statement: "We've always known that Marcelo Claure is one of South Florida's brightest minds and we are fortunate to have him on our team as we work to bring professional soccer to Miami. Marcelo's passion for the sport of soccer, coupled with his love for Miami, are two of the reasons why we have identified the city as our top target. Marcelo and David remain committed to bringing South Florida fans what they want and deserve: a world class MLS team."

Beckham's other main investor in the MLS team is Fuller, creator of "American Idol" and former manager of the Spice Girls.

All of their international celebrity has so far failed to trump Miami politics in securing a stadium site. Since the group's first two choices were shot down, there has been some discussion with officials in Broward County, but Miami-Dade remains the primary focus.

A week ago, MLS Commissioner Don Garber reiterated that priority in an interview with ESPN, saying, "We remain focused on a downtown Miami location, and we will not expand to Miami unless we have a downtown site for the stadium."

Claure has spoken out against a site adjacent to Marlins Park in Little Havana, which some Miami-Dade officials now favor.

Beckham United said in a statement: "I think they're looking at Miami from the standpoint that Miami is becoming more of an urban city," Schwartz said. "It's got to be the right site and it's got to be the right deal. And most importantly, it's got to be accessible and something that is going to be conducive for the fans. That's what they're trying to pull off.

"They're getting a lot of proposals, there are a lot of opportunities out there, and they are doing what they have to do to make the right choice. Hopefully they'll be able to work it out."

Article: http://touch.sun-sentinel.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-81014016/

 

So your theory is that MLS wants Miami but Garber could be intentionally damaging the leverage Beckham had?

 

CEO of Sprint? If anything, the ownership group has now become more prestigious.

 

Can you see it now? Sprint on the front of the jerseys? I also want to be the first team with more than one sponsor on their jerseys, but not exaggerated either in the sense of the sponsor being on every corner of the jersey but atleast on the front maybe one on the back and that's it maybe a small one on the sleeve... Just saying I want to be different than other teams in the MLS.

 

The theory is that MLS wants Miami but they won't bend over backwards for us. They can play hardball and use Miami as leverage against other markets and vice versa.

 

And Claure has been pursuing MLS in Miami for a long time now. It WILL happen, only a matter of where and when now.

 

That's the ticket. Especially considering the $25M price tag, Garber, and MLS, are not going to settle for something decent if other solid markets put forth something phenomenal and pay full price.

 

It might help if they help their leverage. Leverage doesn't do you much good if it isn't succeeding. The other cities won't see it as a threat if it is going nowhere.
I agree that they are using Miami as leverage against other cities, but I don't agree that Garber is intentionally trying to screw Beckham's leverage in Miami, because he doesn't want it to succeed (like someone suggested). I think he is doing that out of his own lack of intelligence.
(this is more times than I have typed the word "leverage" than in the rest of my life combined)

 

I mean, this is really it. It's pretty straightforward. Come to the league with a MUCH better stadium location and Miami is in. When you have ultra competitive and impressive expansion bids like Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Minneapolis....all with downtown (urban core) stadium sites in mind and in play, it just underscores the point that Miami needs to come stronger and step their game up.

 

Did you just say Garber isn't intelligent?

 

I said he had lack of intelligence in this instance...yes.
Do I think he is unintelligent...no.
Smart people make mistakes and do dumb things all the time.

 

Got ya.

 

I disagree with this; Garber comes from the NFL, a league that hasn't had a team in the second most important market in the country for the last 19 years and it is doing just fine. In fact the NFL has used the lack of a team in LA to its advantage. Now I'm sure Roger Goodell would love to have a team in Los Angeles just like Garber would be really happy with team in Miami but neither commissioner will be willing to go out of their comfort zones to put teams in those cities.
Sadly Miami is going to have to put a pretty good package that fits league's needs because they can use the lack of a team in a very attractive market as leverage against cities that want to be a part of expansion or want to keep their existing teams in their cities.

 

I don't disagree with any of this as I have stated above. What I disagree with is Garber going out of his way to kill any leverage Beckham has over the city of Miami. I understand using Miami as leverage against other cities, but I don't understand Garber not wanting to help Beckham make progress in Miami.

 

Article in Sun-Sentinel:

"The relocation of one of David Beckham's principal backers out of state should not alter the chances of a Major League Soccer franchise coming to fruition in Miami.

Marcelo Claure, appointed Wednesday as president and CEO of Sprint, will be moving to the Kansas City area to run the telecommunications giant based in Overland Park, Kan. But he will keep his home in Miami, maintain a foothold in the community and remains committed to securing a stadium site and establishing the MLS expansion team in South Florida, according to a spokesman for Beckham United.

"Marcelo remains completely passionate about Miami, passionate about soccer and he looks forward to bringing a world-class MLS team to Miami with David, Simon Fuller and the team," said Tadd Schwartz, of Schwartz Media Strategies. "That has been his goal since he started and that remains his goal. Nothing will change."

See http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...e-miami-beckham-0807-20140806,0,2723546.story
​

 

Now you have to admire the guy for being a very motivated and driven businessman because there's no way in hell if I was a billionaire like him that I'd ever move from Miami to KC; I honestly can't fathom choosing anywhere else in the US to live.

 

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To all of the Big Soccer Community:

I wasn't sure how to post this but it's important. I am very saddened to deliver the news that our colleague, @MLS1FAN , better known in real life as Len Garrick, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly sometime early last evening, not long after the last post he placed on this thread.

I only knew him for a few months, after the Miami team was announced, and I considered him a friend, although we never met in the real world. We worked on 1 name and brand idea for the Miami team together, and then, with 2 other supporters on this site, we put together an even better idea for Sport Club Náutico Miami (a/k/a SC Miami)

What struck me the most about @MLS1FAN was his positive outlook, enthusiasm for life, respect and sincerity. Not only that, but he was a passionate soccer fan, a supporter of MLS and the Miami MLS project. The statistics above tell how much of a regular he was on this site.

@MLS1FAN: May you rest in peace. You left us way too soon and will be greatly missed.