Four long years in the making but it has finally happened. Beckham brings MLS back to Miami. International soccer icon, David Beckham, is now the official part owner of the MLS expansion club in Miami, Florida.
Beckham Brings MLS Back to Miami
The announcement happened on Monday at Adrienne Arsh Center. MLS Commissioner, Don Garber, was in attendance along with the mix of local and global entrepreneurs that make up the ownership group.
Along with Miami supporters happy to see MLS back in their city.
The excitement is palpable! #FutbolMiamiMLS @MLS pic.twitter.com/tCJdNrdpYu
— Fútbol Miami MLS (@futbolmiamimls) January 29, 2018
Start of the Plans
The culmination of this announcement was more than ten years in the making. When Beckham signed with LA Galaxy in 2007, he had the option to own an MLS club after he hangs up his boots. When that day came in 2014, he made the move to exercise that option and saw Miami as a great opportunity.
Beckham put together a great mix of businessmen that love the sport and the city of Miami to be part of the ownership group. The members of the ownership group include Beckham; Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure; leaders of MasTec Jorge and José Mas; founder and CEO of SoftBank, Masayoshi Son; and entertainment entrepreneur, Simon Fuller. These men worked with the league and the city to get a downtown location for the club’s future stadium.
Why Miami?
Some may remember the short-lived MLS franchise, Miami Fusion. Their tenure in MLS only lasted four seasons from 1997-2001 due to poor ticket sales and lack of economic gains.
Never forget. #FutbolMiamiMLS pic.twitter.com/hRTpToBWdZ
— Scott Sandalow (@ScottSandalow) January 29, 2018
The success in Atlanta and Orlando motivated the league to have another club in the Southeast. Soccer in South Florida has the ability to capture international, not to mention, local talent to the club. The city is also a gateway for the United States to the rest of the Americas.
Miami is an international city that loves the beautiful game. This past summer, the city packed the Hard Rock Stadium with 66,014 fans to watch El Clasico.
It’s one of the biggest TV markets and populated areas in the Southeast. The city is also a high viewership for FIFA World Cup.
Beckham is now living the dream all young soccer fans have, owning their own club. It will be fun to watch this player turned owner makes his first moves as an executive. The Miami club is set to kick off their first MLS campaign in 2020 and will open their own stadium in 2021.
