[Excalibur76]

Barca to launch MLS franchise bid

Spanish club Barcelona are set to launch a bid with a Bolivian entrepreneur to become co-owners of a Major League Soccer franchise in Miami.

The MLS plans to add two teams to its league for the 2011 season, with the deadline for applications on Wednesday.

"The idea is to set up an investee company involving FC Barcelona and a Bolivian entrepreneur, Marcelo Claure," read a statement on the club's website.

Claure owns Bolivia's FC Bolivar, with whom Barcelona already collaborate.

"Claure is the chief on an investment group featuring Americans and citizens of different South American countries," the statement continued.

"The company's sole aim right now is to present an application for the franchise and promote it to the MLS."

The MLS currently has 14 teams but is set to expand with Seattle joining in 2009 and Philadelphia in 2010 before a further two franchises are included a year later.

Miami Fusion played in the MLS from 1998 to 2001 before losing its franchise.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7670932.stm

 

[Almogàver]

A couple of years ago, there were rumours about buying the Red Bull NY/NJ franchise, when they still were Metrostars, but this finished nowhere.

I don't know what we'd get from all this. I'd be interested to know the project before having an opinion.

 

[Robin]

I think this kind of 'globalization' of football is wrong. Its just as bad as the foreign investers in England.

 

[.BLAUGRANA.]

I don't like this idea at all. For starters, I think there are better ways for us to invest our money. What do we get out of being a co-owner (much less the complete owner) of an MLS franchise? Marketing revenue? I doubt being an owner of MLS franchise would giving us much additional marketing revenue. Besides, we don't need to be an owner to get that sort of revenue as we can get that through a simple relationship with a club or the MLS itself.

What also concerns me about this deal though (and this is my biggest concern about such a deal) is that the name of the club is tied to an entity that, despite us being a co-owner, of we likely won't fully control or that we won't have any guarantee as to whether or not they will represent the heritage, values and legacy of the club. (Can you tell I'm watching the last debate?)

 

[Rondinaire]

And then we could play "half rubbers" for a "soccer" club and count the "assists" made every match and even play "overtime". I can't wait!

 

[CarlosMiguel]

no overtime in MLS, catch up grumpy dude

 

[VBI]

Didn't they try that crazy "run from the half way line" penalty thing one time over there?

Damn Americans, and their obsession with...tight ends...and wide receivers.

 

[Culéd]

Lmao. VBI is back.

I actually remember those penalty-runs. Added a hilariously unique touch to the art of soccer.

 

[VBI]

I used to try those over the local park back in my "playing soccer in the flesh" days. You think it's a good idea, but then you realise you've been running for a full minute and you're not even near to hitting a shot yet. Cool idea though.

 

[Almogàver]

Lmao. VBI is back.

I actually remember those penalty-runs. Added a hilariously unique touch to the art of soccer.

I liked it.

 

[Almogàver]

I don't like this idea at all. For starters, I think there are better ways for us to invest our money. What do we get out of being a co-owner (much less the complete owner) of an MLS franchise? Marketing revenue? I doubt being an owner of MLS franchise would giving us much additional marketing revenue. Besides, we don't need to be an owner to get that sort of revenue as we can get that through a simple relationship with a club or the MLS itself.

What also concerns me about this deal though (and this is my biggest concern about such a deal) is that the name of the club is tied to an entity that, despite us being a co-owner, of we likely won't fully control or that we won't have any guarantee as to whether or not they will represent the heritage, values and legacy of the club. (Can you tell I'm watching the last debate?)

Dear Joe,

I've been reading about this issue lately and I'm not sure about this at all. It seems it requires an initial investment of 40M, then add all the expenses you need to run a football club.

IMO, it's impossible to export the idea of the club to the USA. A club like Barcelona is truly connected with the society since the origins and, if Barça start this adventure, I think it has a commercial purpose. Then you have to figure out if this is going to be profitable. I don't think the image of Barcelona would grow much in the USA just for being the owners of a franchise. The American soccer fans already know Barça, just as we know the Boston Celtics, to say an example. Celtics do not need to buy a Spanish club to be known here. Perhaps the idea is to make business there and I don't know how profitable a soccer franchise is now or in the mid-term.

Laporta seems truly excited about this since long ago, but he never explained why. I think it's just another attack of ego from our president.

I have nothing against a cooperation with a certain franchise, we export know-how and we enter in a country where the football culture don't stop growing, but I do not think that we should own a team there. I don't see the point of it.

 

[Gade21]

I liked it.

Hated it, such an obnoxious cry for attention...Look at how we do it! ...Look at how we do it!

 

[.BLAUGRANA.]

Dear Joe,

I've been reading about this issue lately and I'm not sure about this at all. It seems it requires an initial investment of 40M, then add all the expenses you need to run a football club.

IMO, it's impossible to export the idea of the club to the USA. A club like Barcelona is truly connected with the society since the origins and, if Barça start this adventure, I think it has a commercial purpose. Then you have to figure out if this is going to be profitable. I don't think the image of Barcelona would grow much in the USA just for being the owners of a franchise. The American soccer fans already know Barça, just as we know the Boston Celtics, to say an example. Celtics do not need to buy a Spanish club to be known here. Perhaps the idea is to make business there and I don't know how profitable a soccer franchise is now or in the mid-term.

Laporta seems truly excited about this since long ago, but he never explained why. I think it's just another attack of ego from our president.

I have nothing against a cooperation with a certain franchise, we export know-how and we enter in a country where the football culture don't stop growing, but I do not think that we should own a team there. I don't see the point of it.

Are you calling me Joe the Plumber?

Hated it, such an obnoxious cry for attention...Look at how we do it! ...Look at how we do it!

Hated it as well. However I think it was more a matter of "Look at this non-"soccer" fans" instead.

Funny thing about it that I remember was that I thought it'd be much easier for guys to score goals but IIRC it was tougher. I think it lacked in the tension that the regular setup brings.

 

[Punkette B]

.BLAUGRANA. has a liscense.

Perhaps upper management at FC Bacelona think otherwise, but as fans, it is very important where and how we use the club's name. Barca have a history uniquely to the world of football as well as the geographic location and this should be treated with respect.

 

[Excalibur76]

I liked it.

me too......better to decide a game like that than penalty shoot outs if it`s still tied at full time