Asked about the rumours saying that that Barcelona president Joan Laporta and general director Joan Oliver travelled the United States last week to hold talks on the creation of a sister team in the US (read more here), a Barcelona spokesman has confirmed in an interview with Florida regional newspaper The Miami Herald that Laporta and Oliver were in Miami exploring the market but stressed that talks of starting a team in the United States are still in the preliminary stages.
Laporta and Oliver would also have visited New York and are weighing a few East Coast cities.
South Florida regional newspaper Sun Sentinel claims that the five-year strategic partnership agreement that Barcelona signed in May of this year also gives Barcelona the opportunity to explore ownership of an MLS team and doesn't exclude that Barcelona will also visit other cities than Miami.
Asked about the matter, Miami FC president Aaron Davidson has denied to the paper that Barcelona officials have spoken to his club or to football event management company Traffic Sports, the owners of Miami FC: "I don't know anything about it. I don't know where it started, I don't know where it's going, but I do love the idea. We have a lot of surprises up our sleeve, but this is not one of them."
MLS spokesman Dan Courtemanche did not want to enter the question if Major League Soccer (MLS), the professional football league in the United States and Canada, has met with Laporta and Oliver last week: "We meet with Barcelona regularly, but I would prefer Barcelona to address any interest in an MLS expansion team or specific markets."
Miami FC fansite Miamisoccerfan claims that a meeting did take place last week between a very interested investor and MLS in Miami. The meeting also involved some other local parties that are interested to join in. It couldn't be confirmed if the investor was in fact Barcelona or Miami FC.
Read more:
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Barcelona weighing Miami and East Coast cities
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
8 comments:
If they do it properly, I think this kind of "sister team" stuff can be a win-win situation, but I stress the word "properly".
It's sure good to see they're taking initiative and are looking at the options.
We at www.miamisoccerfan.com think it will be great to see Barca and Miami FC bring us fans MLS.
I'm sure you do... I've read on your site or in some comment somewhere that you think Barcelona has the resources to build you a new stadium, but I guess you're overestimating our balance a little.
I don't think Barcelona is planning to invest a lot, I guess it can bring knowledge and prestige.
If there's new information appearing on the topic in the US (articles in newspapes and stuff), you can publish it somewhere on this blog, so I can make a post about it. Keep following this blog for the latest news appearing in Spain.
Vamos Barcelona we fans in Miami want to have an MLS team.
Yes to Barca/Miami make it happen. in 2011
We support Barcelona/Miami. Make it happen.
It's time MLS come to Miami Barca/Miami 2011.
Keep the pressure on your board, guys. It's alos important for "our" (Barcelona) officials see you guys really like it and that there's a real market over there.
Post a Comment