MLS Expansion for Barcelona at Miami to Be Nixed
February 22, 2009 by Richard
FC Barcelona had earlier intended to be a major player in the emerging MLS market by putting up a team for Miami. Of all the bids that were submitted, the Barcelona-Miami bid was considered to be the most fiscally sound of all the expansion plans.
But the recent financial crisis has made such a move financially risky and with this Barcelona Director General Joan Olive has made moves to divest its interests in the planned expansion. Despite the desire to be part of the MLS, the current economic downturn has made the risks greater than the expected rewards thus forcing the hand of Bolivian American magnate Marcelo Claure to reassess his bid for the team. But the door to the expansion club side has not been entirely closed and if there is a change in the economy then another round of reviews would be in order.
FC Barcelona retains a thirty percent stake in the new organization which translates not to dollars and cents but actually the branding and sporting requirements of the team. This includes personnel, the coach and the players. The decision to award the franchise is still a long ways off and many say that this move is seen as a way to leverage the stiff $40 million fee for the expansion rights.
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