Barca want Miami slice
FC Barcelona's attempt to grab a piece of the Major League Soccer market in Miami should be treated with delight and suspicion in equal measure.
It is clearly great news for North American soccer for one of the world's most famous and successful clubs to want to get involved. However, there must be caution about the plan to strike up a franchise in Miami, where the Fusion folded back in 2001.
With exception of the NFL Dolphins, professional sports have struggled to gain widespread support in the Miami market. Even with the changing demographics of the city, with a big recent increase in South American and Caribbean immigrants, an MLS team would be a tough sell. And for diehard sports fans, the choice between South Beach and a game of soccer on a sweltering summer's day is a fairly simple one.
Barca is serious about its bid though and wants to be involved in MLS as soon as 2010, although 2011 would be far more likely. Club president Joan Laporta is a man used to getting his own way, both in business and soccer politics. With Barca's pockets more than deep enough to meet the expansion fee of around $45 million and a respected business partner in Bolivian Marcelo Claure, it is hard to see MLS turning down the prospect of teaming up with the Catalan giants.
But that doesn't mean it will be a giant success.
