It has been a very tough road but finally, it looks as if the David Beckham ownership group are going to be successful in its bid to place a Major League Soccer team in Miami.
Almost four years ago it was announced that David Beckham had triggered his option on an MLS franchise and the team was going to play in Miami.
But announcing it is one thing, making it happen is another. It has been a torturous 46 months with plans made only to fall apart as politics, financing, leadership, and bureaucracy intersected.
Here’s the video of MLS commissioner Don Garber talking about his confidence in Beckham MLS team to Miami still happening. pic.twitter.com/uYUhU8CBui
— Will Manso (@WillManso) December 7, 2017
Four days ago the Miami Herald reported that the ownership group was in the process of being rejigged and that MLS was going to consider the changes at meeting in New York on December 14.
Sure enough, MLS confirmed its acceptance of the changes to the ownership group on Thursday.
Add the ownership changes with the securing of a site for a soccer-specific stadium in Miami-Dade County and suddenly things are looking up for Beckham, his fellow owners, Major League Soccer and most of all soccer fans in Miami.
David Beckham court win: Judge tosses suit trying to kill Miami soccer stadium. https://t.co/q8V6ZkiZS8
— Doug Hanks (@doug_hanks) October 11, 2017
Such has been the progress over the last few months that the Miami Herald has also suggested that confirmation of Miami as the 24th Major League Soccer franchise may happen very early in the New Year and the team might start to play in 2020.
The new additions to the ownership group include Miami-based brothers Jorge and José Mas who operate technology company MasTec an operation that generates over $5B in revenue annually. Earlier in 2017, the Mas brothers failed in a bid to buy MLB team the Miami Marlins.
Japanese businessman Masayoshi Son has also been brought on board.
Making an exit is Todd Boehly co-owner of the LA Dodgers. Prior to the shuffle, Boehly was to be the team’s majority owner and the controlling partner.
Now, it looks like the Mas’ will take on the roles.
As part of the deal in 2007 that brought Beckham to the LA Galaxy of MLS, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was given the opportunity to acquire an MLS franchise at a cost of $25M.
It did not look much of a discount a decade ago. Toronto FC entered MLS the same year and paid $10M, Seattle coughed up $30M in 2009 and two years later the cost to Vancouver Whitecaps was $35M.
However, when New York City FC joined MLS in 2015 the fee had climbed to $100M and when two of Cincinnati, Detroit, Sacramento, and Nashville are awarded teams in the next few weeks the checks will be written for $150M.
Two hundred million will surely not be far behind and so $25M is looking to be a fantastic deal.
