And Atlanta MLS Makes 22 By 2017

((HT: 11Alive.com))

It's an interesting thought...

Can a mega-owner, whose town is (in pockets) quite soccer-rabid, and is a soccer dad himself make soccer a success at the largest professional level in the United States...??? Or is it just another loss leader for a vertically-integrated corporation...???

That's only for Arthur Blank to answer over time as he is now the proud owner of the 22nd Major League Soccer franchise...

After the attendance numbers that the Georgia Dome puts out for international friendlies (the last time was with MLS Commissioner Don Garber in attendance), it was a no-brainer for the largest media market in the country that DOESN'T have a team was going to get a team...

Orlando, New York City, and Miami are also on the clock as MLS Atlanta comes on board for 2017...

Here's FOSG Jeff Hullinger at the party...

Looking at the attendance numbers that Julie Wolfe put in the piece above, it will be interesting to see if MLS Atlanta turns into more like Seattle (which the town traditionally has not shown) or Chivas (and you'd have to be gawd awful for that to happen...)

The HQ is looking at somewhere close to the middle...

BREAKING: MLS To Atlanta

((HT: AJC/Roberson))

According to the Roberson piece, the announcement (although not official) would be in the neighborhood of April 16th.

The league and prospective owner Arthur Blank have been dancing around the topic for a few years now. All the attendance figures that have been accumulated over the friendlies and exhibitions have been a good carrot to dangle under the nose of the "Soccer Don"- MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

Miami, along with David Beckham's cache and ownership, are in the queue and the league would like to get to an even 24 franchises in the next five years or so. The team will be looking to play in the new and improved Georgia Dome by 2017.

Adding Atlanta would give the league another top-nine media TV market and another team in the under-served southeast.

As an example as to how the market responds to international football (the Mexico-Nigeria friendly), here's what happens when 68,000 show up...
((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))
Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

More when we know more...

Becks Brings MLS To Miami...

((HT: WSVN-TV))

It's official...

With a high falooting presser at an art gallery, David Beckham, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, and Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez said their peace about bringing the 22nd franchise in the league to a city where they're still trying to find a location to play...

Here's the short version...
WSVN-TV - 7NEWS Miam Ft. Lauderdale News, Weather, Deco

Beckham and his folks will pay for the stadium their own selves.

The next piece is wondering who his partners are. He has been seen scouting the city with Marcelo Claure, the owner of Brightstar Corporation. Miami will start up in either 2016 or 2017 and wil have a natural rivalry with the Orlando City FC group...

The Miami Beckham's: MLS Franchise to Miami on Wednesday

((ht: @bicyclemoore))

Well, it appears the oft rumored David Beckham/MLS Miami franchise rumors are about to be confirmed.

At least according to a Miami area PR person...

Kathryn Moore's tweet shows an invite to a "Major" announcement featuring Miami's mayor, commissioner of the MLS, Don Garber and Becks, his own-self.

See you there, @Miami_MLS !! pic.twitter.com/XLB1ku5G0E
— Kathryn Moore (@bicyclemoore) February 1, 2014

From what we understand--with Orlando on board, Miami coming up next, who will be #3, giving the league the ability to have a southern division. Money is going on Atlanta, something Falcons owner Arthur Blank has been talking about for several years. 

MLS Expansion: The Miami Beckham's??

David Beckham

So, it appears that Major League Soccer is on a bit of a growth curve these days.

America's top level professional league currently has 19 teams, and many of whom play in new or newer stadiums that are often full of fans.

And while the league has had success in the Northwest with Seattle and Portland, several Midwest teams and a smattering in the Northeast, they've not made a move in the south.

That may change as a report today stated that Soccer legend David Beckham is interested in bringing a franchise to Miami. And before you say it, yeah, we know, nobody considers Miami part of the South. But that's another story for another day.

Beckham, when he signed his deal to play for the L.A Galaxy a few years ago, had a clause put in his contract that said he could get a franchise for a mere $25 million. Big money to you and me, not so much to Becks...

We might add here that MLS Commish Don Garber wants to bring MLS from 19 to 24 teams by 2020. Bringing Miami onboard, combined with Orlando, who just passed a deal for a new stadium and Atlanta who's been all but guaranteed a franchise when the Falcons get their new stadium built, puts the tally at 22. We are guessing, Garber will find 2 more in the next 6-plus years.

Add NYC FC and that means that only one spot is open...

In June, Beckham toured Sun Life Stadium (where the Miami Fusion floundered the first time MLS went to south Florida) and Florida International University. They also met with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

FIU wants to court the Beckham Group- that included Marcelo Claure, president and CEO of Brightstar Corporation.

Beckham also visited Montreal, San Diego, and Orlando...

Man City + Yankees= MLS NYC2

((HT: MLS Soccer))

We now have the possibility of a darby between Red Bulls and NYC2 with the Yankees now in a partnership with Manchester City's ownership group for the 20th Major League Soccer franchise- starting in 2015.

Here's the Soccer Don talking about it...


The team could play in the new Yankee Stadium until their proposed new soccer-specific stadium in Queens is completed... "This is not a marketing gimmick," Man City chief executive Ferran Soriano said in a conference call. "This is about developing a team that will play very good football and will have a chance to win."
And there is an idea that the NYC2 franchise could be a feeder team for Manchester City itself as the team evolves.

And, now, attention turns to the recently-retired David Beckham and where he puts the 21st franchise...

Sepp Blatter Thinks MLS Hasn't Caught On...

((HT: Al Jazeera))

In a long-reaching interview with the folks at AJE, FIFA President Sepp Blatter gave the folks over at Major League Soccer hell for not catching on fast enough...

Whatever the hell that means...
Here's the chit-chat with Marwan Bishara for their "Empire" program...


The money quote:

"There is no very strong professional league," Blatter said. "They have just the MLS, but they have no professional leagues which are recognized by the American society."

Define "recognized..." and that's the rub in this whole thing...
Attendance is up 10-percent from year-to-year on average with the additional franchises from Montreal and Vancouver coming on line...

Blatter also wants the league to adopt the August-May schedule instead of what they have now.

The HQ would suggest that league attendance would plummet since they would be competing with college football in LA, Denver, Columbus OH, Dallas, Houston, Portland, Salt Lake, San Jose, and Kansas City... Chicago and New York- not so much...

What Blatter doesn't know is that the other football is all over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday- key broadcast dates for futbol in the United States...

So, good luck on competing instead of maintaining your own identity...