Don’t worry, they’re staying in Spain too
In 2004, Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara created an MLS expansion side (Chivas USA), and FC Barcelona are looking into following in their footsteps. The Spaniards have already committed to increasing their fanbase in North America with several summer tours, and now they wish to have a more permanent money generator presence across the pond:
FC Barcelona’s commitment to set up a sister club in MLS could see it rake in $2.6 million per year, but only if it can successfully strike up a tax exemption deal.
Spanish daily Marca has reported that the MLS outfit, which will not take the name “FC Barcelona,” is expected to earn a surplus of $8 million to $9 million per year, of which $2.6 million will go straight to the Catalan giants.
According to Sports Illustrated, the sister team, which is likely to have a name like the Barcelona Universe Tremor Warlocks, will be based in Miami, capitalising on the city’s large hispanic population. Oddly, the same article claims the team will play its home matches at the University of Florida, some 340 miles away in Gainesville.
Setting up a sister team in the MLS sounds like a great way of generating interest in European football, but who will be the first Premiership team to give it a go?
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5 responses so far
1 kaidez // Nov 6, 2008 at 12:00 pm
As far as the first team to give it a go, I say one of the teams with big bucks so that means one of the traditional big four and Man. City. Thing is, the MLS has quite a stronghold on their teams as far as salary caps and player recruiting-much more so than the EPL and La Liga. I’m curious as to how Chivas is handling it, how Barca and Real Madrid will handle it, and how potential Premier League teams will handle it. I’m sure that it’ll all work out in the end though.
2 Luis // Nov 6, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Come on!
Remember Geissel?, well, it was a day in the Park when you think about Pele and the Cosmos guys!…
I don’t think soccer in the US is ever going to work as a long term bet.
Maybe US citizens (and I say that instead of “Americans” because that would encompass all people from Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Argentina, etc) need to have Crouchie on the MLS, that way they would come thinking it’s an NBA game…
3 The Fan's Attic // Nov 7, 2008 at 5:02 am
Just so you’re clear, the deal is with Florida International University located in Miami, not University of Florida in Gainesville.
4 Richard, UK // Nov 14, 2008 at 9:31 pm
“I don’t think soccer in the US is ever going to work as a long term bet”
The whole strategy of MLS is to make it long term, hence the slow and steady progess, salary caps, etc…
The average attendance in MLS is almost 17,000 at the moment. Expect that increase when Seattle join next season (already sold 17,000+ season tickets). Hardly dying on it’s arse for the countries ‘5th sport’. What sort of attendances does the UK’s 5th sport get? Heaven knows.
And saying 17,000 isn’t big ‘cos of the USA’s size is really dumb. Think geography man. Some of these teams play in places smaller than most UK cities.
5 Luis // Nov 16, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Richard, what I meant with my comment was not on economical terms, you mumbo.
What I meant was that soccer in the US is a fashion, not a national pasttime.
Soccer is always going to be fated to die before those rich times you mention get to materialize.
YOU DUMBO!!! SEE YOU IN FIVE YEARS, WHEN DB’S ENJOYING HIS RICHES IN SOME OTHER PLACE IN EUROPE!!!! AND YOUR PANSY LEAGUE IS DEAD.