As he stood up, communications magnate Marcelo Claure towered over others present at the press conference he organized jointly with one of the world's soccer giants, FC Barcelona.
The 6-foot-5 tall Bolivian-American entrepreneur hopes his deep pockets, association with one of the most successful clubs in the world and soccer experience will give Miami an advantage over a crowded field of candidates for future MLS expansion.
A quickly convened press conference announced the partnership between Claure and Joan Laporta, president of world-renowned sports club FC Barcelona, as surprise entrants into the MLS expansion field.
An FC Barcelona delegation, including club president Laporta and general manager, Joan Oliver, were present, as it was on its way to Los Angeles, where the Regal Barcelona basketball team is to play against the NBA's Lakers this weekend.
"It's a very serious initiative, the way we do things at Barca. We would have the sporting lead in this project. We have found the right partner [Claure], who shares our footballing philosophy and has soccer experience," said Laporta. "Also, we think Miami is the gateway to America and a cultural crossroads."
Claure is owner of Miami-based Brightstar Corporation, which is the largest Hispanic-owned business in the U.S and provides logistical and manufacturing services to the telecommunications industry, with operations in 18 countries and estimated revenues of $3 billion.
Miami Fusion F.C. played in Fort Lauderdale from 1998-2001, before MLS shuttered its Miami and Tampa clubs. Laporta and Claure are betting that theirs is the proper mix for a successful bid, despite strong competition from cities such as Vancouver, Portland, Atlanta, Ottawa, Montreal and St. Louis for two 2011 expansion teams.
"It's a different formula. We have one of the best soccer organizations in the world as our partner," said Claure. "The [FIU] stadium is apt for soccer and the city of Miami has changed too. Above all, the league is much more solid."
Seattle will commence play in MLS in 2009 and Philadelphia has been awarded an expansion team that will start play in 2010. However, Claure and Laporta insisted that their wish was to begin playing -- if possible -- in 2010.
"We think we have all the ingredients in place. We're not very patient, and if we could, we would start in 2009," Claure said. "Never has a team of the quality of Barcelona made the choice of starting a "sister" team in another league. This is the first time this happens."
The league office and MLS Expansion Committee will review the applications and should make an announcement later this year or in early 2009. "MLS is a very professional organization, so they haven't yet told us anything about our initiative," said Claure.
The press conference, held at Brightstar's headquarters, was conducted in English, Spanish and Catalan. Laporta stressed that Barca's bid would constitute the first European ownership interest in an MLS team.
If the Barcelona/Miami bid were successful, the team would initially play at Florida International University's new stadium. FIU officials, including university president Mitch Maidique and Sandra Gonzalez-Levy, vice president of university and community relations, were present. In 2011, FIU's stadium has the capacity to stage soccer matches and would be expanded to seat 21,000. Last week, a "Welcome MLS" sign was displayed before an FIU college football practice.
But the land where the former Orange Bowl stood -- a past venue for many CONCACAF Gold Cup matches and soccer friendlies and located in the heart Miami's Latin quarter -- is now the proposed site for a future baseball stadium. But it could also accomodate a soccer-specific stadium.
Claure, alongside mentor and former Bolivian federation president Guido Loayza, is co-president of Bolivar, Bolivia's most successful club. However, the Catalan club would take the lead in the soccer department.
"We would be involved in the football operation, that's our specialty," said Laporta.
Barcelona, whose motto, "Mes que un club" ("More than a club"), reflects its mission and history as a sporting and social institution and standard-bearer for Catalan culture.
Keyvan Antonio Heydari is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
