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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| David Beckham announces launch of his MLS Miami team | David Beckham announces launch of his MLS Miami team |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former England captain has endured long journey to found club | Former England captain has endured long journey to found club |
| Beckham paid $25m for rights to new expansion franchise | Beckham paid $25m for rights to new expansion franchise |
| Tom Lutz | Tom Lutz |
| Mon 29 Jan 2018 17.34 GMT | Mon 29 Jan 2018 17.34 GMT |
| Last modified on Mon 29 Jan 2018 18.24 GMT | |
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| David Beckham finally has his Major League Soccer team. After a process that has taken years to complete, the MLS commissioner, Don Garber, confirmed the former England captain’s club will be based in Miami. | David Beckham finally has his Major League Soccer team. After a process that has taken years to complete, the MLS commissioner, Don Garber, confirmed the former England captain’s club will be based in Miami. |
| Garber said Beckham had wanted a team in Florida since he joined MLS as a player in 2007. “It is with tremendous pride that we welcome Miami to Major League Soccer,” said Garber, at a rally attended by fans and local officials. “We know the right people are in place and the time is right for Miami to become a great Major League Soccer city.” | |
| We’re live in Miami for a major announcement… #FutbolMiamiMLS https://t.co/OmParfG18K | We’re live in Miami for a major announcement… #FutbolMiamiMLS https://t.co/OmParfG18K |
| Beckham’s group hope that the new MLS team will appeal to Miami’s sizeable Latino population, and Monday’s announcement ceremony was in both Spanish and English. Local fans sang and chanted in the crowd as the news was announced, and a welcome video that included figures such as Jay-Z, Serena Williams, Jennifer Lopez and Neymar was screened. | Beckham’s group hope that the new MLS team will appeal to Miami’s sizeable Latino population, and Monday’s announcement ceremony was in both Spanish and English. Local fans sang and chanted in the crowd as the news was announced, and a welcome video that included figures such as Jay-Z, Serena Williams, Jennifer Lopez and Neymar was screened. |
| Beckham said he had already had calls from high-profile players who were interested in joining his new club but he also emphasised he wanted to build on local talent. “Our pledge to our fans in Miami and around the world is simple: your team will always strive to make you proud on the pitch, our stadium will be a place that you cherish visiting, and our impact in the community and on south Florida’s youth will run deep,” Beckham said. | |
| MLS owners have to pay $150m to join the league but Beckham only had to front $25m as part of the deal that brought him to America in 2007. Beckham’s plan has changed many times in the four years since it was floated, most notably because he was unable to get waterfront land that his group wanted for a stadium site. | MLS owners have to pay $150m to join the league but Beckham only had to front $25m as part of the deal that brought him to America in 2007. Beckham’s plan has changed many times in the four years since it was floated, most notably because he was unable to get waterfront land that his group wanted for a stadium site. |
| However, in June Miami-Dade commissioners voted nine to four in favor to ratify a recommendation by the mayor to sell Beckham’s partnership a county truck-depot, which would become the last piece in a nine-acre site for a planned 25,000-seat stadium on the Miami River. | However, in June Miami-Dade commissioners voted nine to four in favor to ratify a recommendation by the mayor to sell Beckham’s partnership a county truck-depot, which would become the last piece in a nine-acre site for a planned 25,000-seat stadium on the Miami River. |
| “Everyone knows that we did the announcement for Miami four years ago, and then we’ve had a lot of bumps along the road and that’s been frustrating,” Beckham told Good Morning America on Monday. “But now we’re in such a positive place.” | “Everyone knows that we did the announcement for Miami four years ago, and then we’ve had a lot of bumps along the road and that’s been frustrating,” Beckham told Good Morning America on Monday. “But now we’re in such a positive place.” |
| Beckham’s group paid just over $9m for the last piece of land. It had already paid $19m for the other six acres needed. Beckham’s group says the planned stadium would be privately funded, and the stadium would also be subject to county property tax. | Beckham’s group paid just over $9m for the last piece of land. It had already paid $19m for the other six acres needed. Beckham’s group says the planned stadium would be privately funded, and the stadium would also be subject to county property tax. |
| The plan has also faced local opposition, including a legal challenge from businessman Bruce Matheson, and must still gain zoning approval, but Beckham says there is no doubt the Overtown site is the one his team will call home. Miami had an MLS team, the Fusion, between 1998 and 2001 but it folded due to poor attendance. | The plan has also faced local opposition, including a legal challenge from businessman Bruce Matheson, and must still gain zoning approval, but Beckham says there is no doubt the Overtown site is the one his team will call home. Miami had an MLS team, the Fusion, between 1998 and 2001 but it folded due to poor attendance. |
| Beckham helped boost the league’s profile when he joined LA Galaxy in 2007. He played for them until 2012, winning two MLS Cups. | |
| David Beckham | David Beckham |
| MLS | MLS |
| Miami | Miami |
| US sports | US sports |
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