Miami Beckham expansion bid 'at the finish line' - MLS commissioner Garber

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3169811/miami-beckham-expansion-bid-at-the-finish-line-mls-commissioner-garber

Miami Beckham expansion bid 'at the finish line' - MLS commissioner Garber

CHICAGO -- MLS commissioner Don Garber said that the league may decide on Wednesday whether to hold a vote to grant David Beckham's group and the city of Miami an expansion franchise.

Speaking exclusively to ESPN FC at the unveiling of an all-weather "mini-pitch" on Chicago's south side, Garber said about Miami, "We're at the finish line. We're not over the finish line yet. We've been working hard for a really long time. We feel like we've got everything where we need it to be."

The MLS Board of Governors is set to meet on Wednesday. The expectation out of Beckham's camp is that a vote will take place. Garber sounded optimistic as well, but stopped short of stating that a vote is guaranteed to happen then.

"We're going to talk to our board about it," said Garber. "We're in a position to ask for a vote [on Miami], but at this point we're not sure whether we're actually going to take it at that point. We'll know a lot more on Wednesday."

[ . . . ]

It was also two months ago that Beckham's group, Miami Beckham United, purchased a three-acre plot from Miami-Dade County for $9 million. When combined with a previous six-acre purchase from a private owner, MBU has the land it needs to build its stadium. All that needs to be done is for the City of Miami to approve zoning changes for the stadium site.

But just 10 days ago, wealthy local landowner Bruce Matheson filed a lawsuit seeking to block the county's sale of the land. Garber said he's not concerned.

"I don't see the lawsuit as an impediment to the process," he said. "More importantly, as you 've heard from the mayor [of Miami, Tomas Regalado] there will be a process where the public can weigh in, and we support that because we want to be good community partners."

Garber said he was also encouraged by the current state of MLS expansion efforts even though both St. Louis and San Diego took hits in recent months. A St. Louis stadium funding measure was rejected by voters, while San Diego's attempt to hold a vote on a stadium project looks set to be delayed until next year. But Detroit's bid got a boost when Wayne County executive Wayne Evans indicated he prefers a plan by MLS bidders Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores to build a stadium and criminal justice complex. Last week Sacramento began construction on its stadium project, and Garber recently concluded a successful visit to Nashville.

"I read something the other day about whether or not we're disappointed by where we are. We couldn't be more excited about where we are," he said. "The news out of Detroit was very positive, clearly the groundbreaking in Sacramento was very, very positive, my trip to Nashville was off the charts. And there remain lots of different, great markets for us to go to. At some point, somebody is going to be really disappointed, and we're going to have to figure out how to manage that."

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https://twitter.com/TheTailgateShow/status/892108619881353216

The Tailgate Show‏

@TheTailgateShow

Rumors circling that Riccardo Silva's in talks w/ Beckham to combine @TheMiamiFC w/ Beckham Utd for @MLS bid, listen in on Thursday's show!

3:44 PM - 31 Jul 2017

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6qr4sb/rumor_miami_fc_silva_in_talks_w_beckham/

Rumor: Miami FC Silva in talks w/ Beckham? (twitter.com)

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http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/beckham-closes-in-on-mls-franchise-but-will-miami-care/2332059

Beckham closes in on MLS franchise, but will Miami care?

New York Times

Monday, July 31, 2017 6:15am

MIAMI — The midday sun was beating down on a forlorn 9-acre section of the Overtown neighborhood last month, and there was not a soul in the streets. Boarded-up shops faced the lots on one side, and public housing on two others. High-rise apartments and office towers in downtown Miami, markers of the city's rapid resurgence, glistened not far off.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/30/sports/soccer/david-beckham-mls-franchise-ownership-miami.html

David Beckham Closes In on M.L.S. Franchise. Will Miami Care?

By KEN BELSON

JULY 30, 2017

MIAMI — The midday sun was beating down on a forlorn, nine-acre section of the Overtown neighborhood last month, and there wasn’t a soul in the streets. Boarded-up shops faced the lots on one side, and public housing on two others. High-rise apartments and office towers in downtown Miami, markers of the city’s rapid resurgence, glistened not far off.

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https://www.benzinga.com/news/17/07/9848760/negotiations-move-forward-on-dan-gilberts-proposed-detroit-mls-stadium

Negotiations Move Forward On Dan Gilbert's Proposed Detroit MLS Stadium

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3169786/detroit-plan-that-would-allow-for-mls-stadium-backed-by-county-executive

Detroit plan that would allow for MLS stadium backed by county executive

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http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2017/07/31/wayne-county-moves-forward-gilberts-jail-proposal-but-not-done-deal-yet/524955001/

Wayne County moves forward with Gilbert's jail proposal - but not a done deal yet

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http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170731/news/635216/wayne-county-to-focus-on-sealing-deal-with-gilbert-for-jail-complex

Wayne County to focus on sealing deal with Gilbert for jail complex

Walsh Construction option to complete existing jail remains on the table

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http://sport360.com/article/football/global/242558/mls-commissioner-don-garber-is-missing-a-big-trick-in-developing-the-league/

MLS commissioner Don Garber is missing a big trick in developing the league

Steve Brenner writes how promotion/relegation proposal is needed to make the game interesting in MLS.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/07/30/dc-united-owners-considering-sale.html

D.C. United owners are seeking investors, not an all-out sale

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https://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/07/31/south-florida-treated-world-class-soccer-large-crowds-international-champions-cup/

South Florida treated to world-class soccer and large crowds for International Champions Cup

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/07/31/finally-mls-launch-video-review-project-years-making

Finally! MLS to launch Video Review, a project years in the making

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3169795/schweinsteiger-believes-mls-could-be-equal-to-european-leagues-in-10-years

Schweinsteiger believes MLS could be equal to European leagues 'in 10 years'

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http://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2017/07/31/op-ed-why-fc-cincinnati-fans-should-also-support-the-sacramento-republic-fc-mls-bid

Op-ed: Why FC Cincinnati Fans Should Also Support the Sacramento Republic FC MLS Bid

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https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/07/31/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/MLS.aspx

MLS expansion competitors struggle to stand out so far

By Ian Thomas, Staff Writer

Published July 31, 2017, Page 7

Nashville helped its cause with a big Gold Cup crowd July 8. GETTY IMAGES When the MLS’s submission deadline for its next four expansion spots passed Jan. 31, the league appeared to h...

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http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/phoenix-rising-catch-a-lyft

Phoenix Rising catch a Lyft

American soccer club name official rideshare partner.

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http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/sternberg-rays-ready-to-make-quick--decision-once-they-get-stadium-options/2332121

Sternberg: Rays ready to make 'quick' decision once they get stadium options

Principal owner Stuart Sternberg said the Rays are working pretty much every day on the effort to get a new stadium.

But as of now, the team is waiting for Hillsborough County officials "to completely weigh in" with a site and specifics of the project.

"When they do then we'll be able to make a decision in a pretty quick time," he said.

That makes it sound as if they already know what their Pinellas options are, but he said not quite.

"We have sites in mind, and it's a question of what will get done around the site and how are they going to get paid for," he said. "And once municipalities are able to line those things up, not completely buttoned up but at least to a good extent, then we'll be able to make a decision."

Sternberg said they were hoping to have a decision by the end of the season, but the end of the year may be more likely.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/07/31/14-million-for-st-pete-pier-enhancements-faces.html

$14 million for St. Pete pier enhancements faces final vote

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http://saintpetersblog.com/barclay-harless-vows-not-dime-rays-stadium-st-pete-fixes-sewage-problem/

Barclay Harless vows ‘not a dime’ for Rays stadium until St. Pete fixes sewage problem

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/818860

Rowdies Add Guenzatti to Squad

Bolsters attacking midfield options for Tampa Bay

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http://www.cltampa.com/arts-entertainment/sports/article/20970886/rowdies-shut-out-pittsburgh

Rowdies shut down Pittsburgh for consecutive win

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http://thecomeback.com/soccer/world-freddy-adu-trying-resurrect-career-poland.html

Where in the world is Freddy Adu? Trying to resurrect his career in Poland.

The one time USA teen prodigy is still trying to make something of himself as a pro soccer player.

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http://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/633963/David-Beckham-football-stadium-club-Miami-Overtown

David Beckham to launch new football stadium in ‘crack ghetto’ of Miami

DAVID Beckham is launching his new US football club in a “crack ghetto” where land is cheap as chips.

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http://www.tbo.com/sports/soccer/beckham-closes-in-on-mls-franchise-but-will-miami-care/2332059

Beckham closes in on MLS franchise, but will Miami care?

New York Times

Published: July 31, 2017

MIAMI — The midday sun was beating down on a forlorn 9-acre section of the Overtown neighborhood last month, and there was not a soul in the streets. Boarded-up shops faced the lots on one side, and public housing on two others. High-rise apartments and office towers in downtown Miami, markers of the city's rapid resurgence, glistened not far off.

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http://saintpetersblog.com/tampa-bay-rowdies-add-depth-sebastian-guenzatti/

Tampa Bay Rowdies add depth with Sebastián Guenzatti

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http://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/mecklenburg-county-commissioners-could-soon-vote-on-parks-and-rec-mls-projects/577665988

Mecklenburg County commissioners could soon vote on parks and rec, MLS projects

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https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2017/7/31/16073430/atlanta-united-sell-out-first-ever-game-at-mercedes-benz-stadium

Atlanta United sell out first-ever game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

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https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/aug/01/didier-drogba-eden-hazard-owners-us-soccer-usl-nasl

Why are foreign soccer stars buying up lower league teams in the US?

Players such as Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard are part owners of teams in the States. But it’s not top-flight MLS that attracts them

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http://www.campaignlive.com/article/why-target-heineken-allstate-betting-big-other-football/1440883

Why Target, Heineken and Allstate are betting big on the 'other football'

Top marketers aim to reach a young, multicultural audience during this week's Major League Soccer All-Star Game.

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http://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-real-madrid-expected-to-give-mls-stars-intense-match-2519884

Real Madrid start as favourites in match against Major League Soccer All-Stars

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http://newsok.com/article/5558393

As USL league meetings begin, MLS2 clubs a hot-button issue