https://milbankmonitor.com/billionaire-burkle-to-join-sacramento-republic-fc-is-a-major-league-soccer-spot-next/12/03/2019/
Billionaire Burkle to join Sacramento Republic FC. Is a Major League Soccer spot next?
Billionaire financier Ron Burkle has agreed to buy controlling interest in Sacramento Republic FC, a deal that could seal the city’s prolonged and sometimes frustrating bid to land a Major League Soccer franchise.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced the deal Tuesday to an enthusiastic crowd of civic and business leaders at the annual “State of Downtown” breakfast at the Hyatt Regency. Reeling in a billionaire “whale” in Burkle, a 66-year-old Beverly Hills supermarket tycoon, could represent the final piece that Sacramento has needed to convince MLS that Sacramento deserves a place in America’s premiere professional soccer league.
“Today, we announce we are now this close to getting Major League Soccer,” Steinberg said in remarks prepared for his speech.
Steinberg said MLS Commissioner Don Garber is aware of Burkle’s investment “and I know he is pleased by this new development.”
Ben Gumpert, president and chief operating officer of Republic FC, said in an interview that “there’s no guarantees” Sacramento will get a team but called Burkle’s investment a “massive, massive step in the process.” Although timing remains unclear on a decision from MLS, he said news could come “in the near term.”
City leaders and Republic FC Chairman Kevin Nagle have been, since MLS officials made clear that having a billionaire lead investor was required for an expansion franchise. Burkle, who co-owns the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins and tried to buy the Sacramento Kings twice, controls a net worth estimated at $2 billion by Forbes magazine.
“It’s game-changing to bring Ron Burkle on board,” Nagle said. “You’re talking about a first-class businessman and sports owner. I think the rest of the country is going to be really impressed by who we brought in as lead investor.”
Gumpert wouldn’t reveal details of Burkle’s deal with Republic FC, but said the financier is investing with the goal of landing an MLS franchise, not owning a team in the second-tier United Soccer League.
Besides taking over the team, Burkle has tentatively agreed to buy Republic FC’s proposed MLS stadium site at the downtown railyard, plus 14 adjacent acres to develop an entertainment district. The land is owned by a company controlled by developer Larry Kelley, a minority owner of Republic FC.
“This larger purchase creates endless possibilities for expediting the build-out of the railyard,” the mayor said, comparing it to the Downtown Commons entertainment complex taking shape around Golden 1 Center.
Burkle’s involvement in Republic FC turns around an effort that once seemed to be a sure thing, but in the past year as other cities secured MLS expansion teams. Steinberg, Burkle and Republic FC officials are expected to visit Garber next month at league headquarters in New York.
Burkle will take over for Nagle, a well-respected pharmaceutical executive. Nagle has poured tens of millions into Republic FC since becoming lead investor in 2014, when the first-year United Soccer League team dazzled MLS executives by drawing sellout crowds at a stadium at Cal Expo.
Nagle said he would take on the role of a “senior executive” in the franchise and the lead local investor.
Also joining the ownership team will be Matt Alvarez, a Los Angeles businessman who’s done previous deals with Burkle, according to Gumpert.
It’s unknown how much money Burkle is prepared to pour into Republic FC. The MLS expansion fee is expected to cost $150 million, and Gumpert said the team’s proposed new stadium could run well over $250 million. Along with the adjacent land development, the entire deal could come to nearly $1 billion, Gumpert said, although that would represent the combined resources of multiple investors, not just Burkle.
Steinberg, reiterating earlier pledges by city officials, said the stadium construction will be privately financed.
Gumpert, however, said the team is talking with city officials about a possible public contribution to the infrastructure surrounding the stadium.
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http://www.tampabay.com/food/cuban-sandwich-potato-chips-exist-we-had-them-shipped-to-florida-for-a-taste-test-20190306/
Cuban sandwich potato chips exist. We had them shipped to Florida for a taste test
Are Kroger's Cuban sandwich chips worth a road trip? Times staffers weigh in.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the Cuban sandwich can feel pretty good about itself right now.
Last year saw a limited time, fast food version at Arby's (tried it), and the introduction of a vegan Cuban into the local market by Golden Dinosaurs in Gulfport (tried it). The Florida State Fair brought a Cuban sandwich pizza to Tampa last month (yeah we tried it).
The latest: Cuban sandwich flavored potato chips.
The problem: You can't buy Cuban sandwich flavored potato chips in the Tampa, the city that gave the world the Cuban sandwich, or anywhere else in Tampa Bay. The chips are only sold at Kroger grocery stores, an Ohio-based chain that operates in 35 states, but not in Florida.
Our solution: Obtain some rare Kroger-brand Cuban sandwich flavored potato chips via the dark web, black market, shadow economy (or ask a friend in Cincinnati via Facebook to send a bag to St. Petersburg).
Emails sent to Kroger's media relations department seeking info on why they turned Tampa's signature sandwich into a chip were not answered in time for this story. If you want to pick some up, the closest store to Tampa Bay is located in Norcross, Georgia.
The chips arrived with much newsroom fanfare on Tuesday, and the list of ingredients was immediately checked for salami. None present, though they do contain swiss cheese cultures, milk, salt and enzymes. After a lunchtime taste-test, here's what the staff of the Tampa Bay Times thought.
Daniel Figueroa IV: Surprisingly, it tastes like a Cuban. Or rather, the taste you get after you've eaten a Cuban. There's a definite brininess to them and the essence of something ham-like, as if someone whispered the word "ham" into the bag before it was sealed.
Ellen Clarke: I think the Swiss cheese cultures are my favorite part.
Tim Nickens: They do! They really do! They really taste like a Cuban sandwich! Ellen Clarke: Can I quote you on that? Tim Nickens: Just call me 'noted Cuban sandwich expert Tim Nickens.'
Maggie Duffy: I was surprised at, and then mildly disturbed by how much they tasted like a real Cuban sandwich. But they're too much like real food to eat them with another sandwich or a burger. They'd probably be good with just a nice cold beer.
Chris Tisch: A someone in our group of taste testers asked: In a blind taste test, would you know this chip was flavored like a Cuban? Almost all of us agreed: nope. That said, it's not all bad. You get the salt of the meat, the creaminess of the cheese, the tart of the pickle. It doesn't taste overwhelmingly artificial, but it also lacks punch. Like a lot of chips flavored after something that makes us go WHAT!? it's just okay.
Christopher Spata: (Excitedly) I taste meat! ... (Disturbed, looking at chip in hand) Yeah, meat.
Gabrielle Calise: They were tasty and I could instantly recognize Cuban flavors from the first bite, especially Swiss cheese and tangy notes of pickles and mustard. But mostly it just made me crave an actual hot Cuban sandwich.
Claire McNeill: The chips remind me of the three days I spent hunkering down at the Times printing plant during Hurricane Irma, three days in which I ate a vast number of heavily mustardy ham-and-cheese cold cut sandwiches off of a styrofoam plate. The chips have that same processed, intense ham flavor, except now it's like someone added 400 pickles to the sandwich. Would buy.
Colette Bancroft: They do taste like ham and Swiss, and there's a faint hint of mustard, a whisper of pickle. Close, but no cigar. (See what I did there?)
Carl Lisciandrello: Knowing what it was, I could tell it had hints of mustard with an undertone of dill pickle. But if I didn't know what they were, I'm not sure I would have recognized it as a Cuban sandwich. They're weird enough to be interesting
Lisa Merklin: It tastes very much like any other salty, vinegary, pickle-flavored chip to me. If I strain my taste buds I can almost detect a note of mustard, but that's about it. What's this about ham and Swiss?
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https://www.thesundaily.my/sport/mls-red-bulls-ousted-from-concacaf-champions-league-BE677939
MLS Red Bulls ousted from Concacaf Champions League
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https://frntofficesport.com/mls-digital-sxsw/
Major League Soccer Seeks Digital Innovation Through Four-Pronged Approach
Digital is the future for Major League Soccer, and a multi-faceted strategy could one day take the league to new heights.
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https://wamu.org/story/19/03/12/womens-national-team-files-federal-lawsuit-against-u-s-soccer-for-equal-pay/
Women’s National Team Files Federal Lawsuit Against U.S. Soccer For Equal Pay
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https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2019/03/12/commissioner-probes-details-of-david-beckham-group-deal/
Commissioner probes details of David Beckham group deal
Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes wants a status report from administrators on their negotiations with the David Beckham group for a long-term lease of a city-owned golf course adjacent to Miami International Airport.
Mr. Reyes also wants to be able to vote on the lease before the November election, in which he will be running to keep his position.
These desires are woven into a proposed resolution on today’s commission agenda (3/14).
An approved lease would clear the way for Mr. Beckham and partners to build a Major League Soccer stadium on what today is Melreese Golf Course, along with a large mixed-use commercial development called Miami Freedom Park.
The status report – or a resolution formally requiring a report – was supposed to be delivered to the commission Feb. 28, but controversial zoning cases extended the day meeting into evening and it went off the rails after midnight, leaving several regular agenda items in limbo.
In November 2018, city voters approved a ballot proposal authorizing the city to negotiate and execute a 99-year lease with Miami Freedom Park LLC for about 73 acres of city land, waiving bidding and converting Melreese Country Club, 1400 NW 37th Ave., to a soccer stadium; a minimum 1 million square feet of office, retail and commercial uses; and a minimum 750 hotel rooms – at no cost to the city.
The ballot language also requires a living wage for on-site employees; $3,577,365 minimum annual rent; and $20 million for a 58-acre public park or other green space.
Mr. Reyes, one of two ‘no’ votes last July to place the deal on the 2018 ballot, brought up the Melreese site at the Feb. 14 meeting. He was hoping to force the hand of City Manager Emilio González, ordering him to bring the final proposed lease to a commission vote before November’s election.
The two commissioners who voted against placing the deal on the 2018 ballot were Mr. Reyes and Wifredo “Willy” Gort. Mr. Reyes is up for re-election this fall and Mr. Gort is term limited, so someone else will represent his district. Mr. Reyes wants a vote on a final lease before the fall election, while he and Mr. Gort remain on the commission.
Without a vote, commissioners directed Mr. González to report on the status of lease negotiations, along with a call for a lease before the fall election and a request that no outside consultants be hired without commission approval.
Those items are now written into one resolution which, if approved, would direct the manager to report “on the current status of the negotiations for the proposed ground lease and master development agreement between the City of Miami and Miami Freedom Park LLC, for approximately 73 acres of city-owned property … at the next city commission meeting.”
The resolution also directs the city manager “to present any negotiated lease for review, consideration, and approval by the Miami City Commission prior to the November 2019 General Municipal Elections;” and further instructs the city manager and city administration that “no outside consultants, law firms, real estate appraisal or brokerage firms, or similar consultant shall be retained without first securing city commission approval in each such instance.”
The resolution is sponsored by Mr. Reyes and Commissioner Joe Carollo.
When Mr. Reyes first brought up the Miami Freedom Park development, he said he wanted a commitment that the lease would come to the commission before this November’s election.
He said then, “I am up for re-election. Those in favor [of the deal] may use as a tactic: ‘Let’s wait and get this guy out.’”
The proposed resolution says the city aims to provide residents, visitors, and guests with all expected municipal services as well as the opportunity to engage in recreational, sporting and hobbyist activities through the provision of facilities for those activities.
And it notes the city owns the 131 acres at 1400 NW 37th Ave. known as the Melreese Golf Course.
It goes on to say that Miami Freedom Park LLC wants to design and develop 73 of the acres “for the purposes of constructing a soccer stadium, public park, technology hub, art and entertainment spaces, food and beverage venues, and a hotel and conference center with ancillary commercial uses.”
The resolution concludes: “… in the interests of public transparency, public information, public engagement, and a careful stewardship of the public resources such as this very important Site, the City Commission passes this Resolution issuing certain directives and restrictions relative to the proposed development of the site.”
It then sets out the three directives to the city manager.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocrKLy_LNcc
HIGHLIGHTS #MEMvTBR | 03-09-2019
USL Championship
Memphis 901 FC kicks off its inaugural season in the USL Championship with a visit from the Tampa Bay Rowdies at AutoZone Park.
Visit https://www.uslchampionship.com for upcoming games, live scores and match highlights.
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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/houston-dynamo/concacaf-champions-league-houston-dynamo-eliminated-by-tigres-uanl/
Concacaf Champions League: Houston Dynamo eliminated by Tigres UANL
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https://au.sports.yahoo.com/david-beckhams-hilarious-response-awful-statue-prank-000033153.html
David Beckham's hilarious response to awful statue prank
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https://www.pedestrian.tv/sport/david-beckham-james-corden-statue-prank/
David Beckham Got Stitched Up By James Corden With An Extremely Bung Statue
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