20.10.2008 19:29
"We’ll bring the Barça image and brand to Miami"
Vanessa Forns
FC Barcelona’s corporate CEO, Joan Oliver, has set out the details of the recent bid presented by the club in Miami to become joint owner of an MLS franchise. He says that no financial risk is involved.
Speaking at a press conference, Joan Oliver said that the project, which does not entail any
financial cost for the club, is not being approached as a commercial transaction but rather is
designed to “reinforce Barça’s presence and impact in the US”. As a result,
“all sports and image decisions will be taken by FC Barcelona”.
A consolidated League
Joan Oliver said that “this is a project with a view to the future” and that the
club has decided to do it now because Major League Soccer (MLS) is more consolidated and is growing
in the US. “We have also found the ideal place and people to run the franchise,” added
Oliver.
Key Miami market
Here Joan Oliver pointed out that the team will be based in Miami, one of the biggest US TV
markets (along with New York, Los Angeles and Chicago) and which does not at present have an MLS
team. “It’s a gap waiting to be filled,” he said. In addition Miami “is
undergoing population changes, with an influx of people from Latin America who have a football
tradition”.
Well sited stadium
In addition the Barça project has another advantage in its stadium. The franchise will play
at the Florida International University ground which seats 18,000, though capacity can be expanded
up to 25,000, and has a strategic location in the city in a thriving area. “All of that means
this franchise can work,” said Oliver
No financial risk
The initial cost of the franchise is $40 million, a sum to be provided by the group of
investors led by Bolivian Marcelo Claure, who runs the largest company headed by a Latino in the
US. Barça, by contrast, will have no financial risk. “The only risk we face is to our
worldwide prestige, and that’s why we’ll be taking a hands-on approach in the sports
management of the team,” said Oliver. “We provide the image and the brand.”
Board fully informed
The negotiations have been handled with “the discretion required by any issue when
it’s still awaiting a final decision,” said Oliver. He stressed that the project has
been undertaken “with the full knowledge of the Board” and announced there would be a
Board meeting on Tuesday 28 October to approve the plan. If the project goes ahead,
“we’ll put it to delegates at the year’s general meeting”.
The press conference was attended by the Vice-Chairman for marketing and media, Jaume Ferrer,
and the Vice-Chairman for sports, Rafael Yuste.