David Beckham picks Miami for Major League Soccer franchise
Star looking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to set up team
With his playing career over, former England captain David Beckham has decided his next move: starting a Major League Soccer team in Miami.
Since leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy in December, and retiring from the game after a subsequent five-month stint at Paris Saint-Germain, Beckham has been mulling over the location for his MLS franchise.
Beckham has now made up his mind and he would pay a discounted rate of US$25 million to start an MLS expansion team in Miami, a person with knowledge of the situation said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because plans for the team aren’t being publicly discussed yet.
The option of becoming a team owner was included in the MLS contract Beckham signed when joining the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
“We know that Miami is one of the most passionate soccer markets in North America,” MLS Executive Vice President Dan Courtemanche said. “We have met with David Beckham regarding ownership of an expansion team, and we look forward to David one day owning an MLS club.”
There are currently 19 MLS teams, and league commissioner Don Garber hopes to expand to 24 teams by the 2020 season. A 20th team is already in place to begin playing in 2015 after Premier League club Manchester City and its partner, the New York Yankees, paid an expansion fee of US$100 million to launch New York City FC.
The MLS still has to give Beckham the go-ahead to make Miami the location of the franchise.