Barca Pushing Hard For Miami MLS Franchise

These days, it’s as basic as the opening kickoff: Every team, even one that doesn't exist yet, needs an official website.

This weekend, Barcelona opened their new website in an attempt to bolster their chances of bringing a new MLS franchise to Miami. The Catalan giants have teamed with local businessman Marcelo Claure  -- who already owns Bolivia's Club Bolivar -- to bring MLS back to South Florida.  

The state of Florida has been without an MLS team since the folding of both the Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 2001.

The website, www.miamifcb.com, calls the new squad "The team of the Americas" and gives an open forum to fans to voice their support of a franchise in South Florida. It even allows expectant supporters to put down a $20 deposit on season tickets.

There is also soon to be a "Name the Team" contest on the site, which will allow local fans to submit names for the new side.

With the league in the process of deciding where they will expand to after already having granted teams to Seattle and Philadelphia, the launching of this site could give Miami an advantage if the site can generate enough responses. The franchise is in the running with several other cities in an attempt to become one of 18 teams MLS would like to have playing no later than the start of the 2012 season.  

The site lists Barcelona’s extensive record of successes which includes 18 Spanish League titles and two UEFA Champions League crowns and insists that the success can be duplicated in Florida.

“The Miami MLS franchise will follow in the tradition established by FCB and will import its model to deliver high levels of success on and off the field,” Barcelona President Joan Laporta and Claure said in a joint statement on the site. “Our ultimate goal is to bring great soccer to Miami-Dade County and to engage soccer fans and supporters across Spain, Miami, the Caribbean, and throughout Latin America.”

Barca’s interest in bringing a team to MLS could mean a great thing for American soccer. As one of the world's richest clubs, the Spaniards can certainly afford the relatively cheap costs of an American soccer franchise and the large following that the club has worldwide would also bring more creditability to the league. If owning a franchise in America happens and works out well for Barcelona, other European clubs are sure to follow their lead.

--Allen Ramsey, Goal.com