The promise of an MLS team returning to Miami has always outpaced the reality, writes a scathing Jeff Rusnak. “The most recent example,” he says, “is Mayor Manny Diaz’s inability to lure a big-time investor to field a team there as early as 2011, despite offering $50 million in public funds to build a stadium at the Orange Bowl site.”
The “eternal promise, false as it always turns out to be,” was renewed last week by a U.K. press rumor positing David Beckham as a possible future team owner in the city. Rusnak is reminded of a similar story two years ago when a Spanish newspaper reported that Real Madrid had outlined its ‘Miami 2010’ project “with the goal of placing an MLS team here. We’re still waiting for that news conference.”
“Miami makes a fine soccer seductress with its good looks and demographics, but we’ve yet to see even a meaningful courtship, let alone a full-fledged commitment. Even so, though the promises are empty, at least the Magic City runs in impressive company when it comes to MLS rumors. First Real Madrid, then Beckham. Who’s next? Madonna and A-Rod?”