It's been a long time coming...
10 years in fact for David Beckham.
But he and his "Miami Beckham United" ownership group FINALLY brought Major League Soccer to Miami.
"Welcome Miami!," screamed MLS Commissioner Don Garber -- hands cupped -- to the soccer faithful, making it official.
David Beckham Helps Bring Major League Soccer Team To Miami
Welcome to the Miami Sports Weekly Rundown, I'm David Baumann.
On January 14, we told you it was "starting to feel inevitable" that MLS was coming to Miami.
Just two weeks later it's a reality.
"I've always believed in Miami," Beckham told MLS.com. "People have always told me it's a difficult city for sports franchises. It's very difficult to have a successful team, but I've not seen it like that. I see that we're bringing a global sport to a global city that is vibrant, that is diverse and that is ready for football."
So what took so long?
Why didn't this happen in 2017... or any year before that?
Simply put, the league wanted Beckham's ownership group to have more local ties.
In fact, Garber confirmed that on Monday, telling the media, "(Miami) just did not have the strength of local ownership."
That was until the Mas brothers came along.
Jorge and José Mas are co-owners of MasTec, a multi-billion-dollar engineering firm in South Florida. They're philanthropists. They have deep roots in Miami dating back to their father David Mas Canosa, the founder of the Cuban American National Foundation.
Jorge contacted Marcelo Claude of Miami Beckham United recently (and CEO of Sprint) to discuss a collaboration... and voilà!
"It was a magical moment," Claure told MLS.com. "We found a local partner who knows Miami... If it weren't for David, or Jorge and José, we would not be here today."
"I think the plans we have for a soccer team are different, are innovative," Jorge Mas said. "I think it's going to be a proud symbol for Miami."
"I'm full of hope, full of dreams, full of big goals," said Claure. "This is the finishing touch on one phase of our lives -- to actually get a team. And tomorrow begins the most exciting phase -- which is actually to go build a team."
They did it.
They finally did it.
There's MLS coming to Miami - and it's official.
Now the fun part begins...
It's time to build a team.
David Baumann is a Sports Columnist for 305area.com and can be heard Tuesdays, 7-9pm on EK Sports, 96.9 The Game Orlando (or anywhere on iHeartRadio).
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