MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Thursday said that the league "expects to make an announcement next month" regarding David Beckham's prospective expansion team in Miami, according to Craig Davis of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. The comments marked the "most encouraging sign" yet that Beckham will "locate an expansion franchise in South Florida." Garber said, "Right now, we've got a lot of work to do, and we'll announce something in early February." Davis notes the Miami-Dade County Commission last month "authorized Mayor Carlos Gimenez to negotiate with Beckham's group on a stadium" at PortMiami, though the county "would not provide funding" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/17). Garber said, "We can't go to Miami without the right stadium solution. David understands that. The city understands that. That's an indisputable fact. We can't have different rules in Miami than we have in any other city" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/17).
CAROLINA IN MY MIND: MLL Charlotte Hounds President & Managing Partner Jim McPhilliamy said that he is "leading a group to buy the franchise rights" of the USL Pro Charlotte Eagles, and that he "intends to put the new team at Memorial Stadium" for the '15 season. He added that the "ultimate goal" is to bring MLS to Charlotte by '20. In Charlotte, David Scott noted the sale "must be approved by the USL." McPhilliamy said that the Hounds group "has an agreement in place to acquire the rights for about $500,000 at the end of the season" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/16).
