Who wants a share of David Beckham’s MLS franchise in Miami? If you believe the latest rumor out of England, it appears a slew of the biggest moguls in Hollywood are interested in bringing soccer to South Beach.
Which superstar would make the best part-owner of an MLS team?
A report in the UK’s Daily Star on Sunday links Beckham’s franchise to a number of his old Los Angeles pals – motion picture heavyweights Tom Cruise and Will Smith among them – but also to Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, a noted soccer fan and co-star with Barcelona hero Lionel Messi in a series of recent commercials for Turkish Airlines.
There’s also talk of Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce in on the mix after he sold his shares in the Brooklyn Nets in September to become a sports agent.
The article indicates that Beckham “will limit the number of ‘small investor’ shares that will be made available to his friends as main financing for the team is in place.” Miami-Dade County unanimously approved a resolution to negotiate with a group led by the former LA Galaxy midfielder in order to find a stadium location for the franchise earlier this month.
The stadium will be 100 percent privately financed, and there will not be any request for public money from Miami-Dade County, according to Beckham's group.