Thursday, November 21, 2013

LeBron James interested in joining David Beckham's ownership group

Two of the biggest stars in their respective sports are thinking of teaming up.

The Miami Heat's LeBron James and soccer star David Beckham are talking about joining forces to possibly bring a MLS team to Miami.

"We're working on it," James said.

"There is some interest on both sides. David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years and I think it would be great for this city to have a football club," James told the Miami Herald. "There is interest on both sides, but it’s preliminary talks but there is some open dialogue."

Beckham has the option to buy into MLS at a discounted rate, a privilege that was in his deal to join the LA Galaxy in 2007. The league confirmed in October that it is in discussions with Beckham about owning a team with reports consistently indicating Miami would be the former England international's location of choice.

Beckham has been scouting possible stadium sites in Miami.


''I am excited about owning a team ... continuing to be part of the MLS in the future,'' Beckham told the Associated Press in October. "Miami excites me because I think it's a city that is very excitable."

James currently has a small stake in the Liverpool of the  Barclay’s Premiere League.

"We don’t know" how viable the Miami market would be for a new-look MLS team, James said. "The research is still being made out but I think it could be huge. But, you never know. I think this is a great town for soccer. There are a lot of soccer players here. There’s a great youth [system] of soccer here. And people love the city as well, so that definitely will help."

Overall soccer has always been a tough sell in the United States. If MLS can have James behind one of it's teams it might just catch on.

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