Hex Wrecks Beck's

Over the years David Beckham has had to put up with all kinds of media criticism.  He was red-carded and sent off in a vital World Cup match, supposedly he cheated on his wife, he is not the most articulate of men and he is immensely rich. As a result the press believes him to be fair game. For me, the good he has done vastly outweighs the bad. I have no hesitation in expressing my admiration for David Beckham as a footballer, a bloke and a dad. So when this blog is critical of Mr. Beckham, it's not personal. It’s rather that he has started a furore.

At the end of his career, Becks played for LA Galaxy, an American Major League Soccer team. I don't know much about MLS except its teams don't attract big crowds unless they are winning. I suppose this is the same everywhere, except arguably the English Premier League. According to Becks, he had a term written into his LA Galaxy contract which entitled him to own a MLS franchise, i.e. an American soccer team. Quite how this was achieved defeats me unless MLS itself was a party to his Galaxy contract or a separate deal was done at the same time as he signed for Galaxy.

I need to explain something American. A sports franchise (or right to own a team) is sanctioned by the governing body of the sport. Once granted, in the right sport and if successful, a franchise is extremely valuable and its owners have a strong position when negotiating with the city in which it is based.

Earlier this year, Becks was the frontman when it was announced that a new MLS franchise would be based in Miami. Indeed, Becks said he would like Sir Alex Ferguson to manage his team. Talk about pie in the sky.

Two weeks ago, Beckham announced that the stadium for his team would be sited on the Miami waterfront, next to the Miami Heat arena, to the annoyance and irritation of a group of cruise and shipping firms and a billionaire car dealer, Norman Braham, a former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Becks said he wanted to build a 25,000 seat stadium. His opponents launched a newspaper advertising campaign, claiming the stadium would likely cost $120 million, implied at the taxpayer's expense, that the development would threaten the city’s prosperity and that many jobs would be at risk. Furthermore, The Miami Seaport Alliance has already started an infrastructure project on the site, building tunnels connecting the port to major roads and improving the discharge of ships.

Mr Beckham, either you forgot or did not know a number of things, so forgive me but I must tell you some home truths. The first rule of property is not location. It is that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to do a good property deal on somebody else's doorstep. It is more likely that Yeovil Town will win the Premier League than you will have your stadium on the Miami Waterfront.

Next, what guarantee is there that a Miami soccer team will be winners? None, so what makes you and your colleagues think the Miami taxpayers would stump up for the stadium? In many cities, such as Minneapolis and Denver, this is what happens. The former paid for a baseball stadium, the latter for a new football stadium. But once built, there are still dangers for the taxpayers who paid. There is nothing to stop owners of a successful franchise from holding a city to ransom by deciding this would be a good time to move the franchise to another city. Blackmail is a dirty word but needs must in the sports world.

Miami has just paid for a new baseball stadium but attendance is poor because the Marlins aren't much good at the moment. The Dolphins have yet to have a good season since moving to their new Sun Life stadium. I hardly think Miami residents want another white elephant. Perhaps the Gods have hexed sports teams in Miami, permitting fans to worship only Miami Heat, the basketball team.

Mr Beckham, I wish you good fortune in America but I believe your future lies in coaching and management, not ownership. America is an extremely hard place for wannabe businessmen. My adored Tottenham Hotspurs are looking for a new manager. I wouldn't recommend you take the job if offered but I think you'd be happier working this side of the Atlantic.