Special thanks to our source on all things Miami for the tip off.

It looks like the Barcelona Miami bid has a website here.

And it looks like they are fairly confident in their chances of being selected for 2011 as they already have a Name The Team contest.

And here is their pitch:

Dear Soccer Fans:

In 2007, Major League Soccer (“MLS”) took a significant step forward with the signing of David Beckham. The signing attracted international attention, a broader and new fan base, and additional interest from sponsors. As a result, MLS is currently healthier than ever, and well-positioned for future growth. We are confident that, as with Beckham, the inherent value, prominence, and following that Futbol Club Barcelona (FCB) will bring to the MLS, will drive a Beckham-like revolution in the MLS and beyond. We know that our style of play, commitment to excellence, and dedication to you, the fans, will be warmly welcomed in Miami and in other cities throughout the U.S., Latin America, Spain, and beyond.

To put FCB’s role in the soccer world into context, FCB’s motto is Mes que en Club which, translated from Catalan means “More than a Club.” In fact, in the world of soccer, FCB is an institution. During the 2006-2007 season, FCB was one of the wealthiest soccer club in the world, with revenues exceeding three-hundred and eighty million Euros (€380,000,000). Beyond its global recognition and prominence, FCB has a winning culture that will be embedded in the Miami MLS franchise. FCB has won 18 Spanish league titles, 24 Copa del Rey tournaments, 11 Spanish Super Copa trophies, 2 UEFA Champion League titles, 4 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup titles, and 2 European Super Cup trophies. The Miami MLS franchise will follow in the tradition established by FCB and will import its model to deliver high levels of success on and off the field. As a result of its achievements and global following, FCB currently has over 155,000 registered club members and over 1,782 officially registered fan clubs around the world. Furthermore, in Spain, 25% of the national population supports FCB, and outside of Spain, FCB is the team with the most European fans.

Under President Laporta’s leadership, FCB has developed a strong tradition and commitment to leading in the world of soccer. For example, FCB’s decision to forgo millions of sponsorship dollars for rights to its jersey to instead feature UNICEF was completely new, not only in soccer, but to sports in general. Given its recent history as a soccer trendsetter, we are confident that FCB’s participation in MLS will attract additional tier one teams from the top European leagues. We further believe that this will add substantial value to the MLS, while increasing the level of play and solidifying a global following of MLS.

Our ultimate goal is to bring great soccer to Miami-Dade County and to engage soccer fans and supporters across Spain, Miami, the Caribbean, and throughout Latin America. Miami is well-known as the capital of Latin America, with a large and diverse Hispanic and Caribbean population, and we want our team to reflect that and relate to us. We want to become Ibero-America’s team. A team with strong roots in the local community, and dedicated to Miami-Dade County, but also a team with international representation, and one that all Ibero-Americans can associate with, root for, and support. Beyond providing a high level of attractive soccer, we will recruit players from throughout Latin America, Spain, and the Caribbean to join us in our vision and goal to not only be the best in the MLS but also be Ibero-America’s team.

In the coming weeks, MLS will be evaluating bids from different cities and ownership groups, and while we welcome the competition, we truly believe that the combination of Miami, FC Barcelona, and a strong local ownership group are a winning proposition. To help us convince the MLS of our vision and your support we encourage you to officially sign up as fans on this site and to express your interest in season tickets. We thank you for your support, and hope to bring MLS soccer to Miami for you in the spring of 2010.

Sincerely,
Joan Laporta & R. Marcelo Claure