CABJ: City of Atlanta Boca Juniors

A multitude of factors make Atlanta the obvious destination for a Boca Juniors MLS franchise.

2011 got off to a great start for Boca Juniors, the legendary Argentine squad and one of the world’s most marketable and recognizable futbol brands. Marti­n Palermo and the boys from La Boca beat cross-town rival River in the year’s first Superclasico on Saturday night down in Mar del Plata. Apparently the taste of success beyond the friendly confines of the Bombonera now has Boca management gazing to greener pastures in los Estados Unidos.

Today multiple sources including ESPN are reporting that Boca has been in talks with MLS officials about bringing the franchise to the U.S., not unlike what Mexican club Chivas did when launching Chivas USA in California. But the two biggest hurdles facing Boca’s northern migration are a.) tapping a sugar daddy sponsor and b.) finding an American market that’s LXF (Loco por Futbol) and hungry for its own MLS franchise.

In the spirit of bridging the gap, InvestBA would like to offer ten reasons the City of Atlanta would be the perfect market for the Xeneize invasion. Atlanta has world-class sporting facilities, countless youth and adult soccer leagues, a fan base actively lobbying for MLS, a history of absorbing out-of-market franchises like the Milwaukee Braves, a fast-growing Hispanic community, a tradition of wealthy team owners from the private sector like Arthur Blank and Ted Turner, direct flights to Buenos Aires, a solid relationship with Mayor Macri and the City of Buenos Aires, an Argentine Consulate and the corporate headquarters of some of the world’s greatest companies with a strong presence in Argentina: The Coca-Cola Company, UPS and Delta Air Lines to name a few.

If Corona can sign a multi-million dollar, multi-year sponsorship deal with Chivas USA, think of the co-branding, cross cultural possibilities a Boca Juniors team playing in Atlanta would have for U.S. and Argentine companies seeking greater visibility both in Latin American households and with the 50 million-strong U.S. Hispanic population. ¡Dale Dale Boca in the ATL!

Atlanta Buenos Aires Coca-Cola

Southern Style: Atlanta and Buenos Aires are finding more ways to work and play together.

While they are not official “Sister Cities,” Atlanta and Buenos Aires are certainly showing signs of mutual interest and future flirtation. Just last week Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin met with BA Mayor Mauricio Macri and exchanged a variety of best practices regarding cultural, urban transit and environmental programs.

The most exciting news from a BA tourism standpoint was the joint announcement that BA would play host to an International Jazz Festival while Atlanta would sponsor Tango Appreciation Week. Both announcements were undoubtedly well received by Atlanta-based Delta Airlines which offers daily non-stops between the Capital of the South and the Argentine capital.

And more Atlanta/Buenos Aires good vibrations were felt this week when the Argentine National Team, recently on the verge of elimination, defeated Uruguay and qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In a twist of international futbol irony, Pepsi sponsors the U.S. National Team, while The Coca-Cola Company is the official sponsor of Argentina. The Atlanta-based company and its beverage brands (including Dasani and Powerade) are not only synonymous with the National Team, their creative ad campaigns (YouTube Video) demonstrate a real understanding of the passion for futbol in BA.

 

Bariloche

Mendoza

Uruguay

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