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!
