David Beckham's Miami venture a big risk, say experts
Critics are saying the brand name and bling might not be enough to see city rise from ashes after having two football teams fold there in the past
The worst place in the United States for soccer. The biggest challenge in sport.
Those were the reactions from two high-profile figures in US football to David Beckham's widely anticipated announcement on Wednesday that he is to build a club from scratch in Miami.
The former Manchester United and England player, together with an investment group that could yet include Miami Heat basketball icon LeBron James, is forking out a reported US$25 million for the ambitious Major League Soccer franchise.
It's a lot more than David Beckham coming in, getting a few players and throwing them together. I hope it's going to work. But it's going to take a lot more work than even David thinks
The MLS is hoping the ex-England captain and his new team - who are not expected to be playing until 2017 at the earliest - can increase the appetite for soccer in a country that still finds the "beautiful game" something of a turnoff.
Beckham said he was under no illusions as to the scale of the task in an area that has already seen the demise of two soccer clubs: Miami Fusion and Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
"He's picked the worst possible city for this franchise," said Rodney Marsh, a former Manchester City striker who finished his career and managed in the US in the 1970s and 80s.
Marsh, who is still heavily involved in United States football, said the Fusion struggled to get enough fans through the gates, despite signing renowned Colombian Carlos Valderrama to attract Miami's large Hispanic community.
Hemorrhaging money, the Fusion folded more than a decade ago, leaving Miami without a top-level football team.