"The Orange Bowl site connects with the soccer public in the city and we believe a MLS team in Miami could serve a part of the community that is not necessarily served by other sports at the moment."

-- MLS spokesman Dan Courtemanche on the massive omnbus package for downtown Miami that includes the demolition of the Orange Bowl and its replacement by a new baseball park for the Florida Marlins and a soccer-specific venue. Miami Dade County backed the plan on Tuesday and is ready to put aside $50 million for the new soccer stadium that could help persuade MLS to grant Miami an expansion team. (Reuters)