Barcelona arrives in New York looking to expand US market

FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2016, file photo, FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, celebrates after scoring against Sevilla with his teammate Neymar during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. Looking to capitalize on its biggest assets — superstars like Messi and Neymar — and the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S., Barcelona opened a commercial office in New York this week that will lead the team's efforts to expand its business, gain more fans across the Atlantic and help the sport grow in America. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez File) FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2016, file photo, FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, celebrates after scoring against Sevilla with his teammate Neymar during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. Looking to capitalize on its biggest assets — superstars like Messi and Neymar — and the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S., Barcelona opened a commercial office in New York this week that will lead the team's efforts to expand its business, gain more fans across the Atlantic and help the sport grow in America. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez File)

By Associated Press September 7, 2016 3 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Barcelona’s official motto is “més que un Club”, or “more than a team” in the Catalan language.

In an effort to take over the U.S. market, the Spanish soccer powerhouse is showing that it’s also a global, multimillion dollar business.

Looking to capitalize on its biggest assets – superstars like Lionel Messi and Neymar – and the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S., Barcelona opened a commercial office in New York that will lead the team’s efforts to expand its business, gain more fans across the Atlantic and help the sport grow in America.

“We are coming to open new lines of relationships with a lot of companies,” Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu said Tuesday during the opening of the office. “Being in the U.S., probably other brands, other companies will like to partner with us.”

Barcelona already has commercial deals with four American companies – Nike, Gillette, Gatorade and Black & Decker. It also claims to be the most popular soccer team in the country with about 19 million fans, followed by Manchester United with 17 million. The Premier League club is owned by the U.S.-based Glazer family, which also owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.