Chances of a MLS team in South Florida?

Discussion in 'Inter Miami CF' started by stinky, Apr 12, 2012.

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  1. stinky

    stinky Member

    May 14, 2000
    Long Beach, NY
    hey all,

    just wondering if someone has any info on the chances of mls returning to south florida. either to ft. lauderdale area or miami?

    have there been recent talks?

    it seems the don has his heart set on a second ny area team.

    stinky
     
  2. Prime Time

    Prime Time Member

    May 1, 2004
    South Florida
    Not likely. Attendance is just okay but not great, no ownership and the stadium options are not really good ones (FIU and Lockhart).

    Orlando more likely to land a team.
     
  3. Prime Time

    Prime Time Member

    May 1, 2004
    South Florida
    Antique repped this.
  4. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Stinky, if you want to do something to help the chances of MLS coming to South Florida, make sure you attend all Strikers matches, and bring as many people as you can with you. MLS wants to be in South Florida at some point. We need to prove we are a market worthy of consideration sooner rather than later, so supporting the only pro team we have is the only way to do it. If the Strikers started averaging 7,500+ per game, the right people would notice. Lockhart could be renovated to support an MLS team once again FAR easier than it would be to plan, fund, and build a SSS anywhere e;se in all of South Florida. And don't even get me started about the stupid plastic field at FIU :rolleyes:....

    Team 20 will be NY2, don't doubt it. Expansion beyond that the league will be able to proceed with as slowly as they want. They can wait and hand-pick the situations they feel are best for them with no rush. But if you have a place like South Florida that the league has already identified as a place is eventually needs to be, then we have some influence on the situation by making our market too difficult to hold off and wait for.
     
  5. Jossed

    Jossed Member+

    Apr 23, 2011
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Watching MLS games on television is probably the best thing you can do to get MLS's attention. Garber took notice of the rating in Miami for the NY-LA game. The highest outside of the home markets.
     
  6. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Are you kidding me? Garber himself said it quite plainly - the #1 thing fans in South Florida can do to get an MLS team back is go support what we have, namely, the Strikers. The fact we have a huge tv market does mean something to the league, don't get me wrong. It's why Garber says they are "intrigued" by us. But it's down on the list from proving to anyone who might be viewing South Florida as a potential MLS market once again, that we will support American club soccer. There's only one place to do that - Lockhart Stadium.

    Everyone, and I mean everyone in the whole of the tri-county area who claims to want MLS should be at every Strikers game and pulling, pushing, dragging as many people as humanly possible along with them. No excuses about wah wah we only want Miami, or wah wah we won't come unless it's MLS, or wah wah wah we don't like Traffic. You don't want to support the Strikers, go find another sport to follow in South Florida, because if you're not supporting the Strikers, you don't really care about having pro soccer here at the highest level possible. (Not directing that at you Jossed, just up on my soapbox in general. LOL)
     
  7. futbol in Miami

    Colombia
    Sep 11, 2011
    Miami
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You dont think theres at least the possibility that FIU can change the turf? The stadium is already in place. Maybe if MLS comes knocking on their door one day, wouldnt it be in their best interest to make the required accomodations to natural grass?

    Im not saying its going to happen, but in the event that for some miracle Miami gets the nomination for a team, the plastic turf is the least of my worries.
     
  8. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    You're right about one thing, it's only one of the worries. The far bigger concern is the total and complete lack of support American club soccer has ever received from Miami. The only argument I've ever heard that even begins to approach having a small bit of sense is that it could work in Miami if a team full of DP's that actually won consistently could be built. Under the current league rules this is a pipe dream. And again, it's only one aspect of the entire picture. For MLS to work here, a team needs it's own stadium, or at the very least, one it controls and profits from, to be feasible long term. Some college's plastic football lined field in the wrong county is a ridiculous idea.

    Look, it really is simple. People try to make it harder than it is with things like what ifs and fairy tale scenarios of Beckham swooping in and using his discount ticket here rather than probably 6 - 10 other possible markets that make 1000 times more sense business wise. Here it is, for the 100th time, straight from Garber himself - you want MLS to take notice and be serious (more than "intrigued" :rolleyes:) about your market, support what you have, support the Strikers. There it is. People can make up all the cockamamie excuses they want about what they perceive as other possibilities. If South Florida came out and supported the Strikers to the tune of 7,500+ per game, MLS will push Orlando and Minnesota, and everyone else but NY2 right down the list, and probably even help facilitate for the right interested parties. And more importantly, it will prove to whatever investors are out there right now watching South Florida and contemplating their options, that MLS is certainly possible in this market, it just need the right money behind it to get there.
     
  9. pb9000

    pb9000 Member

    Apr 19, 2005
    Lauderhill, FL
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ultras Alive #49 has sparked some heated controversy with our guest Michelle Kaufman from The Miami Herald. Which is a better city for an MLS return Miami or Fort Lauderdale? Listen UA#49 for yourself to hear a quality interview with a quality guest and join in the fun.http://tinyurl.com/7a2gsvo
     
  10. Goforthekill

    Goforthekill Member

    Aug 13, 2011
    Minnesota
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    At first i thought Miami, because of it's larger population and downtown atmosphere, but now that the Marlins have moved out, there is only one other team in Ft. Lauderdale. They might be able to carry over more supporters and stuff in Ft. Lauderdale. it's a toss up for me between Miami at FIU stadium and Ft. Lauderdale at a renovated Lockhart stadium.
     
  11. Lucho305

    Lucho305 Member

    Inter Miami CF, Junior de Barranquilla
    United States
    Jul 9, 2008
    Miami
    Club:
    Miami FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wow, great podcast guys, the interview with Michelle was great. I really did believe she was negative like Peter said, but after hearing the interview, I'm amazed as how in depth she is with soccer, especially her preferred choice of a team for MLS in South Florida!! She preferred Miami, no offense to the Strikers. Everything she said, she took it straight out of my mouth, having a team in the city would be the best fit, especially the fact that it should have been next to the Marlins Ball Park, where a walk up crowd would be great. It's a shame they never went through with the soccer stadium, but that would have definitely increased our chances into MLS.

    Another thing I would like to say, is what Allen tweeted towards the end of the show, if Al Jazeera does bring its network here and is able to become the center of US soccer, how great would it be if they can conjure up a team, with deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep pockets (for DP's) as well as having their own network to play the matches on television. That would be awesome!! Did Allen or anyone follow on that idea? Making Al Jazeera a possible investor into MLS?

    Ed still owes me my jersey! LOL and I can't wait for the U.S. Open cup game tuesday against a very good San Jose team. Is there going to be a watch party near Miami? or if anything in Broward? Let Me Know, that would be a good game for the Strikers....
     
  12. waltlantz

    waltlantz Member

    Jul 6, 2010
    It's all up to ownership. Likely it will be a bit of a risk to attempt one again but I don't think it will be a white elephant. As long as there is good communtity outreach, like what SKC is doing.

    The lady from the Herald makes a real good push for Miami. Very good actually. However, provided FTL put something in a fairly central area with decent proximity to shops and restaraunts and hopefully links up with Broward County Transit and the new coastal Tri Rail service, I think you could get some people to come out from Miami as well.

    (Note I am not a SFL expert so I don't know where this could be).

    After all look at LA Galaxy, SKC and Chicago Fire. None of them are in downtown areas yet they draw fairly well.
     
  13. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    There isn't a better place in all of South Florida for pro soccer than Lockhart. She's old and she definitely needs some "beauty treatments" LOL but it is the best place for it to work. There really isn't anywhere else you could realistically build an SSS in South Florida, except maybe out west in Sunrise near the Panthers arena. South Florida isn't like a lot of large metro areas, public transportation isn't really a big thing for most of us. But Lockhart is easily accessible to our two main highways, I-95 and the Florida Turnpike, both of which have exits to the road Lockhart is on, and very close. And the stadium doesn't need to be in the middle of a destination area. Games end around 9:30, plenty of time for the younger crowd to head out to any night spot within the tri-county area, and also not too late for the families and soccer mom crowd to get the kids home. Besides, you don't need a pre-game destination, because that is more than covered by the fine gentlemen from The Tailgate Show. You won't find better tailgates anywhere!
     
  14. trevor_daniles

    Aug 19, 2007
    I think beckham brings mls to Miami. See interview here from the all star game:



    He doesn't deny the rumors...
     
  15. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    LOL Really? If that's what you got from that clip, than you are every bit as delusional as WSW is. Beckham is smart enough to know he can do WAY better than Miami to plunk down his one and only MLS expansion franchise golden ticket. Seriously. There has got to be at least a dozen safer markets for him to take a chance on.
     
  16. trevor_daniles

    Aug 19, 2007

    Way better than Miami? Like what city? And a city that not only beckham can own a home in and attract star players. Miami fits the bill.
     
  17. brentgoulet

    brentgoulet Member+

    Oct 12, 2005
    PuertoPlata, DomRep
    "Miami United SC" seems to think they will be playing in MLS by 2015 (link):
     
  18. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    If you don't know anything about the history of the game in South Florida, what attracts people in Dade County and what doesn't, then you need to do some research. Miami turns out for Barcelona, Chelsea, the Colombian national team - events. They do not turn out for American professional soccer. They never have. Nothing has changed in South Florida. The only chance for American pro soccer to work in this market is the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. If there was money behind the team to market them properly and upgrade Lockhart, we'd see large enough crowds to be talked about in the same circles as Orlando with respect to MLS chances. Eventually MLS will need this tv market. And for those who don't know, Dade and Broward is all one tv market.

    I don't know Beckham, but based on what I've seen from him, I'm assuming the guy is fairly intelligent. People with big money opportunities like his expansion ticket who are smart, they do their homework before jumping in. I wouldn't take him long to see Miami is an incredibly risky market given the history, and the fact that there is zero chance of a single cent of taxpayer money that would go to an SSS. And even if someone with huge bucks joined him and was willing to foot the entire bill for one, where in Dade are you going to put it? What will you do when it is half empty every game because MLS rules don't allow you to buy Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Neymar, Casillas, and a team full of all-stars, even if someone was willing to spend all those millions? You people just don't get it. Damn I sound like Kenn! LOL

    Beckham could look at Minnesota, Vegas, Orlando, San Antonio, Detroit - many other cities as safer bets right now. Hell, he'd have a safer investment getting someone to go in with him and buy the Strikers, fix up Lockhart, and take them to MLS. Honestly, if he did that, he wouldn't need a team full of all-stars to attract a few more people up from Dade. Just having the Strikers brand, and adding Beckham's brand would make it successful. But there are just some that continue to turn up their nose at anything not called "Miami." It's pathetic. Meanwhile, all anyone has ever been able to do is hold their nose and turn away at anything called Miami in the arena of pro soccer.....
     
  19. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Yeah...that's very nice of them to say. A brand new NPSL team thinks they'll be in MLS by 2015...in a city that has shown repeatedly it cares nothing for the domestic game..... No one besides NY2 is getting into MLS before 2017, watch and see. And God bless those Miami SC folks and their big dreams. I wish them a lot of luck....
     
  20. aetraxx7

    aetraxx7 Member+

    Jun 25, 2005
    Des Moines, IA
    Club:
    Des Moines Menace
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As a rule, I question the credibility of an organization with a logo like that. Nobody that would proudly use such a monstrosity of a crest has the capability to join MLS.
    That said,I love the pink and black color scheme and would welcome it into the league.
    However, it's a great crest for a youth program. It's also passable as a NPSL crest.
     
  21. drSoFlaFan

    drSoFlaFan DEFEND THE FORT!

    Feb 25, 2008
    Plantation, FL
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Anyone with any sense has already known that after plunking down $300+ million for the Marlins Ballpark, getting any public funding for a sports venue from Miami-Dade County / The City of Miami would be pretty much impossible, which means a new stadium for soccer would be out of the question unless 100% privately funded(also just as unlikely).

    Well after Jeff Loria's most recent shenanigans, a massive salary dump less than a year after the new ballpark has opened and after years of saying "no it'll be different if you build us a stadium", any shred of hope for public support in Dade has surely been squashed.

    FIU is unacceptable(sharing with CFB and plastic grass), so is Sun Life(sharing with NFL, CFB and way too large). There is no place to play in Dade and zero chance of a new place getting built.

    The only way MLS comes back to South Florida in any of our lifetimes is in Broward County or north. Either a renovated Lockhart or a new stadium, perhaps out by the BB&T Center at Sawgrass.
     
    RedRover and Smoke & Mirrors repped this.
  22. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Not only is DR spot on with all of that, but listening to one of the members of the ownership group for the Miami United NPSL team on Ultras Alive a couple of weeks ago...... Well let me say she sounded like a very nice lady. But not at all knowledgable about the pro soccer game in Miami, is probably a nice/fair way to describe how she sounded..... I can't see that team drawing more than a couple hundred people tops through the course of an NPSL season. Ironically enough, their greatest chance of ever hoping to be associated with an MLS squad is probably trying to work with the Strikers on becoming a reserve team for them, and then hoping someday the Strikers make it to MLS. I know the Silverbacks have a reserve team in the NPSL. It won't happen by 2015 though, even if things were set in motion tomorrow.
     
  23. SteveUSSF_ref8

    SteveUSSF_ref8 Member+

    United States
    Oct 25, 2010
    Sun City, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I tend to agree that it seems Miami is where Becks will finally end up after the playing days are over. As ironic as it may sounds, having Orlando ready to make the jump is what Miami needs to get a expansion team of their own. In the latest interviews with Phil Rawlins, i am under the opinion that MLS doesn't want to add Orlando till their is another city ready at the same time in the southeast.

    So, then with this in mind it makes perfect sense for Beckham to put together an ownership group for Miami. But, don't look for a Beckham team to carry the Strikers or Fusion name. I see him wanting to start with something new.

    [​IMG]
     
  24. drSoFlaFan

    drSoFlaFan DEFEND THE FORT!

    Feb 25, 2008
    Plantation, FL
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I would think someone with as illustrious a career as David Beckham, who has played for such storied clubs as Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan, would appreciate the history behind the Fort Lauderdale Strikers name.

    I would hope MLS has recognized the importance of preexisting history at this point, with 4 of the last 5 "expansion" teams coming out of the 2nd Division, 3 of those 4 bringing NASL names dating to the 1970s, the other, the Impact, bringing a name with nearly 20 years of history.

    And that's beside the fact that, as I noted above, if you want to put a team in South Florida, Broward County is the only viable option. No new stadium is getting built in Miami-Dade, and the two existing venues are unacceptable for a number of reasons. There is no place to play. And that's besides the overwhelming historical evidence that there is no support for the domestic game in Dade County. 6 pro teams have played in Miami-Dade over the years, all have either outright folded or moved to Fort Lauderdale, becoming the Strikers to massive upticks in support. I'll give Miami United SC 3-4 years before they become team #7 on that list.

    You'd need a new stadium in Fort Lauderdale as well, but there are a few very suitable locations and surely more political support for it here than in Miami. Even FAU Stadium in Boca Raton is a much better temporary option with real grass.

    I do agree that Orlando getting a team bolsters the chances of another Florida club to go along with them. Either SoFla or Tampa Bay. But then again it could just as easily be Atlanta as a southeast partner.

    Quite honestly the best thing for soccer in South Florida at this point would be for MLS to finalize NYC2 as team #20, and for Becks to jump in on ownership in LA or some other MLS market. It would put to bed the fantasy of him starting a team in Miami and force all so called soccer fans in the area to make a decision. Either support the local game, the Strikers, or sit at home. Some people aren't rallying around the team we have, they'd rather sit at home and tweet at David Beckham and Don Garber hoping to have an MLS team fall in their laps.
     
  25. SteveUSSF_ref8

    SteveUSSF_ref8 Member+

    United States
    Oct 25, 2010
    Sun City, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    According to past interviews David Beckham has stated that getting a built stadium for his expansion team would not be a problem from a financial standpoint by his owenership group. Also I don't think Ft. Lauderdale would be considered sexy enough for Beckham to recuit the players he want to play on his team. Miami would be a much easiler along with the glamor associated with South Beach.
     

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