Florida MLS Team

[Stateside Gooner]

Oh There would be no way Orlando would build a stadium for an MLS team.

[MightyMouse]

I was thinking about the large brit population in Kissimmee, and I do know Disney think about it from time to time. But you are probably right. Its not that Orlando isnt a Soccer town, its that its not even a sports town. :(

Yeah what is up with that HUGE large Brit population there in Orlando. They seem to be buying up property like its going out of style there!

[Goodsport]

I really hope that both Miami/Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa get MLS expansion teams soon. The fans in both markets did not deserve to have their teams contracted (as a matter of fact, no market's fans deserve to have their team contracted or relocated)!


-G

[SoccerPrime]

Hey gooner (and any other Orlando peeps) a bunch of us area soccer nuts will probably be meeting up at Fiddler's Green for the Jan 28 friendly between Korea and USA (if it happens).
Let me know if you want details.

[Stateside Gooner]

Hey gooner (and any other Orlando peeps) a bunch of us area soccer nuts will probably be meeting up at Fiddler's Green for the Jan 28 friendly between Korea and USA (if it happens).
Let me know if you want details.

Absolutley, If I havent moved to Denver by then. Its one of my 'locals' on the odd chance I get out for a beer. Was there for many games last world Cup, Great atmosphere. Are you one of those rowdy Rollins boys or one of the few faithfull US supporters in FL?

So why do you support RSL?

[Stateside Gooner]

Yeah what is up with that HUGE large Brit population there in Orlando. They seem to be buying up property like its going out of style there!

Mostly for the current bun.

[SoccerPrime]

Absolutley, If I havent moved to Denver by then. Its one of my 'locals' on the odd chance I get out for a beer. Was there for many games last world Cup, Great atmosphere. Are you one of those rowdy Rollins boys or one of the few faithfull US supporters in FL?

So why do you support RSL?
#1-we had about 15 at the last WCQ match at Fiddlers
#2-latter, although Rollins has a good team, I am more general soccer fan but I especially root for the USMNT, PDL and MLS.
#3-Long story short: because like you I would like to move out west for work and RSL is in Utah where I want to be. :)

[Stateside Gooner]

What about the US qualifier in Feb against T & T?
Will Fiddlers show that do you think?

[SoccerPrime]

Yes we are planning on meeting there for Fish and Chips or Corn Beef&Cabbage for all the WCQs.
Also, if there are going to be any friendlies (not likely at this point) they will probably be at Fiddlers!
Send me your email and I'll add you to our announcement list.

[Paul. A]

I'd love to see a team in Orlando but I don't think British tourists would care about an MLS team. And as for British people who live here like myself, I wouldn't rely that much on them either. I'd hate to be wrong! I want MLS back. But I'd rather see a SSS stadium in Tampa first, even if it's much further for me to drive.

[Auxodium]

call me foolish :p but why did Miami and Tampa Bay fold? i thought they were doing well? :o well on paper it did :o

[SoccerPrime]

I am surprised you haven't already gotten several epistle length replies from the Great Scribes here at BS. Perhaps they feel Florida MLS fans don't deserve an answer any more.

In any case, the skinny of the folding of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the the Miami Fusion is ownership. Horowitz, the owner of the Fusion felt that he was losing too much money (which is true, MLS teams until recently bled money big time). Horowitz wasn't in it for the long haul. Tampa on the other hand was always controled by MLS (ala Montreal Expos of MLB) and never had a owner. While the Mutiny might have slightly less than average in attendance, its overall drain on the limited monies of MLS sealed its doom.
Hope that answers your question.

[swedcrip34]

I am surprised you haven't already gotten several epistle length replies from the Great Scribes here at BS. Perhaps they feel Florida MLS fans don't deserve an answer any more.

In any case, the skinny of the folding of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the the Miami Fusion is ownership. Horowitz, the owner of the Fusion felt that he was losing too much money (which is true, MLS teams until recently bled money big time). Horowitz wasn't in it for the long haul. Tampa on the other hand was always controled by MLS (ala Montreal Expos of MLB) and never had a owner. While the Mutiny might have slightly less than average in attendance, its overall drain on the limited monies of MLS sealed its doom.
Hope that answers your question.

He's in Australia if I read his bio right, so he's probably not a Florida MLS fan.

I'd answer his question if he'd rephrase the last part so that it made sense to me.

An easy misconception around here was that Florida was a worse market than SJ, KC, Dallas, and Denver. Though the humidity makes outdoor summer games a tougher sell, the attendance in Florida wasn't that bad. Neither team had a good stadium situation or an owner that wanted to fund the team in 2002. Dallas is the home of Hunt. Denver is the home of Anschutz. KC has a Hunt NFL team. Dallas and Colorado now have committed owners with SSS's, something that wasn't in sight in 2002 for Florida. SJ had an operator at the time (the NHL Sharks). So when Anshcutz, Hunt, and Kraft stepped back and decided what to do with the teams no longer with owners (Dallas, TB, and Miami) it was an easy decision that Hunt take his hometown Dallas team, Anschutz keep his hometown Dever team, and both would push for SSS or finding local owners that could get one done. This was also the exact same time as MLB was trying to contract the Expos and Twins. MLB was facing political and legal obstacles. Contracting 2 teams from 1 state made it an easy decision based on travel considerations and that noone in Florida was going to fight MLS (lawmakers were more worried about the Marlins or Devil Rays being the replacements for the Twins in the MLB contraction sweepstakes). TB had just come off an awful season (fired the coach, horrible record, eliminated from playoffs early in season, and little fan hope). Miami had shown that the stadium location there probably wasn't a great long-term solution. If you look at MLS today with all but 3 teams on solid tracks to SSS's and the other 2 being dangled for relocation, the changes in 2002 were very healthy for league finances/stability. 2 markets had to go and unfortunately Florida took the hit.

Let's look at this way (using median's)

2001 attendance
Team Year G Total Average Growth Median
Columbus 2001 13 227,644 17,511 13.3% 17,947
MetroStars 2001 13 270,477 20,806 18.1% 17,543
Chicago 2001 14 229,438 16,388 22.4% 15,254
DC United 2001 12 258,213 21,518 15.8% 15,065
New England 2001 13 203,501 15,654 1.2% 14,691
Los Angeles 2001 13 226,035 17,387 -14.8% 13,844
Colorado 2001 13 214,249 16,481 31.0% 12,652
Dallas 2001 13 163,465 12,574 -4.0% 11,877
Miami 2001 14 156,481 11,177 49.8% 10,081
Tampa Bay 2001 14 146,704 10,479 10.9% 9,883
Kansas City 2001 13 142,402 10,954 20.2% 9,361
San Jose 2001 13 125,250 9,635 -22.7% 8,673

Best pre-2001 attendance
Team Year G Total Average Growth Median
Los Angeles 1998 16 348,549 21,784 5.6% 19,869
MetroStars 1996 16 382,360 23,898 19,764
New England 1997 16 342,762 21,423 12.6% 18,647
Columbus 2001 13 227,644 17,511 13.3% 17,947
DC United 1997 16 267,171 16,698 9.4% 16,780
Chicago 2001 14 229,438 16,388 22.4% 15,254
San Jose 1996 16 275,712 17,232 14,592
Dallas 1999 16 195,381 12,211 11.5% 12,885
Tampa Bay 1999 16 209,700 13,106 27.1% 12,793
Kansas City 1996 16 206,044 12,878 11,574
Colorado 2001 13 214,249 16,481 31.0% 12,652
Miami 2001 14 156,481 11,177 49.8% 10,081

the trend in Miami was up, SJ was down about 25% with an almost linear drop downwards. In 2001 (though the decision was probably made before this season), TB and MIA outdrew SJ and KC. They weren't that far off from Dallas and Colorado (who had attendance on the rise). Long-term, they hadn't been much worse markets than any of those 4 when you look at max attendance (SJ had one good first year). All 4 of the others had previous <10k seasons. MLS decided to contract (wisely). 2 teams were needed. KC had a reasonable stadium situation at the time compared to other teams. Dallas had a SSS in the works. SJ had a new operator. Colorado was thought to be among the 2 to go for much of the season, but with Anschutz living in town and a record high in 2001, they must have barely survived. Maybe Anschutz liked having a Denver team, maybe he knew he stood a good chance of getting local interest and a SSS deal (Florida, California, New York, and Massachusetts are generally the 4 tough states to get government financing for stadiums if you look at other sports).

In short, no owner, no SSS, no hope for either soon - they were the 2 to go. It's not exactly fair for people on here to continually refer to them as the failed markets as if they were any worse than 4 still in MLS. Whenver an owner/SSS plan comes forward, MLS will look at returning to Florida. Looking back, SJ and KC may have been better options to go. Miami hosts tons of soccer, has 3 stadiums wanting soccer (none MLS adequate) and MLS failing to sell Glazer on MLS was one of the biggest missed opportunites IMO now that he wants Man U. He took a near 100% football publicly funded stadium and probably would want that for a SSS and knew he couldn't get it. Hunt, Anschutz, and Kraft have shown in the past a faith in private stadium investment (Gillete, HDC, CCS) that I don't think Glazer has.

[SoccerPrime]

Swed, you are very correct. Nice post.
BTW Did you know the RSL and Columbus Crew are playing a exhibition match in Tampa on Feb 12?

[swedcrip34]

Swed, you are very correct. Nice post.
BTW Did you know the RSL and Columbus Crew are playing a exhibition match in Tampa on Feb 12?

I'd heard something like that. Please let me know when tickets become available. Thanks.

[G Enriquez]

Swed, you are very correct. Nice post.
BTW Did you know the RSL and Columbus Crew are playing a exhibition match in Tampa on Feb 12? It's a charity match in Tom Fitzgerald's name. It will be played at the University of Tampa.

[SoccerPrime]

It's a charity match in Tom Fitzgerald's name. It will be played at the University of Tampa.
G, doesn't U of Tampa play at USF's soccer stadium in Temple Terrace?
And yes, the exhibition match will be played in Coach Fitzgerald's honor and proceeds will go to his soccer scholarship fund at U of Tampa.

[worldfootballgenius]

I think Florida had bad luck. I would be very upset if MLS closed expansion someday without a Florida team. The Olympic development programs are all in florida aren't they? Lots of great yourth soccer if not the best. Hell, there's always the huge foreign market in Florida. I think the right market and the right leadership in florida can lead to a very financially successful MLS team in florida. Ft. Lauderdale anyone?

[soccer4sFlorida]

GUATEMALA vs. DENMARK

January 29th 2005 4:00PM
Lockhart Stadium
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
*Kids 6 years of age and under accompanied by an adult are free.

Advanced Ticket $21.00
General Adminssion $10.00

www.ticketfusion.com

SUPPORT soccer @ LockhartSSS, "A" league 2006

http://www.soflastrikers.com/forums/

[soccer4sFlorida]

Guatemala tops Denmark


Ruiz's 2 goals spark rally

By Jeff Rusnak
Special correspondent
Posted January 30 2005

FORT LAUDERDALE · Guatemala was down a goal and its throng of supporters was getting restless midway through the first half of Saturday's friendly against the Denmark under-21 team.

The scoreline and the mood changed abruptly within minutes thanks to two goals by striker Carlos Ruiz that roused the Guatemalans to a 3-2 win in front of an estimated 12,000 fans at Lockhart Stadium.











Ruiz's second-half replacement, Juan Carlos Plata, scored the third Guatemala goal in the 66th minute. Both Denmark goals came on penalty kicks, the first by Leon Andreason in the ninth minute and the second by Morton Rasmussen in second-half stoppage time.

Guatemala used the match to prepare for a Feb. 9 World Cup qualifier against Panama. It looked as though the chapines would enter qualifying on a down note until Ruiz's goals in the 30th and 34th minutes invigorated the team and its faithful.

"The support was good for us and we thank them so much," Ruiz said of the fans. "Guatemalans have the dream for the team to play in their first World Cup."

The game's promoter announced the crowd at 8,770 in the 20,450-seat stadium, but the figure seemed wildly undercounted. Sideline seats, which numbers about 7,800 were mostly full, and each zone was nearly half full.

The younger Danes took the early initiative and were rewarded with Andreason's penalty kick goal. Referee Reggie Rutty cited Guatemalan defender Nestor Martinez for tripping Kasper Lorentzen in the 18-yard box and the call was not disputed.

Denmark's U-21s controlled play for the next 20 minutes and quieted supporters who expected more from Guatemala. The chapines broke the spell in the 29th minute when Ruiz ran onto a Gonzalo Romero pass behind the Denmark defense and won a penalty kick on a tackle by Denmark goalkeeper Theis Rasmussen.

Ruiz finished the PK for his fourth goal in his last six games to tie it 1-1. Guatemala seized the momentum and Ruiz got a second breakaway when he collected captain Guillermo Ramirez's pass with only Rasmussen to beat. The Los Angeles Galaxy striker skillfully slotted a shot inside the left post to make it 2-1 and set the attacking tone for Plata's clincher.

"We came out a little overconfident," Guatemala coach Ramon "il primitivo" Maradiaga said through a translator. "When they saw we were down on the scoreboard, they realized they needed to pick up their game."

Guatemala will return to Lockhart to play Haiti on Feb. 13.