SSS in Miami idea

[jri]

Here's a thought...

City of Miami has an area that they are desperately trying to develop...near downtown and near new arts center.....for the Florida Marlins, city was willing to give land, tax breaks etc. if a team located there.

Miami is a proven solid place to do international exhibitions. With the right teams, and spaced properly, you can average 25k+ for 20-25 extra games a year..

I could see an SSS working in Miami.....if (1) someone with right vision, and the bucks came along (2) That person could get commitment from USSF and/or organizing groups to get a certain numbers of soccer exhibitions (both US Nats, and other teams) along with MLS games to make the numbers work....ergo, you could more than double number of soccer dates for venue with a heavy soccer schedule....maybe you bring in some Latin recording artists for concerts? That could get you to 50-60 solid dates a year...

One last idea: Within the stadium, you house a (either) Latin Soccer/Sports Hall of Fame or a (World) Soccer Hall of Fame....make the stadium an attraction even during day. Have a few bars/restaraunts that would cater to the international clientel (food) that the stadium would attract. Make the stadium a place folks would go to watch their international club team play on weekends (too)...Have the revenue model squeeze every dollar out of the soccer fan in area- of which, there is no typical one (come to think of it, there is no Hooters in that part of city..that would do it (smile)...

The right site could have outstanding views of city of Miami and even a little water...(if not Bay, then Miami River- which is underrated)

Eventually, the Marlins are going to fold/leave anyway, so owner could have summer pro sports in city to himself.

(Since I've put the idea out there) All that's needed now...is someone passionate about soccer with $200 million (really more) to make it work (smile)...florida is often horrible for pro sports, but I think this could work if done properly (MLS team averaging 15-20k, sold out venue on many other dates..and a break-even profitable overall operating structure)

[luvdagame]

sounds ok. one off exhibitions?

maybe.

but mls in florida just makes me nervous.

[denver_mugwamp]

I hear the sound of flying pigs in the distance. Far, far in the distance.

[jri]

Few others US cities can allow 20-25 soccer exhibitions a year...and draw 25+ average....Miami has that capability (could hold international tourneys at stadium and Orange Bowl too)..

Despite popular perception, a Miami MLS team COULD average 15,000+....IF marketed properly.....

The thing is...for MLS in South Florida to succeed...it would have to play in Miami AND have a heavy tie-in (including revenue) to the international match-up possibilities the city affords (you can rotate Columbia, Brazil, Haiti, Jamaica....both national team and exhibitions) and draw great crowds here each and every year....throw in, too, the Central American minnows and Venezuela, Ecuador, etc....you've got 25 permutations right there...all addressing different target groups..

I'd think, part of the art of deal for SSS, is having more than just MLS games there (don't see how you make numbers work on MLS alone...schedule way too light)...Miami can make numbers work with (scheduling) creativity....also, you are talking major market here, which is also important to MLS... (sorry, but OKC or Rochester will not get MLS national-league respect)

[DoyleG]

Let MLS in Miami REST IN PEACE!!!!

[jri]

Admittedly, Miami is likely not MLS' best option, however, you can make the numbers work better than a lot of 2nd tier cities...

[SABuffalo786]

Originally posted by denver_mugwamp
I hear the sound of flying pigs in the distance. Far, far in the distance.

You must have really good hearing.

[USAsoccer]

For a myriad of reason...

Tampa is always a better choice than Miami. It is a better "sports" town, whose teams always outdraw their counterparts in Miami on a consistent and regular basis (in spite of Miami having better teams on average).

Tampa has always drawn bigger crowds for soccer than Miami...

Let MLS in Miami die the natural death it should.

[kckicker23]

MLS can't survive in the fickle world of Miami sports. Just look at the Marlins! They're leading the Wild Card race, but people only show up for games when Dontrelle Willis is pitching. Miami is a pathetic sports town that doesn't deserve an MLS team.

[uclacarlos]

jri: I'm really impressed with your vision.

[Revolt]

Originally posted by USAsoccer
For a myriad of reason...

Tampa is always a better choice than Miami. It is a better "sports" town, whose teams always outdraw their counterparts in Miami on a consistent and regular basis (in spite of Miami having better teams on average).

Tampa has always drawn bigger crowds for soccer than Miami...

Let MLS in Miami die the natural death it should. Devil Rays and Lightning really pack them in!

[akimmel]

There is a Hooters at the Bayside mall, right next to the American Airlines Arena.

[USAsoccer]

Originally posted by Revolt
Devil Rays and Lightning really pack them in!

Proving the adage that it is better to be thought an idoit, then to post and remove all doubt...

Lighting are 15th in attendence (out of 30). That after 6 years of the worst hockey in league history. (only team in NHL history to lose more than 50 games a year four years in a row).

Since the building the Lightning play in is the 2nd largest in the league, look for the Lightning to be in the top 5 next season.

Oh and the Panters ranked 27th....

As for the D-rays...

They have lost 100 games a year every year of existence.

Notwithstanding that, they have outdrawn the Marlins in average attendence every year they have existed.

Care to go on arguing this point. Miami sucks as a sports town and everyone knows it!

[Revolt]

There might be more of a market for Tampa when the Devil Rays are finally moved or contracted.

And the 'ning, who've had amonst the worst attendance in the NHL year after year after year finally put a winning product on the ice and rank 15th in the league? In the second-largest arena? Amazing.

You do know that they have the cheapest tickets in the NHL?

Okay, Miami is a poor market, too. Does that make you happier?

[jri]

Miami is not a poor market...it is an average soccer market in a large city (which makes it almost as good as a great market in a small city)..

Miami has to be marketed totally differently...

Folks here don't understand Miami...

Marlins play in a stadium that is neither here nor there...Huizenga did enormous damage to the franchise....as did machinations afterwards..

Yes, Miami is not the best sports attendence town, but my proposal was based on attracting international games (too) to make it work....international games (between most countries many here have no clue about)....sell...and they sell well...

Ft. Lauderdale and Miami are almost like Dallas and Houston...different fan base, different market.....the Fusion experiment was a failure in Ft. Lauderdale, but only partially Miami...

Miami's World Cup TV ratings were in the top 2 or 3 in the nation last couple Cups...

[USAsoccer]

Originally posted by Revolt
There might be more of a market for Tampa when the Devil Rays are finally moved or contracted.

And the 'ning, who've had amonst the worst attendance in the NHL year after year after year finally put a winning product on the ice and rank 15th in the league? In the second-largest arena? Amazing.

You do know that they have the cheapest tickets in the NHL?

Okay, Miami is a poor market, too. Does that make you happier?

Proving that you are an idiot..

Go look up what team has the highest average attendence in NHL history. Go look up what team has the top 10 largest crowds in NHL history, and then get back to me.

And if you think that 6 years of losing 50 or more games in row is not going to affect attendence, even in Detriot, then you are a bigger idiot then I thought.

END OF DISCUSSION...TOOL!

[Revolt]

Originally posted by USAsoccer
Proving that you are an idiot..

Go look up what team has the highest average attendence in NHL history. Go look up what team has the top 10 largest crowds in NHL history, and then get back to me.

And if you think that 6 years of losing 50 or more games in row is not going to affect attendence, even in Detriot, then you are a bigger idiot then I thought.

END OF DISCUSSION...TOOL!

Do insults help you prove your point?

And yes, Detroit would sell out - even if the lost 50 games or more for 6 or even ten years in a row. The same way the Rangers always sell out, too.

And for Chrissakes, the 'ning played in a 50,000 seat baseball stadium & sold tickets for something like $5 a seat. Face facts, Tampa - and Miami - are not great sports towns.

The next time Tampa has another 50 loss season (probably this year), we'll see how well attendance holds up. Not very far by my estimation.

[USAsoccer]

Originally posted by Revolt

And for Chrissakes, the 'ning played in a 50,000 seat baseball stadium & sold tickets for something like $5 a seat.


Thank you for proving my point so eloquently.....

That's a big hockey arena!

You know alot about what you are talking about. In fact, you probably know more about Florida then any one from Tampa..but hey, your living in California, where people know EVERYTHING

[USAsoccer]

Look, for everyone else except Revolt, who is an idiot...

The Bucs have a 80,000 people on a season ticket WAITING LIST!

The Lightning averaged 16,700 a game, placing them 15th in attendence. It was there first winning season in 7 years. They own all the NHL attendence marks, and expect to average over 18,000 this year, placing them in the top 5.

As for the D-rays. They may have there first season ever with less then 100 loses. If the team puts a product on the field, they will draw well. Tampa has produced an incredible number of big league players, and MLB has a huge history in the area. It is also the spring home to no less then 7 MLB teams, including the Yankees. These 7 teams draw over 500,000 fans in just 1 month of spring ball. More telling is that they almost outdraw the Marlins, who are in the playoff hunt...

As for soccer, Tampa had one professional team that lasted longer than any team in professional soccer history in this cournty. The Rowdies 1975-1995 were one of the oldest pro soccer teams in American soccer. They averaged over 28,000 fans a game in 1979 and 1980. The Mutiny stood 9th out of 12 in attendence in spite of winning only 3 games in it's last year. It was contracted due to a lack of ownership, not fan support. Stadium costs were the biggest issue.

If you want to go to Florida with soccer, you have to go to Tampa. It is a better market than South Florida, and twice as large as Orlando....

[Revolt]

You are so convincing .... only if insults make wishes true. I can understand that you are little fiesty being the only teenager in Tampa.

But for kicks, let's say you win. Tampa is best market in Florida. Probably better than Atlanta, too, if that makes you happy. Better than anywhere in Tennessee. Better than Alabama. Better than Missisippi. Better than Arkansas.

Does that Tampa a great sports town? No. The Blue Jackets and Wild generate far more support than the 'ning. Yipping about being 15th in the league just makes this point: Tampa is one of the crappiest sports towns amonst big cities/metros in the USA.

We'll see about a top 5 attendance total this year. I won't be holding my breath, plus I don't care. I doubt Tampa fans care about the 'ning, either. They just come for the free denture cleanings.

Anyone can support a winning team and Super Bowl champ. Big deal. The real measure is the Devil Rays. This team can't even sell out (or get 30K) for the Yankees, Mets or Red Sox. The fans in Tampa simply don't care. They are too busy playing bridge and comparing goiters.

Actually, the crappiness of the Devil Rays may work in favor of MLS some day. The Rays get ridden out on a rail, and soccer can come in to service the void. A combined MLB Spring Training/Soccer facility might be just the ticket. Bring them back as the Rowdies.

In my opinion, though, I think Tampa comes back at the 19th or 20th MLS club.