from sun sentinel http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/br...stadiums-sports-deal-20110607,0,6325931.story the crux of it "Local high school sports teams and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers soccer team soon could be forced to leave the stadiums near the executive airport and find a new place to play. City officials vowed Tuesday a last-ditch appeal to the Federal Aviation Administration to salvage the teams' use of the stadiums before they would be forced out at the end of the month. The city thought it had a deal with the FAA to allow the teams to stay while long-term redevelopment plans are negotiated, but the FAA recently laid out new demands."
Not a chance they move to FIU. If they have to move it will in all likelihood be to the cricket stadium in Lauderhill. This is just ridiculous on the part of the FAA. They ought to be worrying about improving FXE's worst in the country safety record instead of hassling the BCAA and the Strikers. The Strikers will also lose their offices and training facility at Fort Lauderdale Stadium if they have to leave. I sincerely hope the City of FTL is working hard to get this resolved. In the meantime I propose a "Go Away FAA!" chant at Saturday's game, maybe some signs/tifo as well.
What a bunch of shit. This D2 drama stuff is never ending. I hope it works out for the best and a deal can be reached.
No matter what you do it is always one step forward and two steps back. A long time ago, someone put a curse on D2 soccer in this country and we are paying for it.
The arrogant SOBs the FAA is. No wonder why government can't stimulate any jobs and it's a big lie if they say they could. All they want is more money and the return to the public is so minimal. We all need to call our Congressman and lobby against the FAA.
I never put too much weight on them, but will one of those online petitions be out of order in this situation?
This is a bit perplexing to me. Why after 50+ years is the FAA suddenly so interested in what goes on on this land? Hand over all of the ticket revenue? That's small potatos to a government agency as large as the FAA, and they know full well these organizations cannot afford to do it. It smells of just wanting them out, but then the question becomes, why? I can't imagine any sort of huge expansion to the airport. Area residents would fight them on that, plus, I would imagine that there isn't nearly enough air traffic to justify it. So then what? Does the FAA see such huge dollar signs from the Schlitterbahn project that they're willing to toss the schools and Strikers out like garbage after all these years? Do they really think they'll make that much in the lease agreement that they want to completely clear the area and let the water park be as big and grand as possible? Something here just doesn't seem right. This has come from out of nowhere. Just when we are getting this franchise turned around and on a major upswing, it could all be swept away in the blink of an eye. Is there even another stadium in Broward that could accomodate the size of a crowd we were going to have for the Rowdies? One thing I think will be safe to say is, the Strikers will be able to finish out their home schedule at Lockhart. The often frustrating legal system we have in this country will probably provide the city and the team the opportunity to buy enough time for that at least. Beyond that, your guess would be as good as mine.
That is the question. No. Not the Cricket Ground. That $70,000,000 facility is for cricket only & seats 5,000. OK for many, if not most matches, but too small & quite unsuited for the Strikers. The closest stadium in South Florida with the needed capacity is FIU. Of course the Cricket Ground may be our only realistic option. Any other ideas? Maybe, maybe not. If the FAA really wants the place vacant by the end of the month then it will probably get the place empty by the end of the month. Any further questions on what a team owned SSS is essential? Any ideas where one could be built in South Florida? Any ideas on how to finance it?
This is total crap! I put stadium options on my blog. But, I hope the issue gets resolved. Going back to Tropical Park should not even be considered. Other options FAU field, where MagicJack play or Ted Hendricks stadium in Hialeah. http://bit.ly/lOOQlU
The more I think about this, the more it smells to me like something political, most likely aimed at the city. The only other thing that makes even a small bit of logical sense would be if the FAA were interested in massively expanding the airport. But the backlash from area residents over that kind of proposal would be overwhelming, and I doubt they'd ever be able to get it done. As for other options when/if the time comes, this is real tough. I agree that it seems like that cricket ground is the only real viable option. Traffic isn't going to move this operation back to Dade County, and why would they? That would totally kill what they've managed to start rebuilding this year. That FAU stadium where magicjack currently plays is pretty small, isn't it? I don't know. I hate to say it, but I think if the Strikers are forced out of Lockhart, it's a very real possibility that could be the end of the team, and thereby the league as well. Has Traffic seen enough from the rebrand yet to justify them investing in trying to build a completely new stadium for a D2 team? I think most likely not. It would be far simpler, and far less expensive for them to pick up, and set up shop with one of their "new" teams in Cary or Atlanta if the league was going to continue somehow. How bizarre would it be if this was somehow being orchestrated by Claure. He talks the FAA into pressuring the Strikers out of Lockhart, swoops in and says, ok Traffic I'll take them off your hands for a nice cheap price, and then sets them back up in Miami, all in the hopes of trying to work towards another try at an MLS bid? It sounds crazy, but it makes as much sense as anything else I can think of at the moment. Obviously that would immediately kill all hope of pro soccer in South Florida forever if it were the case.
Just had a thought - Joe Robbie Stadium? Would the Dolphins organization be willing to lend a helping hand to Tim Robbie if the situation played out in the worst possible way and the Strikers were evicted from Lockhart?
It isn't Joe Robbie Stadium. That name died when he did. I think it's on it's 4th or 5th name since he died. If you think of it; why should the new owner care about Tim Robbie or the Strikers? He's already got a summer tenant that pays good $$$ for the building. I'm certain that the Strikers can't pay the freight for it. DR is right. Cricket Stadium or nothing until season's end. After that? Who knows. This entire thing came out of nowhere & blindsided us. I wonder why it is being done now. Let's hope that this sillyness is resolved ASAP. BTW, has anyone contacted the Strikers about this?
Assuming this does happen and they have to leave, I imagine they'll play at the cricket ground to finish out the year(but I imagine they'll be able to finish out the season at Lockhart). Next season another option would be the new FAU football stadium. It will be done this fall. IMO moving to Dade county is not an option at all. After all the trouble they've gone to rebrand to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, moving back to Dade would make no sense. You'd lose all the support from Broward/PBC they've gained by making the move. Tropical Park is a joke, FIU is too far from what is now the main fanbase of the team, and Sun Life is too big and will likely be far too expensive to rent(even if they cut Robbie a deal). I feel the Cricket Stadium is the best option though. It's not ideal but it is not horrible for soccer, it's beautiful, and they could still legitimately call themselves "Fort Lauderdale". 5K is plenty. Yes over the course of the season they will draw some crowds over that, but a) they can add bleacher seating down the far touchline(like the Whitecaps did at Swangard Stadium when they were in USL/D2) and b) with 5K they can call games sell outs, which is good for marketing reasons. In the end the primary option needs to be securing Lockhart.
I haven't been there in years... Isn't Traz Powell Stadium on 27th Ave south of 119th St larger by a couple thousand? Might as well get the largest HS Stadium we can get. Anyone know the largest in Broward? Other than Lockhart, of course. FAU is a farce. 1,000 to 1,500 seats. Fill them then sit on the grass. Really, really not suitable....
Have some questions on this: Who actually owns the property? Does it belong to the city of Ft. Lauderdale or to the airport? Will this scupper the plans with schlitterbahn (or however it is spelt) on their waterpark/soccer park idea? Why hasn't the Strikers released a statement about this? If it was a matter of this being an issue at the end of the season then I can understand the club being silent but if this is a matter that is suddenly upon us I would expect something to come out of the Front Office. And I guess no one liked the petition idea eh? Oh well... :/
From what I can gather off of the internet; Ft Lauderdale owns it, the School Board runs it, but, since they deeded it to the city with certain restrictions - any use is aviation related - the FAA calls the shots. Evidently the FAA is within it's agreement to demand the cash generated by any event on the property. Since the US govt is a bit cash strapped recently (maybe we should cut taxes a bit more to generate a bit more cashflow......) that's possibly why they're wanting some extra cash, no matter how much, or little, it may be. That, of course, kills the Strikers being there since any income from the place is undoubtedly a large chunk of their operating income. Without it they probably can't exist....
WTF ! Just when things are starting to look up..... This FAA thing reeks of a political money grab to me.(and not from the Strikers or the BCAA - they have no money to spare). Seems like the FAA is strong arming the city of Ft Lauderdale if you ask me. Happy 100th anniversary .... now Pay or leave I'm totally disgusted! The cricket Stadium would be a good short term solution. The FAU stadium might be a good option for next year if they could swing a deal....The majority of the new fans are from Broward and Palm Beach. Moving to Miami would be the final nail in the Fort Lauderdale Striker coffin.
This is totally outrageous! LOCKHART STADIUM MUST STAY in FT LUADERDALE! THE STRIKERS MUST STAY IN LOCKHART STADIUM! IT'S A HISTORICAL LANDMARK! START A PETITION! "Ft. Lauderdale for Lockhart Stadium" - Sign this petition if you would like to see Historic Lockhart Stadium, the home of 50 years of highschool football and the home of the FT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS stay in its current location!