Strikers Stadium Thread

Discussion in 'Fort Lauderdale Strikers' started by drSoFlaFan, Dec 5, 2012.

  1. Prosoccercdn

    Prosoccercdn Member+

    Aug 6, 2011
    Club:
    FC Edmonton
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Strikers games at Lockhart usually have the cameras on the non crowd side showing the crowd. The last 2 games however they have had the cameras on the crowd side and show the empty grandstand on streams - anyone in the know have a reason to why they've done this? Stadium issue or ?

    It looks terrible on the streams.
     
  2. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    They used to do it that way before as well. I'd like to think it has a technical reason behind it, like it's far easier to get the equipment functoning the way they want better on that side (it is where the pressbox and such are). Or maybe there's something wrong electrically or something that is keeping them from operating on the north side right now. But my gut tells me it's probably more a matter of not showing our pathetic crowds due to the team having no budget to do ANY marketing at all. Hell, they aren't even doing the youth appearances anymore I think which amounted to nothing more than the gas in Soccer Tom's car driving him and a couple players and Hot Shot to a school or park. The league is trumpeting its attendance success in places like Indy, SA, and Tampa. They don't want to show the effects of a shoe string budget on attendance in Traffic owned Strikers country.....
     
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  3. davidrpaige

    davidrpaige Member

    May 17, 2008
    Washington, DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    So, anything new on shovels breaking ground? Seems a lot like Belmont/Cosmos silence about this project. Has new Striker owners complicated the deal? Or have new owners strengthen it?
     
  4. nbace

    nbace Member

    Jacksonville Armada FC
    United States
    Apr 8, 2006
    Jacksonville, FL
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If I'm not mistaken, one of the new owners said in an online chat with fans that if it were up to them and the Schlitterban (sp?) group who is planning to redevelop the area around Lockhart, they would have broken ground already. One of the Strikers partners is apparently close to the water park group. They are still waiting for the FAA to green light the project and a revamped Lockhart seems to be plan A. They claim they are working on a Plan B/C but my guess is nothing will happen on that until they get a yea or nay from the Feds.
     
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  5. Antique

    Antique Member

    Nov 11, 2008
    the river of grass
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I spoke with one of the owners directly & he verified this. As ever, the FAA is the problem. I did get the impression that they want the Lockhart site, but that their patience is not infinite. One more time, just like with Beckham, a government body has slowed down the process to a standstill, so we'll have to wait and see.

    BTW, I wonder what plans B, C, etc might be? Sounds interesting.
     
  6. Sam U El

    Sam U El Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 31, 2013
    Seoul Korea
    Club:
    New York Cosmos
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Still no stadium in Miami has got to be good news for the Strikers' ownership group:

    No new stadium plans after officials won’t bend for Beckham
    Fails to score on three proposals
    December 18, 2014 11:15AM

    http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/2...-plans-after-officials-wont-bend-for-beckham/
     
  7. davidrpaige

    davidrpaige Member

    May 17, 2008
    Washington, DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Beckham does not factor into this. At all. The FAA doesn't give two shits what going on in Miami. Miami-Dade can give Miami Fusion United Vice FC 3 stadium deals and it wouldn't matter. The Strikers need the FAA to get off their asses and make a decision on the land.
     
  8. Antique

    Antique Member

    Nov 11, 2008
    the river of grass
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Of course Beckham has nothing to do with anything in Broward. That is understood. No one in either group cares what the other might do.

    Still, both have stadium deals stalled by a government body. In M-D it is the county and cities in the county. In Broward it is the Feds, the county and the cities in the county are already on board for both the waterpark and a rebuild/rehab of Lockhart, but Uncle Sam's FAA is holding up the process.

    Keep in mind that this process has taken nearly 5 years to get to this point. The question is how long it will take for them to finally complete the process and will the Strikers new ownership wait that long. My impression is that they are growing impatient. If so, what is next? Do they have a plan B? Or C? What might those be, if they do exist? It is a given that they do not include Beckham or MLS in those plans.
     
  9. davidrpaige

    davidrpaige Member

    May 17, 2008
    Washington, DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Seems like this stadium deal is dead in the water. The Strikers even removed the Future Home page from their website.

    Is there any info out there that would counter this D.O.A. perception?
     
  10. Smoke & Mirrors

    Jul 18, 2010
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    The Schlitterbahn waterpark deal is going forth. From the lips of the Strikers CEO on The Tailgate Show last week, the first check from the City of Ft. Lauderdale to the FAA for the purchase of the land should change hands in August. From there you can bet Schlitterbahn gets things moving quickly.

    Now, how does this affect the Strikers. A renovation of Lockhart and addition of fields and such is definitely in the plans. What is going on now are negotiations between Schlitterbahn and the Strikers. If they can come to an agreement on a partnership with respect to Lockhart, one where the Strikers aren't a tenant with a decent lease for 15 or so games each year, but where they have main control of the facility (naming rights, booking other international games, concerts, etc.) and it is a true revenue stream the team can control, then the team's preference is to stay there and partner with Schlitterbahn to rebuild Lockhart the way they want with the modern amenities they want.

    If they can't reach an agreement on that scenario, the team says it has as many as 8 other pieces of land it is looking at. My guess would be the majority of those are in Broward, with maybe one or two possibly in Palm Beach. They understand the importance of controlling a stadium and it's revenue in order to be a successful club and they continue to say they are committed to making sure it happens soon. I asked the CEO about a timeline for something definitive to come out about the Strikers future stadium plans. As we all now this conversation has been going on for quite awhile already. He said inside of 6 months we should have official word what the plan will be going forward. Let's hope it's even sooner than that.
     
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  11. MUTINYFAN

    MUTINYFAN Member

    Apr 18, 1999
    Orlando
    Honestly I wish Beckham United would give a call to Ronaldo in FTL and push for a stadium in downtown FTL or close to the Miami-Dade county line and all work together to bring the Strikers to MLS. Probably not doable because on the fixation with Miami but it would be produce a franchise with a built in fan base, history and with Beckham and Ronaldo together, plenty of star power attraction for potential players. Of course i doubt the team would keep FTL as part of their name but it could just be Strikers FC. I know this is as unlikely as the Cosmos and Red Bull working together at Harrison but it would be nice.
     
  12. Strikermansteve

    Feb 10, 2012
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Makes sense, which is why it will never happen...
     
  13. Cirris

    Cirris Member+

    Feb 25, 2014
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Cause Miami is the internationally recognized city. Not saying Ft Lauderdale is a dink town or anything. It's just Anaheim of L.A. or Palo Alto of San Francisco. Miami is that "international" destination that resonates globally. TBH, I think it was the only choice of cities for Beckham outside of flipping Chivas to him and making the new L.A. team.
     
  14. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Did this actually happen?
     
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  15. Antique

    Antique Member

    Nov 11, 2008
    the river of grass
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    AFAIK, yes. Plus, it is said that the 3 parties now involved have met and are now working on what happens next. However, we have heard so much baloney from so many people for so long most here are awaiting a formal announcement before we buy into it. Please stay tuned for further news.
     
  16. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  17. Titanole

    Titanole Member

    Nashville SC
    United States
    Feb 15, 2005
    Nashville, TN
    Club:
    Nashville Metros
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If that place had existed and they played there in the old NASL days it would have been a much closer trip for us, less than 2 1/2 miles from my old house when I was a kid.
     
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  18. Prosoccercdn

    Prosoccercdn Member+

    Aug 6, 2011
    Club:
    FC Edmonton
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Strikers leaving longtime home at Lockhart

    http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...rs-to-leave-lockhart-0715-20160714-story.html

    "Fort Lauderdale Strikers are leaving Lockhart Stadium.

    Rather than remain at the city-owned venue, which Strikers teams have called home for nearly 40 years, the club is moving to the stadium at Central Broward Regional Park.

    The Strikers will debut at the Lauderhill park on Aug. 20, when they host Ottawa Fury FC, team officials say.

    The NASL franchise will play its final match at Lockhart Stadium on July 30, when it hosts the Jacksonville Armada."

     
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  19. Antique

    Antique Member

    Nov 11, 2008
    the river of grass
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    For an inside peek at the Cricket Stadium check out "The Tailgate Show checks the New Grounds":

    youtube.com/watch?v=Jr4cmeVMGTQ&feature=youtu.be

    The Tailgate Show's Matt Abbey & Chris Marazzo give you the nickel tour. Enjoy..;)
     
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  20. FoxBoro 143

    FoxBoro 143 Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Looks like a really nice venue! Hopefully they improve that pitch though, it looked horrendous. Is the field part of a park and available for public use? Also hopefully they do have the TV set up on the opposite side of the stands for obvious reasons.
     
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  21. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There's no way you can play cricket on a field like that.
    Anyway, there's a long tradition of playing soccer at cricket grounds in the UK. The last in England to abandon their cricket ground were Northampton Town in the 1990s.
     

    Attached Files:

  22. Antique

    Antique Member

    Nov 11, 2008
    the river of grass
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It is in Central Broward County Regional Park. Thus the kiddie water park and the covered picnic/party shelters. The Strikers and the Admin at the park are working on the playing field. It is supposed to be better by August 20. I have no idea where they will put the cameras.
     
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  23. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    TV cameras are going to be interesting. The field runs East-West instead of the more typical North-South. Usually you want to put most of the TV cameras on the West side so they don't look into the sun in the late afternoon-early evening. But you also want them on the side of the field, not primarily on the ends. If I had to guess I'd say they will put most of the cameras in the stands on the south side of the field. I don't see any way they could put them on the north side of the field facing toward the stands.

    There seems to be a deck on top of that central clubhouse building on the south side so that is probably where the main cameras will go.

    [​IMG]
     
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  24. Antique

    Antique Member

    Nov 11, 2008
    the river of grass
    Club:
    Ft Lauderdale Strikers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The old Orange Bowl was E/W. FIU & FAU stadiums run E/W. Mr Beckham's proposed Overtown Stadium in Miami will run E/W. There are a few stadiums here that are in a N/S configuration, Tropical Park comes to mind, to fit on the land available, but the E/W axis seems to be the norm.

    Even Lockhart is on an E/W axis and had the cameras, at the Strikers request, on the North stands to show such crowd as was there instead of the empty north stands. I agree that the pavilion on the top of the central building would be the logical place, but then the viewers would only see an empty field as the background. It is possible that small stages could be built on the north side of the field to, again. show whatever people come to attend the game.

    As ever. We will see what is done on August 20th.
     
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  25. Stephen York

    Stephen York Member

    Dec 9, 2015
    Tampa, FL.
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    At least they can take claim of the only soccer team in the USA to play at a professional cricket stadium, I guess...

    It is a nice stadium though, it should work OK and at least as good as a baseball stadium - if not better.
     
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