Will FIU be permanent home for MLS soccer?

TO2988 · Oct 27, 2008

MLS has been firm in recent years about requiring franchises play in their own soccer-specific facilities. But FC Barcelona, bidding for a Miami expansion franchise, is already downplaying discussions of a new stadium and is hinting about a long tenure at a new FIU football stadium.

This isn't just any football stadium, though. The 18,000-seat facility was built to FIFA regulations, and the potential franchise owners struck a pretty sweet lease deal -- a deal that benefits both sides. The MLS team will receive all revenues from MLS games played at the stadium; that includes all ticket, concession, and suite revenues. In addition, the team will receive a share of revenues from any friendlies played at the stadium. The initial lease is for five years, but the team has an option to leave after three. And, of course, both sides stand to make some decent money with the sale of naming rights.

The team will pay some form of rent, but not a significant amount. Instead, Barca Miami will pay $750,000 in a charitable contribution to FIU, a contribution that will go into the college's general fund and potentially generate matching revenues from the state.

So, armed with that kind of lease, it's no wonder Barca Miami owners are not aggressively talking about a new stadium. There was talk of a new 20,000-seat stadium at the former Orange Bowl site, but Miami-Dade County officials have their hands full in pushing through financing for the new Florida Marlins ballpark, and there seems little appetite on their part to push for a soccer stadium as well. Other area mayors have talked about the desirability of a new stadium, but public money for it remains scarce.

Not that the FIU stadium is perfect. It sports artificial turf, albeit FIFA-approved turf. (College officials say the wear of practice and games would be too much for grass.) With turf you have some stubborn markets from both sports as well.

Which leaves Florida International University in the drivers seat.

http://www.soccerstadiumdigest.com/news/index.html?article_id=206

drSoFlaFan · Oct 27, 2008

TO2988 said: ↑

MLS has been firm in recent years about requiring franchises play in their own soccer-specific facilities. But FC Barcelona, bidding for a Miami expansion franchise, is already downplaying discussions of a new stadium and is hinting about a long tenure at a new FIU football stadium.

This isn't just any football stadium, though. The 18,000-seat facility was built to FIFA regulations, and the potential franchise owners struck a pretty sweet lease deal -- a deal that benefits both sides. The MLS team will receive all revenues from MLS games played at the stadium; that includes all ticket, concession, and suite revenues. In addition, the team will receive a share of revenues from any friendlies played at the stadium. The initial lease is for five years, but the team has an option to leave after three. And, of course, both sides stand to make some decent money with the sale of naming rights.

The team will pay some form of rent, but not a significant amount. Instead, Barca Miami will pay $750,000 in a charitable contribution to FIU, a contribution that will go into the college's general fund and potentially generate matching revenues from the state.

So, armed with that kind of lease, it's no wonder Barca Miami owners are not aggressively talking about a new stadium. There was talk of a new 20,000-seat stadium at the former Orange Bowl site, but Miami-Dade County officials have their hands full in pushing through financing for the new Florida Marlins ballpark, and there seems little appetite on their part to push for a soccer stadium as well. Other area mayors have talked about the desirability of a new stadium, but public money for it remains scarce.

Not that the FIU stadium is perfect. It sports artificial turf, albeit FIFA-approved turf. (College officials say the wear of practice and games would be too much for grass.) With turf you have some stubborn markets from both sports as well.

Which leaves Florida International University in the drivers seat.

http://www.soccerstadiumdigest.com/news/index.html?article_id=206
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MLS hasn't exactly stuck to the mantra of requiring soccer specific stadiums. Houston got a team without one, and so did San Jose and Seattle. I would think FCB could get FIU to switch over to real grass, and they'll probably make some improvements here and there. I don't think FIU will be a permanent home. That's why they have the option to leave after year 3. They'll get a new place built.