Party
08-04-2011, 12:13 AM
There's a huge difference between Barcelona drawing a big crowd for a one-night-only affair versus fans turning out, week after week, for a lesser Major League Soccer product, for example. Only a few months ago, MLS Commissioner Don Garber visited the territory his league left in 2001. He was met by a mere 60 or so fans, who basically were told not to hold their breath. A lack of corporate sponsorship, which clinched the Fusion's demise, still exists.
This got me thinking.
If MLS were ever to return to Miami where would they play? First off, I'll go ahead and say if it ever happens, the team will not be based in Broward County. If the biggest argument for putting a team in Miami is the large population from Central and South America, that part of town is not where they live. I'm not even going to seriously discuss options north of MD-BRW countyline. With that said, FIU Stadium was proposed as a temporary home in 2008 when FC Barcelona last expressed interest in financing an expansion bid. As a facility it would be more than adequate for MLS when the northside of the stadium were expanded (I suspect MLS would accelerate that). Long term, location is good for single families and the average fan, but mediocre for those corporations Garber wants.
All the major corporations are downtown and they aren't going to buy blocks tickets and boxes in a stadium 17 miles from downtown. (aps?saddr=FIU+Stadium,+University+Park,+FL&daddr=brickell,+Miami,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.770214,-80.285339&spn=0.256926) Going with traffic on the 836 makes this location more unattractive for East Dade crowd ($$$). It would be like the Marlins situation on an east-west axis.
Some 'suburban' locations with good access to 'the average fan' and plenty of land in Miramar (in Broward but barely) (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Miramar+Pkwy,+Hollywood,+United+States&hl=en&ll=25.977143,-80.290275&spn=0.03206,0.038581&sll=26.192528,-80.1617&sspn=0.032001,0.038581&t=h&z=15) and Hialeah Heights (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hialeah,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.911269,-80.351&spn=0.064155,0.077162&sll=25.977143,-80.290275&sspn=0.03206,0.038581&t=h&z=14). All great suburban locations (which seems to be the preference in MLS) but I don't think suburban would work in Miami-Dade because our version of a suburb isn't the rest of the country's version of a suburb.
Personally, and with no bias because I'm five minutes from the site, Hialeah Heights is the best for those in Kendall, Doral, Miramar, Weston, Miami Lakes, Cooper City, etc. to be at the stadium in 20 minutes. That's a very wide area with a lot of middle to middle-upper class neighborhoods and it could work for MLS because they target families more than say MLB, NHL and the NBA.
Yeah, Sun Life Stadium could be an option. (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Sun+Life+Stadium,+Northwest+199th+Street,+M iami+Gardens,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.957119,-80.240321&spn=0.007775,0.009645&sll=25.771953,-80.190969&sspn=0.032115,0.038581&t=h&z=17) But I think the Marlins have proven it's not a great location for a more than once a week sport.
Now somewhere closer to all the corporate $$$...
The new ballpark site (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Orange+Bowl+Stadium,+1501+Northwest+3rd+Str eet,+Miami,+FL+33125-4600&hl=en&ll=25.77804,-80.219121&spn=0.015574,0.01929&sll=25.770214,-80.285339&sspn=0.256926,0.308647&t=h&z=16) is one option and there is language in the agreement for this eventuality, but the likelihood of a public financed stadium is 0 (ask the Dolphins). That's the only way a stadium is built there. Several blocks would have to be purchased for millions not including any legal trouble if the city tries eminent domain.
The former site of the Miami Arena (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Overtown%2FArena+Metrorail+Sta,+Northwest+6 th+Street,+Miami,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.779991,-80.195217&spn=0.015574,0.01929&sll=25.779798,-80.193908&sspn=0.007787,0.009645&t=h&z=16) was interesting a few years ago. The city tried to shoehorn the ballpark there but there wasn't enough land. A small soccer stadium could fit there. However there are two problems: 1) the city sold the land, 2) the FEC railroad cuts right through the site. Back in 2005-2006, the railroad was inactive and no one would have thought twice about tearing it out. However, restoration of the line began this year in anticipation of larger ships at the port soon (Panana Canal widening).
Bicentennial Park (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bicentennial+Park,+Miami,+FL&hl=en&sll=25.783604,-80.186205&sspn=0.007787,0.009645&t=h&z=15), which would be amazing (and should have been the site of the ballpark) will be home to two museums by 2014.
I'm tired of typing for now, but that's my opinion of the bigger sites downtown that would be considered. I'll add more later if the discussion builds.
This got me thinking.
If MLS were ever to return to Miami where would they play? First off, I'll go ahead and say if it ever happens, the team will not be based in Broward County. If the biggest argument for putting a team in Miami is the large population from Central and South America, that part of town is not where they live. I'm not even going to seriously discuss options north of MD-BRW countyline. With that said, FIU Stadium was proposed as a temporary home in 2008 when FC Barcelona last expressed interest in financing an expansion bid. As a facility it would be more than adequate for MLS when the northside of the stadium were expanded (I suspect MLS would accelerate that). Long term, location is good for single families and the average fan, but mediocre for those corporations Garber wants.
All the major corporations are downtown and they aren't going to buy blocks tickets and boxes in a stadium 17 miles from downtown. (aps?saddr=FIU+Stadium,+University+Park,+FL&daddr=brickell,+Miami,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.770214,-80.285339&spn=0.256926) Going with traffic on the 836 makes this location more unattractive for East Dade crowd ($$$). It would be like the Marlins situation on an east-west axis.
Some 'suburban' locations with good access to 'the average fan' and plenty of land in Miramar (in Broward but barely) (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Miramar+Pkwy,+Hollywood,+United+States&hl=en&ll=25.977143,-80.290275&spn=0.03206,0.038581&sll=26.192528,-80.1617&sspn=0.032001,0.038581&t=h&z=15) and Hialeah Heights (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hialeah,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.911269,-80.351&spn=0.064155,0.077162&sll=25.977143,-80.290275&sspn=0.03206,0.038581&t=h&z=14). All great suburban locations (which seems to be the preference in MLS) but I don't think suburban would work in Miami-Dade because our version of a suburb isn't the rest of the country's version of a suburb.
Personally, and with no bias because I'm five minutes from the site, Hialeah Heights is the best for those in Kendall, Doral, Miramar, Weston, Miami Lakes, Cooper City, etc. to be at the stadium in 20 minutes. That's a very wide area with a lot of middle to middle-upper class neighborhoods and it could work for MLS because they target families more than say MLB, NHL and the NBA.
Yeah, Sun Life Stadium could be an option. (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Sun+Life+Stadium,+Northwest+199th+Street,+M iami+Gardens,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.957119,-80.240321&spn=0.007775,0.009645&sll=25.771953,-80.190969&sspn=0.032115,0.038581&t=h&z=17) But I think the Marlins have proven it's not a great location for a more than once a week sport.
Now somewhere closer to all the corporate $$$...
The new ballpark site (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Orange+Bowl+Stadium,+1501+Northwest+3rd+Str eet,+Miami,+FL+33125-4600&hl=en&ll=25.77804,-80.219121&spn=0.015574,0.01929&sll=25.770214,-80.285339&sspn=0.256926,0.308647&t=h&z=16) is one option and there is language in the agreement for this eventuality, but the likelihood of a public financed stadium is 0 (ask the Dolphins). That's the only way a stadium is built there. Several blocks would have to be purchased for millions not including any legal trouble if the city tries eminent domain.
The former site of the Miami Arena (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Overtown%2FArena+Metrorail+Sta,+Northwest+6 th+Street,+Miami,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.779991,-80.195217&spn=0.015574,0.01929&sll=25.779798,-80.193908&sspn=0.007787,0.009645&t=h&z=16) was interesting a few years ago. The city tried to shoehorn the ballpark there but there wasn't enough land. A small soccer stadium could fit there. However there are two problems: 1) the city sold the land, 2) the FEC railroad cuts right through the site. Back in 2005-2006, the railroad was inactive and no one would have thought twice about tearing it out. However, restoration of the line began this year in anticipation of larger ships at the port soon (Panana Canal widening).
Bicentennial Park (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bicentennial+Park,+Miami,+FL&hl=en&sll=25.783604,-80.186205&sspn=0.007787,0.009645&t=h&z=15), which would be amazing (and should have been the site of the ballpark) will be home to two museums by 2014.
I'm tired of typing for now, but that's my opinion of the bigger sites downtown that would be considered. I'll add more later if the discussion builds.