Miami Marine Stadium, the new Soccer stadium of Miami?

SEE UPDATE BELOW!
Closed after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the Miami Marine Stadium could perhaps be the most spectacular Soccer Stadium in the United States if investors are found interested in such a project.
New life has already started to sprout as a group called Friends of Marine Stadium have dedicated themselves to reviving this architectural wonder.
I was able to contact Don Worth, Co-founder of the group leading the charge to bring the Stadium back to life. Here is his take on the Miami Marine Stadium and soccer.

Recently, there has been interest in using the Miami Marine Stadium for soccer. We here at Friends of Marine Stadium (website: www.marinestadium.org) are excited by the concept and believe that it is a very intriguing idea.

Actually, this has already been done. Check out the attached photograph of a floating soccer field in Singapore.Since our group formed in February of 2008, the effort to restore Miami Marine Stadium has gained a lot of momentum. The initiative is now endorsed by the World Monuments Fund, singer Jimmy Buffett, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Stadium, which was designated historic by the City of Miami in October 2008 is a key priority for Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado. In April of 2010, the Miami Dade County Commission, under the leadership of Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, approved by a 12-0 vote an appropriation of $3 million for the restoration of the Stadium. We will need a lot more-and there are conditions attached to accessing this money-but it is a start.

Our group has been discussing the concept of soccer at the Marine Stadium with various groups and potential operators and the response is always positive. There are logistics to work through. The field would have to be movable and storable (due to the wide variety of events that will be held at the Stadium, flexibility is key) and we would have to figure a way to add more seats as the Stadium holds 6,500. Possibilities include floating barges or boats on the other three seats.

If we can solve these logistical issues, we would undoubtedly have the most spectacular setting for soccer in the world.

There are opportunities for other sporting events as well. The Stadium once hosted boxing and wrestling. Why not tennis and basketball? But soccer is undoubtedly the most exciting prospect.

For more information on Friends of Marine Stadium, please go to our website, www.marinestadium.org and sign up for our email list. Your support is vital to our success and getting on our email list is the best way to be involved. We send out updates about once a month. We welcome all ideas, contacts and suggestions. You can get also in touch with me directly by email at dontonton@gmail.com

Yours truly

Don Worth
Co-Founder, Friends of Marine Stadium

Following is the location of the Stadium on a map and a further depiction of how the stadium layout might look like.

Stadium Designs by Derek Reese

UPDATE: Monday December 6, 2010

After viewing the response to this blog and others that picked it up, Mr. Don Worth, of Friends of Marine Stadium wanted to make a few points. He hopes this will clear a few things up:

I appreciate that the Football In Miami blog posted my comments on the concept of a floating soccer field. I can see that other sports and soccer related blogs picked up the post-and assumed that the concept was absurd because....who would possibly build a Stadium on the water?

People should understand that the Miami Marine Stadium actually EXISTS now. It was built in 1963 primarily to watch boat racing-but featured many performers such as Jimmy Buffett on its floating stage.

Yes, the Miami Marine Stadium is a truly unique and remarkable structure. That's why it was named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "11 Most Endangered" list for 2009 and the World Monuments Fund watch list for 2010.

The Stadium was shuttered in 1992 and our group, Friends of Miami Marine Stadium (website: www.marinestadium.org) is working hard to bring it back. Check out the attached photographs of the Stadium in its heydey, the floating stage-and the Stadium as it looks today,(the current photo was taken by photographer Rick Bravo).

We know the soccer field could be built-as a marine related contractor has already approached us on this. It would have to be movable because of the wide variety of other events that will be held at the Marine Stadium.

The concept of a floating soccer field in Miami is not as far fetched as some may think.

This last picture is a view of the Stadium today.

Sites that picked this story up:

WVHooligan

The Offside Rules

SB Nation

UnProfessional Foul

UPDATE: Thursday December 9, 2010
The Miami Herald picked up this piece on their printed issue dated Monday December 6, 2010 on page 2B. Section "Best of Blogs". Click on picture to read.
Special thanks to Don Worth of Friends of Marine Stadium for spotting it in the Miami Herald and scanning a copy.
We ask anyone who reads this piece to please support the restoration of the Miami Marine Stadium by visiting their website www.marinestadium.org

More mentions this weeks:

South Florida Daily Blog

THE 305

The Strikers are back! Season tickets now available.

Yes folks, the Strikers are back in 2011! I already bought my season ticket and so should you! Tommy Knapp brings us this special; good only till this Friday December 3rd! 14 regular season games for only $99!!! What? That's just over 7 bucks per game...
Check it out:Tons of events are being planned out as we speak. Support South Florida's only professional soccer team as they prepare for the 2011 season.
Get your season tickets now by calling Tommy Knapp at 954-829-9213 or email him: tommy@miamifc.com

NASL Commissioner Candidates

Hola amigos! We all have heard about the new NASL and hope it will one day reach the glory of the old league back in the 70's and 80's. So Burrito listen to "Its called Football" interview of NASL CEO Aaron Davidson and he mentions an NASL Commissioner...
So, Burrito decide to make a list to help out el Senor Davidson and the rest of the NASL teams make a decision on the best candidates out there so they can SIZE them up... hmmm --->

So here it is, in no real order of preference:

Ray Hudson
Currently a GOL TV commentator. Has the best quotes ever in the history of Futbol! Imagine how the press conferences could be!? Just the other day he say: "Ronaldo's gem is a Koh-i-Noor diamond of a hit & bamboozles poor Iraizoz who's got eyes like Marty Feldman seeing that coming at him."... whatever that mean... Ok, so Ray was the coach of Burrito's favorite teams of all time, the Miami Fusion! He also coach DC United and played for such teams as Newcastle United and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers with Nene Cubillas and George Best just to name a few! Who better to lead the NASL than someone who played in the old NASL?

Fernando Clavijo
USA national team player, Ex Coach for the Colorado Rapids, New England revolution, Haitian national team and so on. He even comes out as commentator on Univision sometimes. Fernando is currently working for Traffic Sports owners of Miami FC and has brought youth talent such as Gale Agbossoumonde, among others. Fernando is a very down to earth person who goes out of way to talk to anyone about futbol. Clavijo would be an asset to the NASL guiding them to future glory. Clavijo, Clavijo, he's our man if he can't do it no one can!

Eric Wynalda
Soccer legend, 2nd all time leading scorer for the USA. He one time play for Miami Fusion. Said to be in the eye of Chivas USA for open coach position. He speaks his mind and don't take caca from anyone. If he have to he do what Burrito do when other dawgs that get in Burritos face; Wynalda hump them and dominate them and say "Yeah who's the bitch now?..." like he say to Jim Rome... (ok, ok he didn't say that to Rome but he should have!) but Burrito digress... Eric would work to make NASL a league like no other. Sure, he sometimes doesn't think when he talk but who doesn't? Give Burrito Wynalda or give him death!

Marcelo Balboa
Experienced MLS player, like Clavijo also speaks Spanish. Passionate to the point of orgasm about futbol, Marcelo would do anything for the sport. He once cut his famous hair for charity! Burrito need to point out his hair was never cut since 1994! You no believe? check out video, sorry it in Spanish. (At about the 6 minute mark)
Henry Kissinger
German born, ex secretary of state under Nixon. Nobel peace prize winner. His Love of Futbol is legendary. He was once Chairman of the old NASL. Kissinger is a famous person with all the right connections. He would be an asset to NASL from the start! (as long as he doesn't fall asleep!)
In 1986 Henry Kissinger wrote "World Cup According to Character" for The Los Angeles Times.
Here is a little bit:

Soccer has never taken hold in the United States partly because neither a national team nor a national style has been encouraged. Still, as an unreconstructed fan, I hope for another attempt to popularize the sport...

Read entire article HERE

Kartik Krishnaiyer
Kartik is Burrito's compadre and as mentioned in previous blog entry: "Eats, drinks, talks and even sleeps with soccer. (Burrito hopes he use protection!)" Currently he works as NASL PR and Communication Guru so he already in the loop! He is no 'Yes' man and speaks his mind. Kartik knows a lot about Futbol in USA and more important is so passionate about it that he would work 24 hours a day to make the NASL the best league in the Universe! Aliens beware of Commissioner Kartik!

Zinedine Zidane
What is ZZ doing now? He is a retired French World Cup-winning futballer. Widely considered one of futbols all-time greats, Zidane played for club teams in France, Italy and Spain. A great player on the field and a humanitarian off the field Burrito think Zidane would be perfect as the new NASL Commissioner! Worse case scenario if he no like someone he can always head butt them!

Francisco Marcos
Jajaja! Sorry, Burrito laugh in Spanish here translation to English: "Hahaha" Burrito just kitten! Pero Marcos have over 30 years experience with USL here in USA. Maybe if the money is right he say hasta la vista USL and come to NASL in search of more moneys and look to repair his legacy witch is tarnished by the bad move in selling USL to Nurock. Si, all USL had to do was talk to the teams and none of this would have happened! Que pendejos!

Dennis Rodman
He's a drunk, party animal who now make living doing what he do best... partying and getting drunk! Would he be good for NASL and Futbol in general in the USA? Hell no! Butt Burrito think
he would bring much attention to the sport with his wild antics. Burrito bet NASL would be on ESPN sports center everyday! Hire the vato for 30 days and everyone in USA will know NASL exists, its about getting free advertising!

Diego Armando Maradona
Considered along with Pele the greatest Futbol player to walk the Earth. Suspended for talking bad to the press, his time as Argentina coach was numbered cause you know he bound to do something crazy! Like Rodman he would attract attention to the league but in Maradona's case the whole world would know! He wont be in office long enough anyway, you can expect him to get fired for drugs, women or booze! Offer Maradona an office in Miami and he will be only 90 miles away from his buddy Fidel Castro! Everyone in the world would know about the NASL for sure!

Victoria Beckham
Now here is a woman who's leg Burrito would like to hump! Victoria must be bored with the kids in LA and after years of managing "Golden Huevos" career she must have tons of Futbol connections all over the world. She would be perfect as NASL Commissioner since you know she's got the pants in her family! Wherever she goes Becks will follow or else she put him on restriction!

Burrito hope NASL bigwigs read this list and give Burrito's suggestions a thought.
Burrito like to thank Robert Scorca for giving him bone and ideas (even though Burrito prefers quesadillas!) and Kartik for being a good sport.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we give you The Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

...Or at least we hope to hear this soon.

The news is in, the new North American Soccer League has been sanctioned (More on that HERE) or should I say 'Provisionally' sanctioned, whatever that means. The USSF says the official sanctioning will be in February. So unless there is some major drama, it's all good.

The NASL will have 8 teams in 2011: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, FC Tampa Bay, Miami FC, Montreal Impact, NSC Minnesota Stars and the 2010 champions Puerto Rico Islanders. The late addition of AC St Louis was thought as an almost certainty which would have brought the league to 9 teams in 2011. But reports are saying St Louis is done.

With all this mentioned, concern lies in whether the NASL will really "undertake an extensive marketing campaign in the months leading up to its inaugural weekend". More important is my concern that the soon to be announced Strikers will not get the attention it deserves.

It's no secret Traffic Sports, owners of Miami FC and majority owner of the new NASL have been somewhat stingy when it came to Miami FC. With exception of their inaugural season, when they brought in aging star Romario, little has been done to actually capture the attention of the general public in this admittedly unfriendly sports town. Sparks of promise came with the signing of Fusion great Diego Serna in 2009 and the same happened with the signing of Christian Gomez in 2010. But in both cases Miami FC failed to market these (arguably) high profile players.
In recent random unscientific polls made by the Miami Ultras throughout Broward and Miami Dade counties, we asked the average person outside of supermarkets, at pubs and random places if they were soccer fans? If they were, we asked if they had heard of Miami FC? Out of 10 people claiming to be soccer fans I asked in Miami Dade 1 had actually heard of Miami FC and asked me if Romario still played with the team?... Most people don't know Miami FC exists and no matter how much I try to reach out via this blog or passing out flyers there is not much a fan can do to make their team any more known in the community. Word of mouth is not enough.
Soccer is a poor mans sport. It is the working man of Europe, South America and other regions that fill the stadiums of the world in an effort to escape their daily 9 to 5 jobs. So when you go to Traffic Sports offices in Miami's exclusive Brickell and pay $20 for parking... Well, you kinda get the picture that these folks are not in touch with the average "Joe" fan.
Makes you wonder why? Why having offices in such a prestigious area in Miami does not equal to Miami FC being the flag ship team of the USL or NASL? Hell, why not MLS? Shouldn't this team be full of superstars? Or is all the money in the budget going to paying the rent?

But fear not fans, Miami FC has moved the 'TEAM' offices (Not Traffic Sports and perhaps NASL headquarters, they remain in Brickell) to Ft Lauderdale Stadium just across the road from the 'Mecca' of South Florida soccer; Lockhart Stadium. Now, the soon to be Strikers staff will be in the middle of a working class area. The place they should have been from the start. Can this be a sign of things to come? Is Traffic finally getting the picture?

I still worry. The more I read and find out about the Strikers, the more I realize that the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers were arguably one of the most talented sides in the old NASL. If the Cosmos were the Real Madrid of its day then the Strikers was Barcelona. You can't really argue when the Strikers had such stars as Nene Cubillas, Gordon Banks, Gerd Muller, Elias Figueroa, George Best and the list goes on.

Some of the old timers have not embraced the idea of Miami FC becoming the Strikers. Evidence of this is a piece written by Jeff Rusnack of the Sun Sentinel titled Transformation of Miami FC to Strikers has begun

I think it's unfortunate some of the people like (Tim) Robbie and (Ray) Hudson are wary of Traffic and MFC using the Fort Lauderdale Strikers name, but it's the fans that really matter. It makes no difference that this team will have no real connection, organization wise, to the old Strikers team(s). The Pacific Northwest clubs and the SJ Earthquakes have little or no connection to the old NASL teams in their cities. And in the end the old timers will come around and support the new team because they are the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
I think we all could live with a name like Strikers FC or South Florida Strikers, but it just wouldn't be the same as going all out with the Fort Lauderdale name.

Now Traffic has the opportunity to start fresh and erase all the bad decisions made with Miami FC. But I guess the question will be: Can Traffic promote the league and not neglect the Strikers?
The Strikers need to be the Flagship of the league. The example to be followed and of which the rest of the league strives to emulate. I realize Division 2 is a difficult sell but Traffic needs to start to put the team together NOW! Put together a winning team and use the Strikers name as they should and no one will ever blame them for not trying. If we have learned anything from our experience so far with Miami FC is that even a soccer company can fail to run a soccer team if they don't embrace the community.
Now is the time for them to prove all the haters wrong! The ball is in Traffic's side of the field, lets hope they intend to attack.
Are you a Striker liker?

Soccer Movie of the Month: El Chanfle aka the original Waterboy movie

Hola Amigos!
Today Burrito bring you the soccer movie of the month! It's called "El Chanfle" It's like the original Waterboy movie except in Spanish and with the real Football not that pig skin thing Burrito like to chew on. "El Chanfle" is a movie created by Roberto Gómez Bolaños, also known as Chespirito. El Chanfle is the main character and he is club America's waterboy. It was filmed in Mexico in 1978. Chespirito should sue Adam Sandler for stealing his idea!

Go get you some popcorns or make you some taquitos! Get you some drinks, a cervecita or some tequila! Sit back and enjoy "El Chanfle"!

See Video in Spanish Here:

Jamaica and Costa Rica tie at the 'Mecca' (Lockhart Stadium) with Video

Ricardo LaVolpe's debut as a coach for Costa Rica was not the best during Wednesday night's match versus Jamaica .

Costa Rica and Jamaica's game ended in a 0-0 tie in front of about 5,000 fans at Lockhart Stadium.

Costa Rica barely created chances and it was the Reggae Boyz that had the best scoring opportunities.

Read more here: Miami Herald
or Sun Sentinel Here

Video:

Ex Miami FC player Gale Agbossoumonde gets first cap with the US National team

Ex Miami FC player Gale Agbossoumonde had his first cap for the U.S. National team today (on his birthday) as the USA beat South Africa 1-0. Five players made their national team debuts with Juan Agudelo and Mikkel Diskerud coming off the bench to create the game's only goal.

Gale Agbossoumonde came on in the 87th minute. Gale played 6 games for the Blues and was signed by Traffic Sports in a deal that took him to Portugal.
See the video.

Estoril - Gale Agbossoumonde from Comprimido on Vimeo.

Picture by Robert Scorca