Comments on: South Florida Paces ESPN’s Confederations Cup Final Numbers

By: zhe fulano

zhe fulano — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:03:27 +0000

Having had a few months to reflect on this, I agree with a lot of what has been said.

In the summer, soccer games at night would be nice. Playing them in the middle of the day can be out right brutal. If MLS goes to the traditional FIFA (winter) schedule, Miami will be a phenomenal place for a team. Winter games played in So. Fla. will make for superb vacation destinations for fans of visiting teams, and the locals will be able to enjoy midday games without risking heat stroke.

Marketing is a big issue. There’s a huge hispanic population (over 60% of Dade County’s 2.5 million residents); a significant and growing Brasilian population; a large Haitian community and a fair population of traditional Peoria. These demographics translate into a market that has more true passion for soccer than just about any other city in the U.S. It shows in the local high schools, which consistently produce some of the best teams in the state. On a different note, also consider that sports events in Miami also generate interest from folks living in Greater Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

If well thought out, Miami could be the ideal MLS city.

By: Juan-John

Juan-John — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:17:52 +0000

Anybody seen any ratings numbers for Univision’s broadcast of last Sunday’s Confederations Cup game?

By: Potomitan

Potomitan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:01:36 +0000

If MLS expect to drop a franchise (like they were dropping a McDonald’s) in the soccer state that is Florida, of course they will fail. When MLS take soccer in Florida seriously by giving them a club, and involve the locals the way Seattle Sounders involve the locals, then they’ll see success. MIAMI FUSION what kind of name is that, and make it easy for locals to be able to try out for the club. Better marketing would be important.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:33:29 +0000

Lack of marketing down in Florida.

By: Pat

Pat — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:49:35 +0000

“As a south florida resident I can attest to this. MLS and USL just aren’t of a good enough quality particularly in the summer heat to waste my time with it.”

Okay, then. This is why the rest of the country doesn’t have a great deal of sympathy for your lack of an MLS team and the struggles of Miami FC. It’s a fanbase that doesn’t seem to want to support the domestic leagues, and that’s fine, but I’m tired of hearing about it then. I hope both the leagues pull out and stay out of Florida. I think it’s a waste of their time to try and get people out to the games.

And define “traditional calendar”. How do you make that work in places like Chicago, New England, Minnesota, and Rochester? They would have to play some games in domes or on snow.

By: Lars

Lars — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:59:38 +0000

Adam, you complain about quality of the teams and then proclaim that attendance would double on a traditional calendar. The two are not related, why bring it up?

By: Tommie

Tommie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:41:17 +0000

Regardless of the Fusion’s failure and the current struggles of Miami FC you have to admit it is impressive that two of the top four markets for the USMNT’s biggest game in years were South Florida markets. I know most of the LA, Houston and Phoenix viewers watched in Spanish, but in English that is impressive and speaks to a certain snobbishness which isn’t acceptable for MLS but would make Miami a natural world cup host city.

By: Lee (not the other one)

Lee (not the other one) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:16:15 +0000

Fan, perhaps you aren’t sophisticated enough to understand that MLS or USL doesn’t resemble the type of football most people in Miami are used to.

By: adam

adam — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:06:21 +0000

As a south florida resident I can attest to this. MLS and USL just aren’t of a good enough quality particularly in the summer heat to waste my time with it. But Soccer is strong in south florida, stronger than just about anywhere in the nation. But we like good football- we’re not eurosnobs as you accuse of being Kartik, but the Fusion were horrible to watch and Miami FC are even worse! With the exception of one season, the eight years we’ve had teams in MLS or USL they are in the bottom half of the league. I watch the national team and went to season opener at Lockhart this year for FC, and that game was good but when you hold games on Sunday afternoon at 6pm when it is either raining or 100 degrees, how do you expect to get anyone? The Fusion was the same. ESPN showed a game against DC United at 2pm one Saturday and I went and thought I’d die of heat stroke.

If MLS and USL played on a traditional calender the attendance would double in South Florida and probably in Tampa also when they return to USL next year.

By: Juan-John

Juan-John — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:41:54 +0000

But yeah, Lars, I take your point. Makes sense.