CONCACAF Champions League and other USL notes

Houston Dynamo
Houston, Texas – Houston Dynamo drew with Atlante last night in a quarterfinal of the competition in the first leg of the home and away game. The Dynamo were going into the 82nd minute up 1-0 with a first half header by defender Bobby Boswell, but Atlante of the Mexican Primera division drew even with a goal by Gabriel Pereyra in a scramble in front of the net. The game disappointingly drew 10,203 fans.

Montreal Impact
Tonight the Montreal Impact take on Santos Laguna at home, but in the Olympic Stadium in Montreal rather than the 13,000 seat Saputo Stadium. Santos also plays in the Mexican Primera. The Olympic Stadium is a domed facility with synthetic turf and the snow needed to be melted off the dome before it was safe for play. However, the gathering snow couldn’t stop the enthusiasm for this game as the Impact have sold well over 45,000 tickets and expect tonight’s attendance to top 50,000. The stadium holds the record for the largest soccer crowd in Canada with 71,617 in attendance for the gold medal game at the 1976 Montreal Olympics when Poland won 3-1 over East Germany.

The game will be carried live on Fox Soccer Channel tonight at 7 CST. Watch for former Thunder player Steven deRoux cruising the right flank for Montreal.

Traffic to pull the plug on Miami FC?
Traffic, the Brazilian organization the exports Brazilian soccer talent to the world and who also owns the Miami FC in USL-1, have reportedly told the team that they have two weeks to sell 5,000 season tickets or they are pulling the plug on the team. Sources close to the situation in Florida say that this situation has been brewing for well over a month now. If this is true, I would expect that USL may have an alternative plan in place for a season schedule.

The Miami Herald reported yesterday that the team averaged about 2,000 fans per game in 2008. It also reported that Brazil-based Traffic Sports, has spent about $10 million on Miami FC. Manny Logos, team president for the Minnesota Thunder, was asked to comment on the situation but declined at this time. He did say that Traffic had worked hard at trying to promote Miami FC and had done some very positive things for the team and the league.

Southern Florida has always had a hard time drawing soccer fans and there is no difference with Miami FC. There’s a strong Latin population base in the city which has never translated into support for soccer or any of the teams Miami has hosted.

What’s odd about all this is the timing. This announcement is coming when the USL-1 season is soon to begin. Also, there are rumblings that FC Barcelona are getting cold feet concerning their MLS bid for a team in Miami. Another oddity in the timing is the recent hire of Uruguayan born Fernando Clavijo, former US National team player and MLS Coach. He fills the position of director of soccer for Traffic Sports. Clavijo was hired just two weeks ago.

I received a press release from Miami FC yesterday which you can read here after the jump, but I find it strange that the team is pleading for people to purchase season tickets and save the team. If I’m a Miami resident and I hear the organization might bail, do I trust that same organization and throw money down on a season ticket for a team that may or may not be there this coming spring? It’s an odd way to market soccer and a sad day as well. I hope the team makes it, but if I were a betting man…

Press release from Miami FC
2/24/09

-Community leaders, soccer supporters and stakeholders rally behind Miami FC and sell 700 season tickets in one hour-

Meeting to discuss the future of professional soccer in South Florida took place at the Marriott Miami Airport Hotel and gathered over 60 people

Miami, February 24, 2009 – Miami FC held an emergency meeting last night at the Marriott Miami Airport Hotel to discuss the future of professional soccer in South Florida. Given the latest news that FC Barcelona was reevaluating its bid for an MLS expansion team that would be based in Miami, Traffic Sports, Miami FC’s ownership group, decided that immediate action must be taken in an effort to ensure that Miami FC plays in 2009 irrespective of the ultimate outcome of the MLS bid.

Even with less than 48-hours notice, more than 70% of the invited guests attended. Aaron Davidson, Vice President of Traffic Sports USA and President of Miami FC, discussed the state of professional soccer in South Florida and Traffic Sports USA’s overall desire to ensure the continuity of pro soccer in the area. However, he explained that due to a combination of disappointing support in the first three seasons and the Miami MLS bid, Traffic Sports headquarters in Brazil has given the team a deadline of March 8th to demonstrate that South Florida truly cares about pro soccer.
Mr. Davidson stated that Traffic Sports was seeking both qualitative and quantitative proof of support including a target of 5,000 season tickets. The attendees immediately responded by committing to 700 tickets, letters of support and numerous promotional and sales initiatives.

“Due to the MLS bid and our ongoing discussions with Marcelo Claure and Barcelona (MLS applicants) regarding a possible partnership, Traffic/Miami FC have delayed many decisions regarding the 2009 USL-1 season. Accordingly, we must now ramp up faster than ever to secure the necessary ticket sales and sponsorship base to make the 2009 season a reality. With this in mind, we reached out to the local community to rally South Florida behind Miami FC and soccer at the professional level. We are confident that through this unprecedented community team effort we will: i) unite South Florida around the world’s number one sport – soccer; ii) guarantee that Miami FC plays in 2009 positioning “our” team/market for growth during this fourth season and beyond; and iii) show the world that South Florida truly is a great place for professional soccer and soccer at all levels,” said Aaron Davidson.

“Losing Miami as a soccer base will affect not only Miami, but Florida, and the south region for soccer. It is from Miami that we need to express that the loss of Miami FC will doom soccer in this area for a long time to come,” stated Steve McCrath, head coach of Barry University men’s soccer.

“This may be the last chance to save professional soccer in South Florida. It’s nice to see that Miami FC is being proactive in keeping professional soccer in South Florida. I hope that these efforts will not be in vain. MLS coming back is a dream but it’s not a reality yet,” commented Munga Eketebi, FIU’s men’s soccer head coach.
“I strongly believe that if Miami FC leaves our town, we will be without any kind of professional soccer here for a very long time. Some of you may say, well, USL is not a premier soccer league, the MLS is better, but have you seen USL’s Montreal and Puerto Rico in CONCACAF Champions League? We do not have the MLS here and after reading the Miami Herald on Friday I am not too sure if we will see the MLS here anytime soon. So support what we have,” commented Marino Torrens, FYSA Regional A VP.
“It is time to see if we love and cherish the sport, or if we only like it as a hobby. Turning our back on Miami FC may very well mean that in the future everyone including MLS will turn their back on us,” expressed Victor Pastora, Director of Player Development, Kendall Soccer Coalition.

“To remain a complete soccer community here in South Florida we need the leadership of a professional soccer franchise. Working together is the best way to have one,” said Tom Mulroy, President of Se Habla Fútbol and longtime organizer of Copa Latina.
Help keep professional soccer alive in South Florida and rally behind your Miami FC! Reserve your season tickets now for only $200 for adults ($100 deposit) and $100 for children and students ($50 deposit). To purchase tickets and for more information, go to www.miamifc.com, call 305-728-2633 or e-mail tickets@miamifc.com.