The Fort Lauderdale Strikers played their first scrimmage yesterday at Lockhart Stadium against the New York Red Bulls. For a team that has only been working together for less than a week they played well against a Red Bulls team stacked with stars such as French forward Thierry Henry and Mexican defender Rafael Marquez. In the end the score was 2-0 in favor of the Red Bulls. Read more about the game at www.strikers.com or go to newyorkredbulls.com You can also read an article written by Jeff Rusnack of the Sun Sentinel
Here is the complete game video courtesy of MLS.com:
Following are a number of fan pictures and video:
You can also visit the following sites and view their pictures of the Strikers vs Red Bulls game:
http://fllstrikers.net/
http://www.thepursuitofvictory.com/2011/02/strikers-vs-red-bulls.html
http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/content/friendly-red-bulls-v-strikers
http://www.miamisoccerfan.com/Soccer/Home/Entries/2011/2/28_Strikers_preseason_game_1.html
27 comments:
3,000 fans show up at Lockhart on 24 hours notice. Further proof of the power of MLS. That's more REAL people in seats than Miami FC/ Ft Lauderdale Strikers have EVER had for a game since Romario's debut.
If we had a week's notice it would have been 10,000. Many friends said they would have gone if they had known earlier.
Bring MLS back to soccer's home in America, South Florida!
Bring MLS to Miami. The 3000 fans went to see the MLS stars.
MLS is what the fans want not D-2 soccer.
Had an awesome time
Of the 3,000, only the stupid Miami Ultras showed up for Traffic's team. The other 2,985 people came to see MLS stars. Bring MLS to Miami.
Fans want MLS.
Aaron Davidson and Traffic sucks!!!!GO MLS We want it in Miami.
Those "Stupid" Ultras were the ones that got MLS Commissioner Garber's attention. Because of that Garber asked to meet with us.
I don't see any other group out there doing as much as we have to bring MLS to South Florida.
The Ultras will support ALL soccer in South Florida. Be it the Strikers, the MagicJack/Freedom of WPS or any MLS team that wants to come to our area.
Instead of just sitting there criticizing and doing nothing I invite the haters to do as much as the Ultras have and more. Join MLS Miami bid and be a part of bringing MLS to this area. http://www.facebook.com/pages/MLS-Miami-Bid/123889570963495 Or create your own group but don't just write negative comments. Don Garber told us we need to support our D2 team and that is what we are doing.
No to Traffic/NASL.
Yes to MLS in Miami.
Support MLS. Let us start our own brigade to support MLS locally. Forget the stupid Strikers and Traffic. They just want the team to park players. This is not the real Strikers of the past anyway, just a phony imitation.
Doesn't look like 3,000 people, not by the pictures at least.
It was at least 3,000. You forget how big that stadium is. It seats 20,000.
Why do you call the Ultras stupid? although I may not be the type of person to go chanting every game myself... It's really great to have that atmosphere and to know there's a group actively working to bringing the MLS to South Florida.
If you want MLS, you gotta support this team. When I go to the games this year, I'm not supporting TRAFFIC, I'm supporting soccer in south Florida. Stop pretending being such a phony holy roller. True fans will support the sport as long as it's getting us closer to the MLS.
NOT supporting the Strikers, does not help the cause.
Insulting the Ultras, who are the only group working hard to get the MLS' attention does not support the cause either.
MLS in Miami is the ultimate dreams for soccer fans in South Florida go to www.facebook.com/pages/MLS-Miami-Bid/123889570963495
Funny these guys have said that Traffic or whoever is screwing up the team and that Strikers won't draw anyone but check this out... During that game the team sold approximately 80 season tickets as well as a luxury box. This just adds to the already 400 season tickets that have been sold. That probably doesn't make you anonymous guys happy to hear. You'll see on April 9th what true fan South Florida fan support means. All these tickets sold and the only thing this team has done is lose a game to an MLS team with a huge payroll. Hint hint they've only practiced together for a couple weeks. Just wait till they gel. We're not supporting Traffic or Davidson. We're for the Strikers "And that's the way we like it!". Go pour your hater-ade out somewhere else. P.S. Bet you losers weren't even there for the FREE event! GO FLIGHT 19!!
First of all half of those 3000 people were wearing strikers merch and second, most of the other half of the fans weren't screaming Go RedBull They were screaming OH MY GOD IT"S THIERRY HENRY! OR RAFAAAA!
Justin,
They sold over 100 season tickets Saturday and the total as of Saturday was 500. They also broke a 1 day phone ticket Sales record today. They now think 1,000 season tickets by opening day can happen and selling more season tickets this year that the average attendance at last years games - 1,250 - might be possible.
I think so, too. Especially if the people here understand that for MLS to return it is Strikers success or nothing. Stop your stupid whining and support the sport.
Justin,
The last sentence in my prior post was not directed at you, but at the ignorant fools that are trying to keep MLS out of South Florida. I realize that you are not one of them, but my post reads likr you are. Sorry.
I enjoyed the game on Saturday, the Strikers have a lot of potential and are a very young team and still learning to work together. I think a 2-0 loss to ny redbulls isn't that bad considering redbull's are one of the top ranked teams in mls and the Strikers are division 2 for the time being. With some hard work and a little recruiting they might have a decent chance of getting into mls in the future.
Also it would be great if the Strikers held some of there games further south like at FIU or a stadium in Downtown Miami. Had a 45 minute drive from where I live to go see the game......that being said it was worth it.
Anonymous that post right after me; thanks for driving for 45 minutes to watch the game. Glad you enjoyed it. Your ideas on what the Strikers need to do to solidify themselves is very much what the Ultras are trying to achieve.
However, playing at FIU has been tried and was much less than successful than expected. It is one of life's mysteries that, for whatever reason, pro soccer just does not sell in Miami. That baffles me and everyone else down hwere that has watched the sport since the Toros/Gatos/Strikers 1.0 days and beyond. Here's a place that is wild for the sport everywhere but locally.
Where in downtown Miami would you build a stadium? It is an idea that might work, but where to put it?
Again, thanks for taking the time and trouble for attending. Hopefully the fact that you feel it was worth it will compel you to drive north a few more time to do what we MUST do in South Florida to get MLS back: no more whining, SUPPORT THE SPORT!
Just to add a bit more to "support the sport": Garber also told us to attend the CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers being held at FIU Stadium starting June 10, 2011 along with attending Striker games as proof of fan interest in South Florida.
It is very nearly required that everyone north of Miami up to Hobe Sound, as far south as the Keys and west to Naples to buy tickets to these matches when they are available. Remember that there will be qualifiers being played in Tampa, Charlotte, NC and Detroit - other areas that don't have an MLS team - and it is imperative that we fill the stadium to show our support of the sport. That's what Garber and TPTB in MLS want and it is up to us to give it to them.
It's time for all of us to get together & do what has to be done.
FANS WANT TO SEE MLS STARS OT A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT MADE A DECOND DEVISION TEAM. SELLING TICKETS IS WHAT THEY NEED TO DO SINCE DAY ONE. MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT MAKE IT AFTER TWO GAMES. BRING MLS TO SOUTH FLORIDA. TRAFFIC SPORTS SUCKS!!! YOU TOO MR DAVIDSON.
Fans went to see THIERRY HENRY! and RAFA not the strikers.
U guys are Aaron/Traffic butt kissers.
If Traffic isn't convinced of the power that MLS has after this game I don't know what will convince them. 3,000 fans on 24 hours notice all because of MLS. No one went to see Traffic's team of second division Americans and fifth division Brazilians.
don't be ignorant. garber won't award a team to a city that doesn't have a CLEAR following. just saying we want mls won't get south florida anywhere. why would you not support the strikers? so what if davidson is kinda a douche, the PLAYERS are what really matter and they go out there and bust ass for our hometown. SUPPORT THE SPORT, SUPPORT THE CITY
You can be sure that Traffic Sports will never bring MLS to south Florida.
and pictures and in video too :D I liked the pictures as usual, but the video did not load for me, but thanks anyway to share them!
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