Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Fort Lauderdale Strikers forced out of Lockhart Stadium?

This past Saturday the Sun Sentinel reported in it's printed version that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was threatening to shut down Lockhart Stadium and the adjacent Fort Lauderdale Stadium if all stadium revenue generated by the school system (which plays High School Football games) and the Strikers don't go to the airport.
The FAA's position has stunned the city, the school system and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers soccer team. High school sports teams have played at 20,000-seat Lockhart Stadium for more than 50 years, and it is now home to Fort Lauderdale High and Stranahan High's football teams.
"We will try to do everything possible to make sure these teams can stay," Mayor Jack Seiler said.
Read the online article that came out last night HERE

According to Saturday's article the lease expires June 30 which would mean that if this holds up the last game played at Lockhart Stadium would be the make up game on Wednesday, June 29th against the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The question remains:  Where would the Strikers play? Perhaps the Cricket Stadium in Lauderhill (capacity 5,000) or maybe even FIU stadium in Miami (capacity 23,500). Outside options are Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah (capacity 5,221), Tropical Park in Miami (capacity 10,000) or FAU Stadium in Boca Raton which should be open this fall, however, there is a soccer field being used by the WPS side magicJack at that location which could also be adapted for the Strikers.
A meeting was to take place yesterday between the FAA, BCAA and the Strikers, but no word on the developments, if any, have surfaced.
As Strikers Fans we hope these issues get ironed out.
If you want to follow more comments on this subject check out Bigsoccer.
UPDATE: 
By Train-wreck Kaly
We need to meet to draft a petition to save Lockhart. Our lease runs out on June 30th, ONE DAY AFTER THE TAMPA MAKE UP GAME! If we lose the lease, Our season MAY end up in Jeopardy. With the lease cominng to an end, There is a LOT at stake. The Strikers, Ft Lauderdale High, and Stranahan HS will be looking for a new field. We have less than a month to take action, so time is of the essence. I need any input to get this done and assembled in the shortest time we could have ever imagined. After the meeting and the petition is written, we can go next door to catch some Gold Cup action. BE THERE PEOPLE!
Be sure to check out this event on Facebook

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This really sucks considering Traffic finally started to do things right. I hope this gets resolved.

F19 said...

This is outrageous. 50+ years and now the FAA wants to make demands? they are the reason that FTL lost the Orioles and spring baseball.

The City needs to press hard on this. Lockhart and FTL Stadium are a part of the city's legacy and to be pushed around by the FAA is nonsense.

Hopefully this gets resolved.

If not, they have to play at the Cricket Stadium. Anywhere is Dade just doesn't make sense for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, in the same way the Miami Fusion and Miami FC made no sense playing in Lockhart. Maybe the new FAU Stadium would also be a good temp solution.

Anonymous said...

I hope they have a plan B. This really sucks!

sportsbook software providers said...

oh I think that would not be so good for them and as the anonymous friend said, I hope they had a good plan B