Things haven't gone well for Miami FC this season. A late start (As seems to be the norm for this club) was eclipsed by a few important signings such as former MLS players Christian Gomez, Abe Thompson, Chris Gbandi, Mike Randolph, just to name a few. The problem is that despite an interesting line up of players the Blues never seemed to find their groove. Perhaps it was the coaching? Maybe the late start of the preseason? What we do know is that Miami FC's current season is pretty much over. It's time to think about next season and get things ready NOW!As most of us know Miami FC will become the Strikers next season and with that there is a responsibility to the legacy that is the Strikers name and it's history. A team that according to everyone's favorite soccer historian Robert Scorca, never failed to make the playoffs. With that in mind things need to be done right from the start.
Traffic Sports, Miami FC's owners will have to do their homework and not make mistakes as they have throughout their short history with Miami FC. Take this weekends game at Rochester, for more on the game go HERE. The Rhino's had a throw back game which saw the home team sport the old NASL Lancers KIT with Miami FC wearing a Strikers T-Shirt... because that's what it looked like, an ugly put together at the last moment, T-shirt. Just check out the picture taken from the Miami FC site.
Time to bring back the old Strikers look, not that T-shirt abomination we saw Saturday. Traffic also needs to bring out the Strikers brand during the few games that are left to get people ready to what is coming next season. Time to look at how they will advertise. They should go after a radio station, hell, go after a local TV station. In essence Traffic needs to go all out on this one. It's still going to be difficult to sell Division 2 soccer but there is still much passion and respect from those that remember NASL's Ft Lauderdale Strikers. Give us a good product from day one and people will be interested in this team.Rumors have been going around that Traffic might be looking at taking the Strikers to MLS. It was even mentioned by Jeff Rusnack in the Sun Sentinel. If that is the case then it would be a good idea if Traffic announces those intentions. Why not? It would make many of those "Elitest Soccer snobs" who only support their teams from back home consider going to games to support a team that is bound for MLS. Look what it did for attendance at cities like Toronto who with the Lynx had low attendance, yet with Toronto FC things changed and look at attendance now. Same thing with the Sounders and MLS bound Portland.
With MLS's new 3 Designated player rule an MLS South Florida team could potentially be successful. If you think about it, what player would not want to come to Miami? A player like Ronaldinho alone could fill Lockhart. Give us 3 of that caliber and we might need a bigger stadium.
What it comes down to is that Traffic has the golden opportunity to make something happen with the new Strikers. Time to take the experiences learned with Miami FC and implement them to make this club a success. We can only hope that Traffic will learn from their mistakes and not give us another night with an ugly T-shirt and a hurried product.
***UPDATE 8/23/10 at 3:02 pm***
We learned that Miami FC had nothing to do with the Strikers jerseys worn in Rochester this weekend. It was, after all, a Rochester event organized by that organization.
So, for all those fans that screamed bloody murder, do not panic! Those were not the new jerseys.
27 comments:
I am not concerned about the Striker jersey. This was a Rochester event not a Striker event. Why would we unveil the new Striker look before the team is launched next year. My question is why was Rochester dressed in Cosmos colors? The Lancers wore yellow kits with royal blue.
@ Anonymous Fortunately your statement rings true. As you can see in our update it was a Rochester event and those shirts we are told are nothing like what they will wear next season.
Looking forward to some real Strikers jerseys! I want to buy mine already!
Check out the comments on Bigsoccer:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=1143
Why would Miami FC agree to wear those shirts? It only made them look bad.
If they run the Strikers like they ran Miami FC then we might never get MLS in our lifetimes! Many fear they will ruin the brand.
People don't want Div 2, we want to see Henry, Marquez, Donovan. We want quality soccer!
Miami deserves MLS. Period. Places like Salt Lake City, Columbus and San Jose are all bush league towns when compared to Miami.
Traffic Sports should not run the MLS team in Miami. They should fold Miami FC. Taking the Fort Lauderdale Strikers name, one of the biggest and best brands in American Soccer HISTORY is an insult to the original FTL Strikers. A crime that such a successful and decorated team could be associated with a bunch of cheap losers, the worst team in USL over the past four years.
Here is another historical fact. Since the formation of the USL/USSF D-2 no team that has stayed in business has EVER missed the playoffs four straight years. I looked it up online.
I do not want MLS Miami run by these losers and do not want the Fort Lauderdale Strikers name associated and dirtied by Traffic Sports/Miami FC.
I think Traffic Sports Brazilian leadership underestimates the anger out there about them trying to artificially link themselves with the Strikers legacy. Even the later day post NASL Strikers in the leagues that were around between NASL and ASL were top teams in their respective leagues. Miami Fusion made the playoffs three times in four years and reached the Open Cup final the other year.
What Traffic has brought the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area is our first consistently losing and uncompetitive team since we first got pro soccer down here in the 1970s. They have also spent a pittance on marketing being outdone in attendance by third and fourth division teams in much smaller markets in other parts of the country.
I'd rather wait longer for MLS in Miami than to have Traffic mess it up.
I'd rather never see the FTL Strikers play again than to have Traffic ruin the legacy with a joke team using the Strikers name.
While we're at it, Lockhart Stadium has too much history to have a joke as its likely final soccer tenant. I propose Miami FC be thrown out and forced to play underwater in Sweetwater, or in the vegetable field in Homestaed. That's more fitting for this bunch.
South Florida Strikers-MLS
it's time for MLS.
I just want to see world class players in my backyard.
I don't think we will get that with a 2nd division team.
Everyone wants it to be South Florida Strikers. Its not a FT Lauderdale, Miami or Palm Beach team. Its for all of South Florida.
Uncle Ed I disagree with you. The team should not be call FT Lauderdale. The right name is South Florida and yes I support the team.
They can be called the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and still be all of South Florida's team, just like the MIAMI Heat and MIAMI Dolphins are all of South Florida's teams. "South Florida Strikers" just sounds amateur.
Traffic did not do anything in Miami. They went to a high school stadium and played a few games at FIU,but on one knew they were at FIU. I don't see any big crowds at Lockhart. To be fair to everyone that care and support the team it should be called South Florida Strikers.
The team was born in Miami now you want to take it and change it too FT Lauderdale. Derek you are 100% wrong.
I hope Traffic is smarter and see that South Florida Strikers will be best for everyone.
No matter what they call the team we need to support it. Good or bad, its all we have.
Do I want MLS? Hell yeah!
If you want to help us out and bring MLS to South Florida then
support www.mlsmiamibid.com and sign up! You can also join the facebook fan page and twitter by clicking on their image at the website.
Keep an eye out for flyers and posters in South Florida soccer clubs, pubs and bars.
With or without Traffic we will bring MLS to South Florida!
Yes, another bad season. The name to me has to be South Florida Strikers. We have to get MLS NASL or USL is not for South Florida. We had MLS we want it back.
You guys need MLS in Miami. The core of soccer fans is in Miami not in Broward. Traffic Sports is a joke.
Every year Miami FC finishes last. Fans are tired of it. We want MLS.
No more bad soccer.We want a MLS team.
1 MLS to South Florida.
2- South Florida Strikers.
Don't slap the fan in Miami with the name FT Lauderdale Strikes. You will need every fan to support the team.
If Miami FC change the name to Ft Lauderdale Strikers It will be a insult to all the fans in Miami that have supported the team since day one. Uncle ED Please forward message to Miami FC President.
Yes they throw the towel. Another bad season. What they want to see fans happy about it. Bring MLS D-2 is not for South Florida.
Name it South Florida Strikers.
South Florida Strikers/ MLS
Uncle Ed what's the news on MLS to Miami? You need to go to the soccer community and spread the word.
We love you, we love you, we love you,
And when we say we follow, we follow, we follow,
To see some MLS, MLS, MLS in Miami
And that’s the way we like it, we like it, we like it,
Wo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, Wo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh,
Wo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, Wo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, Wo-oh-oh,
That’s the way, uh huh uh huh, we like it, uh huh uh huh,
That’s the way, uh huh uh huh, we like it, uh huh uh huh,
Ohhhhhohhhhhh, ohhhhhohhhhhh, MLS Miami,
Ohhhhhohhhhhh, ohhhhhohhhhhh, MLS Miami.
You guys are all so clueless you didn't even realize there is already a pro soccer team down there playing under the South Florida Strikers moniker.
It'll be Ft. Lauderdale or Miami Strikers. I know which one would be the idiotic choice, hopefully Traffic uses its brain which I doubt.
And finally, what happens when Miami gets a bad MLS team? Again, I'm more than certain everyone in the country can predict the kind of attendance catastrophe that will be.
Support the soccer team you have. If the team is re-branded to Ft. Lauderdale Strikers then so what? Get your whiny asses out to the games and prove to the rest of us that you all aren't a bunch of elitist soccer snobs who won't support American soccer.
Because that is what we all currently see.
Time to bring back the old Strikers look, not that T-shirt abomination we saw Saturday. Traffic also needs to bring out the Strikers brand during the few games that are left to get people ready to what is coming next season.
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