City
Commission Hands Fort Lauderdale Stadium To Soccer Group
May
20, 2010 (Federal League Wire Service)
The
Fort Lauderdale city commission voted 5-0, at Tuesday evening's
meeting, in favor of a proposal by Traffic Sports, Inc. to take
over management of the Fort Lauderdale Stadium complex through
June 2011. Traffic Sports operates a soccer academy, as well as,
Miami FC, a minor league soccer team that plays its home games
at Lockhart Stadium.
The
proposal accepted by the city commission was similar to the
short term agreement that was first proposed by Federal League
officials last August. In the Traffic Sports agreement, however,
the city will still be responsible for the first $3500 in
utility bills, as well as, the salary of one full time city
employee that will help maintain the property. Federal League's
proposal intended to cover the utility and maintenance costs in
full.
Federal League officials were on hand at Tuesday's meeting and
were recognized by the mayor. League officials reminded the
commissioners that their initial proposal had been dismissed by
the city staff, who cited the need for FAA approval. The current
Traffic Sports lease has not been submitted to the FAA. The FAA
holds claim to land that both the stadium and Lockhart Stadium
occupy and has a strong say in how the land is used through an
complicated series of agreements that began in 1947.
Federal League's inquiry as to why Traffic Sports was allowed to
negotiate a short term deal that was not subject to FAA
approval, while Federal League was not, went unanswered. The
result of the process was that Traffic Sports was granted, in
effect, exclusive negotiating rights with the city for the
stadium complex. Federal League officials also inquired as
to why their offer, which seemed to be more economically
beneficial for the city would not now be considered. Again, city
representatives did not offer a direct response, only claiming
that they were satisfied with the Traffic Sports agreement.
City officials sought to mollify Federal League's objections by
including special language in the agreement that calls for
Traffic Sports to keep the facility available for baseball use.
This language was vague as it did not direct Traffic Sports in
any specified manner, nor did it indicate how Traffic would be
obliged to honor that portion of the agreement.
Traffic
Sports has indicated that they intend to convert at least one of
the complex's three baseball fields into a full size soccer
pitch by adding grass to the infield and, perhaps, removing the
pitching mound. Traffic Sports intends to use the facility as a
practice facility, but has pledged to make the complex available
for use by city soccer programs. However, in June, for example,
Miami FC has scheduled 21 practices at the facility, leaving
only 10 open dates for outside bookings, according to a schedule
filed with city.
A second group, Athletic Alliance, based in Marysville, Ohio,
had also made a proposal to the city regarding the management of
the facility. Athletic Alliance's proposal would have relieved
the city of all financial obligation at the complex,
representing an approximate $7000 in monthly savings for the
cash strapped city. Athletic Alliance indicated that they
intended to have the facility remain intact for baseball, but
were willing to rent the fields to Miami FC for practice on
certain days. Both the Federal League and Athletic Alliance
proposals included provisions that would have made the facility
available for city youth programs.
In
April, city representatives arranged for conference calls
between officials from both Traffic Sports and Federal League.
The purpose of the conference was to see if both entities could
co-exist at the facility. Federal League maintained the position
that both groups could indeed co-exist at the complex, as
Federal League had done with the now defunct Miami Fusion soccer
club a decade ago, as long as the baseball fields were not
modified in such a way to make them unsuitable for league play.
Traffic Sports insisted that they could not ask Miami FC to
conduct practice on the fields as they currently exist, despite
the fact that they subsequently did so in April and May. City
representatives expressed impartiality on the issue, but
ultimately indicated that they would let Traffic Sports modify
at least one field to suit their purposes. As a result, Federal
League began playing its weekend activity at a different
location, beginning on May 1.
The
morning after the city commission's vote, Federal League
officials sought to contract Traffic Sports in an effort to rent
the facility for a Saturday when Miami FC was not scheduled to
practice. Traffic Sports responded that they were not ready to
accept outside bookings, but might be able to do so in a week's
time.
Although
legal action, such as an injunction to stop Traffic Sports from
possessing the facility until all proposals for short term
management have been considered, has been contemplated by
Federal League, Inc, no action has been taken at this time.
Federal
League Baseball had previously rented the facility to host its
weekend games from 1996 through April of 2010.
