1,500,000 population within range of many NBA teams...

[rjp2008]

So....does someone want to start a baseball thread?

[RiversideGator]

Wanna see empty? Try Turner Field

Wanna see really empty?  Try any Marlins home game.

I can't argue with that one! Miami sports fans are the worst! The Heat, Dolphins, Marlins & Hurricanes don't have real fans.

what are the demographics of the region?
I haven't been down there in 30 years but my view of the Miami area is that there are many new immigrants from the islands and S america and a lot of retired NE xplants, not exactly a good fan base for expensive pro teams. Maybe a MLS team would do well with that demographic.
The Dolphs seem to draw fairly well but they only play about 10 games a season and people will travel further for an NFL game.
I agree a team like the Marlins could generate some interest in other parts of FLA. Maybe they should consider something unique, they could play 1/3 of their schedule in Miami 1/3 in or near Olrlando and 1/3 uo here in NE FLA. the Marlins couldn't do worse drawing fans with a schedule like that than they are now.

Careful, a certain angry poster may become upset if you question the pro sport loyalty of hispanics despite all the evidence.

In any event, even little old Jacksonville could beat 600 people per game.  That is an absolute joke!

[ProjectMaximus]

I've heard that rotation idea for the Marlins before. After all, they are FLORIDA's team. I don't think it's feasible for a few reasons, though.

As for Jax outdoing yesterday's attendance in Miami...just remember there were officially about 11,200 tickets sold for the game. People just didn't show up. Would we sell 11 thousand tickets on a bad day?

Wanna see empty? Try Turner Field

Wanna see really empty?  Try any Marlins home game.

I can't argue with that one! Miami sports fans are the worst! The Heat, Dolphins, Marlins & Hurricanes don't have real fans.

what are the demographics of the region?
I haven't been down there in 30 years but my view of the Miami area is that there are many new immigrants from the islands and S america and a lot of retired NE xplants, not exactly a good fan base for expensive pro teams. Maybe a MLS team would do well with that demographic.
The Dolphs seem to draw fairly well but they only play about 10 games a season and people will travel further for an NFL game.
I agree a team like the Marlins could generate some interest in other parts of FLA. Maybe they should consider something unique, they could play 1/3 of their schedule in Miami 1/3 in or near Olrlando and 1/3 uo here in NE FLA. the Marlins couldn't do worse drawing fans with a schedule like that than they are now.

Careful, a certain angry poster may become upset if you question the pro sport loyalty of hispanics despite all the evidence.

In any event, even little old Jacksonville could beat 600 people per game.  That is an absolute joke!

[thelakelander]

Wanna see empty? Try Turner Field

Wanna see really empty?  Try any Marlins home game.

I can't argue with that one! Miami sports fans are the worst! The Heat, Dolphins, Marlins & Hurricanes don't have real fans.

I'm a real fan.  I'm just on the wrong side of the state when it comes to sports.

[Ocklawaha]

Careful, a certain angry poster may become upset if you question the pro sport loyalty of hispanics despite all the evidence.

It is interesting to me Riverside as I think it's more economic then ethnic. Being dual nationals, I've seen Colombia fill stadium after stadium not unlike our own Metropolitan in size and pack in huge crowds for Futball.
Yet in the days of the NASL in the USA, Los Angeles, the largest TV market, and largest hispanic market in the nation, and 2nd largest market in the NASL only drew 2,000 for their games. Not enough to pay the light bill!

As a newbie back in my home country, we ate in a nice Colombian restaurant in Coral Springs. A 30 something waiter, VERY PROPER, kept looking at us. Finally my wife says don't I know you? In broken English he said something like "You Live Colombia?" Then it hit me! OH MY GOD! DIOS MIO! EL HEFE DE BANCO COLOMBIA IN MEDELLIN...was waiting our table. New imigrants must pay their dues, a blade that cuts both ways, I know doctors, lawyers and bankers doing BK type work just to get started here. Likewise I know a 100 gringos on the lamb because they couldn't work in Colombia if they wanted to...

Sometimes borders SUCK. And they can suck the life out of people of any culture... While I have my Medellin Futball house shoes, I never made it to a game either! Just too damn busy trying to be a 6' foot tall 280 pound, light haired friend and citizen in a land of 4.5 foot tall, 98 pound men and women. Certainly something to be said for the culture part too, but mostly its economics.

OCKLAWAHA
DEO VINDICE!

[copperfiend]

Wanna see empty? Try Turner Field

Wanna see really empty?  Try any Marlins home game.

I can't argue with that one! Miami sports fans are the worst! The Heat, Dolphins, Marlins & Hurricanes don't have real fans.

I'm a real fan.  I'm just on the wrong side of the state when it comes to sports.

And when it comes to the Dolphins, you are not alone. They were the dominant team in the state until the late 90's when the Jags started playing and the Bucs became competitive. There are Dolphins fans all over the state. They just all can't drive to Miami for the games.