David Beckham’s $220 Million Miami Stadium

[Tacachale]

The lower bowl in the Citrus Bowl is only 34,000 which is near what they are drawing per game.

Who is drawing 34k per game?

That would still leave a vast amount of the stadium empty. The atmosphere would really suffer. I'm not saying a) a soccer franchise in Miami is a good idea or b) that this stadium is a good idea - but I personally wouldn't want to go to a soccer match in a half-full football stadium.

Orlando City Soccer Club drew 32,000 a game last year in the Citrus Bowl. It's crazy! And yet MLS requires them to build a soccer-specific stadium that will only hold 25,000. Even if it's a better game-day experience, it will serve fewer people than they draw already. And that's beside the fact that both the team and the taxpayers of Orlando have to spend millions on this stadium instead of other things. Orlando isn't the only market like this.

[Adam White]

The lower bowl in the Citrus Bowl is only 34,000 which is near what they are drawing per game.

Who is drawing 34k per game?

That would still leave a vast amount of the stadium empty. The atmosphere would really suffer. I'm not saying a) a soccer franchise in Miami is a good idea or b) that this stadium is a good idea - but I personally wouldn't want to go to a soccer match in a half-full football stadium.

Orlando City Soccer Club drew 32,000 a game last year in the Citrus Bowl. It's crazy! And yet MLS requires them to build a soccer-specific stadium that will only hold 25,000. Even if it's a better game-day experience, it will serve fewer people than they draw already. And that's beside the fact that both the team and the taxpayers of Orlando have to spend millions on this stadium instead of other things. Orlando isn't the only market like this.

Orlando and Seattle draw more than any of the other teams.  Most draw somewhere between 15 - 20 thousand per match. It seems odd build a stadium with 25 thousand seats on a whim - so I hope that the number they chose was based on sound research. I assumed that the Orlando attendance numbers were a) skewed based on one massive match (62k vs NYC) and b) higher due to it being the first season. Maybe they expect attendance to decrease?

It's close to impossibe to get tickets for many of the better English soccer teams. At least when they are playing a decent opponent. I guess it's better to be sold out and leave people wanting than to make space for everyone and end up looking like you're the Italian league or something.

Ideally, it will fill most of the way up for all their matches. But there is a real possibility that it will either be sold out or be half-empty. I guess if it's half-empty, it will be slightly less depressing than a half-empty football stadium. If it's sold out, I guess they can have the city pony up the money to redevelop the stadium. Or maybe play in the Citrus Bowl when they need to. I don't know.

[Adam White]

Who is drawing 34k per game?

That would still leave a vast amount of the stadium empty. The atmosphere would really suffer. I'm not saying a) a soccer franchise in Miami is a good idea or b) that this stadium is a good idea - but I personally wouldn't want to go to a soccer match in a half-full football stadium.

Have you watched an Orlando City game?  The atmosphere is hardly suffering.

No, I haven't. But I wouldn't get an understanding of the atmosphere by watching it on television anyway.

[Tacachale]

The lower bowl in the Citrus Bowl is only 34,000 which is near what they are drawing per game.

Who is drawing 34k per game?

That would still leave a vast amount of the stadium empty. The atmosphere would really suffer. I'm not saying a) a soccer franchise in Miami is a good idea or b) that this stadium is a good idea - but I personally wouldn't want to go to a soccer match in a half-full football stadium.

Orlando City Soccer Club drew 32,000 a game last year in the Citrus Bowl. It's crazy! And yet MLS requires them to build a soccer-specific stadium that will only hold 25,000. Even if it's a better game-day experience, it will serve fewer people than they draw already. And that's beside the fact that both the team and the taxpayers of Orlando have to spend millions on this stadium instead of other things. Orlando isn't the only market like this.

Orlando and Seattle draw more than any of the other teams.  Most draw somewhere between 15 - 20 thousand per match. It seems odd build a stadium with 25 thousand seats on a whim - so I hope that the number they chose was based on sound research. I assumed that the Orlando attendance numbers were a) skewed based on one massive match (62k vs NYC) and b) higher due to it being the first season. Maybe they expect attendance to decrease?

It's close to impossibe to get tickets for many of the better English soccer teams. At least when they are playing a decent opponent. I guess it's better to be sold out and leave people wanting than to make space for everyone and end up looking like you're the Italian league or something.

Ideally, it will fill most of the way up for all their matches. But there is a real possibility that it will either be sold out or be half-empty. I guess if it's half-empty, it will be slightly less depressing than a half-empty football stadium. If it's sold out, I guess they can have the city pony up the money to redevelop the stadium. Or maybe play in the Citrus Bowl when they need to. I don't know.

I guess my point is that the "one size fits all" approach of insisting on SLS's, generally in urban areas, doesn't always work, and in fact can put artificial limits on some of the teams. Orlando, it seems, is one of those examples. Especially given that soccer continues to grow in the US.

As it relates to Miami, it seems the one size fits all approach is also causing their current struggle just to get something off the ground. They could have rented a football stadium, or built an SLS outside of Miami, or let Beckham take a crack at a different market that might actually be supportive. Many of the most successful soccer teams aren't in places that work the best in other sports.

[Adam White]

The lower bowl in the Citrus Bowl is only 34,000 which is near what they are drawing per game.

Who is drawing 34k per game?

That would still leave a vast amount of the stadium empty. The atmosphere would really suffer. I'm not saying a) a soccer franchise in Miami is a good idea or b) that this stadium is a good idea - but I personally wouldn't want to go to a soccer match in a half-full football stadium.

Orlando City Soccer Club drew 32,000 a game last year in the Citrus Bowl. It's crazy! And yet MLS requires them to build a soccer-specific stadium that will only hold 25,000. Even if it's a better game-day experience, it will serve fewer people than they draw already. And that's beside the fact that both the team and the taxpayers of Orlando have to spend millions on this stadium instead of other things. Orlando isn't the only market like this.

Orlando and Seattle draw more than any of the other teams.  Most draw somewhere between 15 - 20 thousand per match. It seems odd build a stadium with 25 thousand seats on a whim - so I hope that the number they chose was based on sound research. I assumed that the Orlando attendance numbers were a) skewed based on one massive match (62k vs NYC) and b) higher due to it being the first season. Maybe they expect attendance to decrease?

It's close to impossibe to get tickets for many of the better English soccer teams. At least when they are playing a decent opponent. I guess it's better to be sold out and leave people wanting than to make space for everyone and end up looking like you're the Italian league or something.

Ideally, it will fill most of the way up for all their matches. But there is a real possibility that it will either be sold out or be half-empty. I guess if it's half-empty, it will be slightly less depressing than a half-empty football stadium. If it's sold out, I guess they can have the city pony up the money to redevelop the stadium. Or maybe play in the Citrus Bowl when they need to. I don't know.

I guess my point is that the "one size fits all" approach of insisting on SLS's, generally in urban areas, doesn't always work, and in fact can put artificial limits on some of the teams. Orlando, it seems, is one of those examples. Especially given that soccer continues to grow in the US.

As it relates to Miami, it seems the one size fits all approach is also causing their current struggle just to get something off the ground. They could have rented a football stadium, or built an SLS outside of Miami, or let Beckham take a crack at a different market that might actually be supportive. Many of the most successful soccer teams aren't in places that work the best in other sports.

I was of the impression that Beckham wanted Miami. I could be wrong.

[FlaBoy]

The lower bowl in the Citrus Bowl is only 34,000 which is near what they are drawing per game.

Who is drawing 34k per game?

That would still leave a vast amount of the stadium empty. The atmosphere would really suffer. I'm not saying a) a soccer franchise in Miami is a good idea or b) that this stadium is a good idea - but I personally wouldn't want to go to a soccer match in a half-full football stadium.

Orlando City Soccer Club drew 32,000 a game last year in the Citrus Bowl. It's crazy! And yet MLS requires them to build a soccer-specific stadium that will only hold 25,000. Even if it's a better game-day experience, it will serve fewer people than they draw already. And that's beside the fact that both the team and the taxpayers of Orlando have to spend millions on this stadium instead of other things. Orlando isn't the only market like this.

Orlando and Seattle draw more than any of the other teams.  Most draw somewhere between 15 - 20 thousand per match. It seems odd build a stadium with 25 thousand seats on a whim - so I hope that the number they chose was based on sound research. I assumed that the Orlando attendance numbers were a) skewed based on one massive match (62k vs NYC) and b) higher due to it being the first season. Maybe they expect attendance to decrease?

It's close to impossibe to get tickets for many of the better English soccer teams. At least when they are playing a decent opponent. I guess it's better to be sold out and leave people wanting than to make space for everyone and end up looking like you're the Italian league or something.

Ideally, it will fill most of the way up for all their matches. But there is a real possibility that it will either be sold out or be half-empty. I guess if it's half-empty, it will be slightly less depressing than a half-empty football stadium. If it's sold out, I guess they can have the city pony up the money to redevelop the stadium. Or maybe play in the Citrus Bowl when they need to. I don't know.

I guess my point is that the "one size fits all" approach of insisting on SLS's, generally in urban areas, doesn't always work, and in fact can put artificial limits on some of the teams. Orlando, it seems, is one of those examples. Especially given that soccer continues to grow in the US.

As it relates to Miami, it seems the one size fits all approach is also causing their current struggle just to get something off the ground. They could have rented a football stadium, or built an SLS outside of Miami, or let Beckham take a crack at a different market that might actually be supportive. Many of the most successful soccer teams aren't in places that work the best in other sports.

I was of the impression that Beckham wanted Miami. I could be wrong.

He does. But does Miami wants the MLS? They have enough to do down there. The MLS should let Miami grow organically much like Orlando and see if the market wants to support soccer.

[Tacachale]

The lower bowl in the Citrus Bowl is only 34,000 which is near what they are drawing per game.

Who is drawing 34k per game?

That would still leave a vast amount of the stadium empty. The atmosphere would really suffer. I'm not saying a) a soccer franchise in Miami is a good idea or b) that this stadium is a good idea - but I personally wouldn't want to go to a soccer match in a half-full football stadium.

Orlando City Soccer Club drew 32,000 a game last year in the Citrus Bowl. It's crazy! And yet MLS requires them to build a soccer-specific stadium that will only hold 25,000. Even if it's a better game-day experience, it will serve fewer people than they draw already. And that's beside the fact that both the team and the taxpayers of Orlando have to spend millions on this stadium instead of other things. Orlando isn't the only market like this.

Orlando and Seattle draw more than any of the other teams.  Most draw somewhere between 15 - 20 thousand per match. It seems odd build a stadium with 25 thousand seats on a whim - so I hope that the number they chose was based on sound research. I assumed that the Orlando attendance numbers were a) skewed based on one massive match (62k vs NYC) and b) higher due to it being the first season. Maybe they expect attendance to decrease?

It's close to impossibe to get tickets for many of the better English soccer teams. At least when they are playing a decent opponent. I guess it's better to be sold out and leave people wanting than to make space for everyone and end up looking like you're the Italian league or something.

Ideally, it will fill most of the way up for all their matches. But there is a real possibility that it will either be sold out or be half-empty. I guess if it's half-empty, it will be slightly less depressing than a half-empty football stadium. If it's sold out, I guess they can have the city pony up the money to redevelop the stadium. Or maybe play in the Citrus Bowl when they need to. I don't know.

I guess my point is that the "one size fits all" approach of insisting on SLS's, generally in urban areas, doesn't always work, and in fact can put artificial limits on some of the teams. Orlando, it seems, is one of those examples. Especially given that soccer continues to grow in the US.

As it relates to Miami, it seems the one size fits all approach is also causing their current struggle just to get something off the ground. They could have rented a football stadium, or built an SLS outside of Miami, or let Beckham take a crack at a different market that might actually be supportive. Many of the most successful soccer teams aren't in places that work the best in other sports.

I was of the impression that Beckham wanted Miami. I could be wrong.

Yes, Beckham picked Miami, but it sounds like he's bound to it now that he's exercised his option to own a team, and that requires the soccer stadium in the urban core. That isn't to say that MLS couldn't work with him on the stadium and location considering how much trouble it's been.

[Adam White]

The lower bowl in the Citrus Bowl is only 34,000 which is near what they are drawing per game.

Who is drawing 34k per game?

That would still leave a vast amount of the stadium empty. The atmosphere would really suffer. I'm not saying a) a soccer franchise in Miami is a good idea or b) that this stadium is a good idea - but I personally wouldn't want to go to a soccer match in a half-full football stadium.

Orlando City Soccer Club drew 32,000 a game last year in the Citrus Bowl. It's crazy! And yet MLS requires them to build a soccer-specific stadium that will only hold 25,000. Even if it's a better game-day experience, it will serve fewer people than they draw already. And that's beside the fact that both the team and the taxpayers of Orlando have to spend millions on this stadium instead of other things. Orlando isn't the only market like this.

Orlando and Seattle draw more than any of the other teams.  Most draw somewhere between 15 - 20 thousand per match. It seems odd build a stadium with 25 thousand seats on a whim - so I hope that the number they chose was based on sound research. I assumed that the Orlando attendance numbers were a) skewed based on one massive match (62k vs NYC) and b) higher due to it being the first season. Maybe they expect attendance to decrease?

It's close to impossibe to get tickets for many of the better English soccer teams. At least when they are playing a decent opponent. I guess it's better to be sold out and leave people wanting than to make space for everyone and end up looking like you're the Italian league or something.

Ideally, it will fill most of the way up for all their matches. But there is a real possibility that it will either be sold out or be half-empty. I guess if it's half-empty, it will be slightly less depressing than a half-empty football stadium. If it's sold out, I guess they can have the city pony up the money to redevelop the stadium. Or maybe play in the Citrus Bowl when they need to. I don't know.

I guess my point is that the "one size fits all" approach of insisting on SLS's, generally in urban areas, doesn't always work, and in fact can put artificial limits on some of the teams. Orlando, it seems, is one of those examples. Especially given that soccer continues to grow in the US.

As it relates to Miami, it seems the one size fits all approach is also causing their current struggle just to get something off the ground. They could have rented a football stadium, or built an SLS outside of Miami, or let Beckham take a crack at a different market that might actually be supportive. Many of the most successful soccer teams aren't in places that work the best in other sports.

I was of the impression that Beckham wanted Miami. I could be wrong.

Yes, Beckham picked Miami, but it sounds like he's bound to it now that he's exercised his option to own a team, and that requires the soccer stadium in the urban core. That isn't to say that MLS couldn't work with him on the stadium and location considering how much trouble it's been.

I hope he's successful anyway. I would love to see both FL teams do well and thrive.