Want a cool place to visit for an away game? Sign this to help us beat Beckham & Save Lockhart!

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/b1eoqr/want_a_cool_place_to_visit_for_an_away_game_sign/

Want a cool place to visit for an away game? Sign this to help us beat Beckham & Save Lockhart!

If you haven’t...consider giving a quick signature to help out our frenemies...

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https://www.change.org/p/fort-lauderdale-city-commission-save-lockhart-stadium-for-future-generations?recruiter=942057454&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

Save Lockhart Stadium For Future Generations

We have created this petition to ask you to sign on and support FXE Futbol's proposal to enhance the cultural and sports life of Fort Lauderdale with the renovation of historic Lockhart Stadium, a high level level pro soccer team that truly represents our community with over 30 acres of park space as well as new entertainment, dining and retail options. This plan is a spectacular solution for revitalizing Fort Lauderdale’s Uptown area with a much-needed infusion of economic activity there.

The city commission now has two proposals that aim to redevelop the area, one from FXE Futbol and the other from the Miami-based MLS effort Inter Miami CF (aka Miami Beckham United). The Beckham plan would have offices for their Miami MLS team, a modular stadium to host their farm team, the first two MLS seasons for their main team, and private fields for their team practices and an academy they want to run.

As residents of the greater Fort Lauderdale community, hardcore supporters of our previous pro club the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and creators of our non-profit supporter-run amateur club Himmarshee FC, we have an immense sense of pride in our community and our sporting history and tradition at Lockhart Stadium. That is why we're supporting the FXE Futbol proposal, which will give us back our stadium and give us a team of our own again!

So please sign on and support this petition to let our elected officials know what we think is best for the future of the Fort Lauderdale community.

FXE Futbol's proposal will - click here to review

Fully Renovate Historic Lockhart Stadium
Bring a USL Championship (Division 2) team to Fort Lauderdale
Bring 1000+ jobs to the area
Create a large, diverse public park space with a beach, pond, and walking trails
Open space for multi-sport youth tournaments and leagues
Space for all-inclusive youth soccer leagues
Provide free-to-play fields
Bring new retail/dining options to the area
Bring a TopGolf location to help bring even more revenue to the area, stability, and entertainment options to the community

In addition, FXE Futbol has been around working on its proposal for over two years, and they created their proposal around the extensive community input that they gathered over that time and their renderings/plans reflect that. The Beckham group just showed up out of nowhere and submitted a hastily drawn-up proposal with big names and a Miami focus.

The Inter Miami proposal will - click here to review

Completely tear down the existing Lockhart Stadium structure
Build a modular 18,000 seat stadium that can be downsized if/when they get their $1 Billion project in Miami approved
Bring a USL League One (Division 3) farm team for their Inter Miami team
A space for elite level youth soccer teams (only ~120 kids will be able to participate)
Build marginal green space areas and outdoor verandas for the public

As a Rowdies fan, I hope to one day see the FTL Strikers reborn for the good of the historic Florida Derby. Lockhart is their home. David Beckham's MLS proposal has been unorganized and poorly developed for years, and yet MLS kept the red carpet rolled out for him. Their poor planning shouldn't be rewarded with the usurpation of another city's historic sports landmark.

Fort Lauderdale and it soccer fans deserve a team and facility focused on Fort Lauderdale, not a pop up temporary venue for a team that will leave for the 305.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/sports/soccer/robert-kraft-revolution.html

Robert Kraft’s Other Problem: Soccer

When Robert Kraft finishes dealing with solicitation charges in Florida, his soccer team could use some help.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Robert K. Kraft’s New England Patriots are a very good football team, having won six Super Bowl championships the past 19 years. They are 33-5 against the A.F.C. East division rival Buffalo Bills during that span.

In a cruel twist of fate, Robert Kraft’s other team that plays at Gillette Stadium, the New England Revolution, might as well be the Buffalo Bills of Major League Soccer. There was a run of dominance — four M.L.S. Cup Finals appearances in six years — without a championship, and a mostly fallow period now going on a decade. The team is below .500 (125-148-89) since 2008, the year after it went to its third straight M.L.S. Cup Finals.

Kraft has bigger concerns at the moment than the Revolution. He is facing two misdemeanor charges of soliciting prostitution at a massage parlor in Jupiter, Fla. (Kraft denies illegal activity.) Kraft most likely won’t face jail time, but the charges could result in a fine or a suspension or both from the National Football League, where he has become one of the most powerful owners, and from Major League Soccer, where he also enjoys a long, close relationship with the commissioner.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2019/03/15/gauging-which-st-louis-companies-might-tie-their.html

Gauging which St. Louis companies might tie their brand to the city's MLS bid (Poll)

As #MLS4THELOU seeks to secure naming rights and jersey-front sponsors, a local sports economist weights in on which St. Louis brands might step forward.

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https://the18.com/soccer-entertainment/mls-expansion-odds-20190315

Who's The Odds-On Favorite To Win The Next MLS Expansion Franchise?

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https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-ne-david-beckham-soccer-20190314-story.html

David Beckham's Miami soccer team to play first two seasons in Fort Lauderdale if city approves

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https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2019/03/14/david-beckham-wants-mls-team-to-play-initial.html

David Beckham wants MLS team to play initial seasons in Fort Lauderdale

A new stadium could replace Lockhart Stadium.

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https://sports.yahoo.com/beckham-inter-miami-reveal-temporary-184042189.html

Beckham’s Inter Miami reveal temporary stadium plan

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https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-mls-beckham/beckhams-miami-team-to-start-life-in-fort-lauderdale-idUKKCN1QV2XH

Beckham's Miami team to start life in Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Reuters) - David Beckham’s Major League Soccer (MLS) team Inter Miami plan to play their first two seasons in Fort Lauderdale, the former England international said on Thursday.

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https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/soccer/david-beckhams-inter-miami-set-to-play-first-two-seasons-in-fort-lauderdale-911097.html

David Beckham’s Inter Miami set to play first two seasons in Fort Lauderdale

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https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/david-beckhams-miami-team-to-start-life-in-fort-lauderdale-5627624/

David Beckham’s Miami team to start life in Fort Lauderdale

The new 18,000-seater stadium will be built on the site of Lockhart Stadium, former home of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and defunct MLS team Miami Fusion, which has fallen into disrepair.