High-flying golf course development hits county turbulence

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https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2019/07/23/high-flying-golf-course-development-hits-county-turbulence/

High-flying golf course development hits county turbulence

A full year after a high-power group sought the City of Miami’s only golf course beside Miami International Airport for a vast office, retail and hotel complex including a soccer stadium, the group finally got around to talking with the airport.

That was eight months after voters had OK’d talks about a lease of the city’s largest green space for a project due to be larger than landmark Brickell City Centre, on about eight times the land.

From day one even casual observers had asked how the planned mega-project’s constant traffic flows plus soccer crowds would slow drives to the airport. They’d asked about multiple office towers and at least one hotel right in flight paths. But apparently it never crossed the developers’ minds to call airport officials.

They finally did chat informally this month, but only after county Commissioner Rebeca Sosa filed a formal request to study every impact of the project on the airport, the county’s major economic engine. That, she told a commission committee last week, finally got developers to talk to Aviation Director Lester Sola.

It’s a year late, and the “very preliminary” talk, Mr. Sola said, was merely about where developers were looking to build beside the airport. “Prior to that we had no discussions either formal or informal on where this development if it were to take place would eventually be situated within the footprint of the golf course.”

That may be par for the course for the Mas brothers group and ex-soccer star David Beckham, who plans a team on the site if talks with Miami lead to a “yes” vote. They seemed to assume they have a right to the city’s only golf course in a no-bid deal at far below value.

Maybe they also assumed that the county, which gets no say in the golf course deal next door, would also be silent on the impact at our international airport.

Then came Ms. Sosa’s request, noting there’d been no study of the potential impact and saying “the county should oppose any development at Melreese which is harmful to MIA.”

That made clear that the county won’t sit silent. The committee strengthened the request to bar street closures to aid the Mas project, study impact on commercial development at the airport in its own $5 billion upgrade, and immediately get federal airport regulators involved. It passed 4-0.

Mr. Sola said that if the full commission votes yes – as it certainly should – he’ll try to finish the study in two months. A city vote, unfortunately, would come first, so the city wouldn’t know the total impact on our aviation gateway when it voted.

Ms. Sosa said the county should focus on impact not only on traffic and aviation, but also on commercial (the airport plans two office towers and a convention center right next door) and environmental impact, and “also the cost to MIA to mitigate any such impacts, because we shouldn’t pay for any impact.”

That might lead to big impact fees for Melreese development. So while the county can’t control the lease, it could be a thorn. Skies are hardly clear of county action.

As Ms. Sosa told the committee, “the airport is far too important for Miami-Dade County. We need to know if what is planned over there is going to affect not only traffic but the operations of the airport. We cannot allow something to disrupt the operations of the airport so people can decide to use other airports and to leave.”

Other impediments were noted. Mr. Sola said the planned buildings’ height and locations – now held under tight wraps – could run afoul of both county planning and zoning regulations and federal rules. The Federal Aviation Administration limits building heights in flight paths, depending how far they sit from runways. Federal rules allow no variances, he said, so when the Mas team unveils where to build what, it must clear Federal Aviation Administration rules too.

Even buildings the federal agency allows could impede the airport, Mr. Sola noted. Towers short enough to be legal could prevent MIA from using runways for major cargo and passenger flights even if smaller planes could still use them. That wouldn’t sit well in an airport handling over 45 million passengers a year.

All these points will be moot if just two city commissioners bar the Mas group from Miami’s golf course, and we’d hope that at least two would protect green space and avoid a giveaway. But county commissioners aren’t sure the city will secure its assets.

As Ms. Sosa summed it up last week, “We’re not talking about a stadium only. It’s a humongous thing that they want to do over there… We’re not experts, but you don’t have to be an expert to understand how something like this can affect the quality of life and the operations of the airport.”

Pray that the city also recognizes that.

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http://www.fox13news.com/sports/rays/rays-and-st-pete-re-up-talks-about-team-s-future

Rays and St. Pete re-up talks about team's future

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (FOX 13) - Management with the Tampa Bay Rays met with the Mayor of St. Petersburg for the first time since the team floated the idea of playing home games in two cities.

Owner Stu Sternberg spoke with Mayor Rick Kriseman for about 90 minutes at the city's old police headquarters, in use until renovations at city hall are done.

"It was good to talk, it was nice to see the mayor and his crew and we had a nice conversation," Sternberg said afterward.

Sternberg did not ask for permission to negotiate with Montreal, even though he said afterward he was still very interested in the idea.

He said it was a good meeting and that he considered that in-and-of-itself an accomplishment. The reopening of talks has also put the other side of the bay back on notice.

Hillsborough's chance to negotiate expired in December, but Hillsborough's negotiators are hoping for another crack.

"We will see how things and the discussions go," Sternberg said.

The head of the Tampa side's business development effort, Ron Christaldi of Rays 2020, told FOX 13, "I believe all involved continue to think regionally."

After the meeting, the mayor didn't appear on camera. He has the power to allow the team to negotiate with either Montreal or Hillsborough County.

Kriseman's office said, "The meeting went well, to be continued."

It is unclear as to when their next meeting will be.

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https://www.kvue.com/article/sports/austin-fc-announces-first-ever-head-coach-josh-wolff/269-e8b45511-eb20-4501-a038-80b5aafc09e7

Austin FC announces first-ever head coach, Josh Wolff

Austin FC announced their new head coach on Tuesday. Josh Wolff will be the first head coach of the team.

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https://sports.yahoo.com/us-fans-seem-tired-of-the-international-champions-cup-and-heres-why-172452131.html

U.S. attendance dwindling at International Champions Cup, and here's why

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/cghhxb/question_on_tailgating_the_games/

Question on Tailgating the Games

Hello all! I'm hoping some of you fine fellow soccer-enthusiasts can help me on this one. I recently moved to the area and was excited to get a group of people together to tailgate the game this past Saturday. We loaded up the car with the canopy and chairs and grill but when we got the stadium the parking attendant said that all spaces were reserved for VIP and season ticket holders? We were turned away and had to park down the street and walk our gear up to the stadium and then back again before the game. I've never once been to a sporting event where there was no parking available day of, so this caught us quite off guard. I love tailgating, and am definitely interested in attending more games, so how does one get their hands on one of these coveted lot spots? Do I seriously have to purchase a season ticket package if I want the tailgate experience?

I purchased a parking pass for the front. It worked out to the same $$$ as parking garage. I would call a Rowdies sales person to ask.

Did you purchase it day of or ahead of time? If ahead of time, was it on the Rowdies website? Or did you have to call?

Ahead of time. I’ll try and find my contact info.

This is our plight unfortunately. The lot is reserved for season ticket holders only and therefor usually remains mostly empty. I have tried to purchase a parking pass without the season ticket recently through my ticket rep and was denied.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/cgh3uq/rowdies_home_attendance_thread_game_11_vs_st/

Rowdies Home Attendance Thread - Game 11 vs. St. Louis FC [7/20]

Attendance Thread

Rough one with the weather. You'd kind of hope for throwback night to be a big draw, but this one hurt the season average...

Yeah me and a group of 15 or so were tailgating the game. We tried to rough it out in the weather but by the end of it we were soaked and left. Heard it was a great match though.

Might I ask how you acquired the parking pass to tailgate in the lot? My friends and I attempted to this weekend but were turned away by the parking attendant because they were reserved for season ticket holders/VIP? She said we weren't able to purchase a pass on site. I'd like to come and tailgate more games, but I'm not sure how to make that happen.

I called sales rep and purchased like 10+ tickets and asked how I could buy a parking pass and they just put my name on a list. So maybe try calling the box office and tell them you and some friends want to tailgate.

This was my first time at Al Lang. Despite the weather, it was really really fun. My one year old was having a blast waving at other fans and watching the drummer.

With a full crowd and nicer weather it is one of the best sports experiences you can have in the area!

*the best

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https://stpetersburgfoodies.com/podcast/interview-with-troy-jessica-bledsoe-from-overflow-brewing-st-petersburg-foodies-podcast-episode-47/

Interview with Troy & Jessica Bledsoe from Overflow Brewing – St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast Episode 47

Interview with Troy & Jessica Bledsoe from Overflow Brewing

Welcome to the St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast Episode 47! Our featured interview today is with Troy & Jessica Bledsoe from Overflow Brewing in downtown St. Pete. Overflow specializes in sour beers, and makes them in all styles - everything from pilsners to IPAs, and everything in between. Our musical guest is Oscar Matallana. We will feature the song, "White Lessons", and talk food while Oscar answers The Fast Five Foodies Questions. We start with a super delicious recipe from Abby for Loaded Burger Bowls.

Listen right here with our player above, or use your favorite podcast listening app below.

Jessica & Troy Bledsoe - Co-Owners of Overflow Brewing

The St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast features interviews with chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, bartenders, and more, and covers the burgeoning food scene in St. Petersburg, Florida. Episodes air every Tuesday.

This episode of the St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast is brought to you by Rollin' Oats, The Brass Bowl Kitchen & Juicery, Club Savor, Buya Ramen, and Engine No. 9. Please keep them in mind the next time you are hungry for some fantastic food.

Our announcer is Candice Aviles from Meet the Chef and Channel 10 News. Our theme music is provided by The Chris Walker Band.

Links:

Recipe: Loaded Burger Bowls

Overflow Brewing

Oscar Matallana Music

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https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2019/07/24/leagues-cup-lampson-leads-stubborn-la-chicago-bow-out/

Leagues Cup: Lampson leads LA; Fire out

There’s no shame in Liga MX being a superior league to Major League Soccer, but it would be nice to get more showings of strength from the rapidly improving top flight for Canada and the United States.

The Leagues Cup provided that chance for four teams of MLS, who could make a statement with three quick victories over the next two months. In at least one of Tuesday’s cases, a side’s backups and reserves gave its club the chance to take it more seriously in the semifinals.

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https://montrealgazette.com/sports/soccer/cavalry-fc-head-west-with-confidence-to-upset-host-whitecaps/wcm/9972a609-d1ac-4119-a3f3-42fe60c7a6b9

Cavalry FC head west with confidence to upset host Whitecaps

Cavalry FC (L-R) Carlos Patino, Jordan Brown, Nathan Mavila and Jose Escalante share a laugh during practice at BC Place in Vancouver, BC on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. Cavalry FC play Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the third round of the 2019 Canadian Championships on Wednesday night. Jim Wells/Postmedia JIM WELLS/POSTMEDIA

They know they can hang with them.

Heck, they’re pretty darn sure they can beat them.

The trick now is to do it in the opposition’s backyard — the home dome of BC Place.

A draw, too, would do.

Yup, any type of draw but a scoreless one would guarantee Cavalry FC a triumphant victory in the third round of the Canadian Championship over the vaunted Vancouver Whitecaps, a Major League Soccer side that should — by any standard — beat back and take down Calgary’s Canadian Premier League squad, no questions asked.

But the stars of Cavalry aren’t playing that game.

No siree.

They’re in it to win it and have all the confidence in the world that they can pull off the upset Wednesday in Vancouver (8:30 p.m., OneSoccer.ca).