The Magic City Clasico entered its fourth act Saturday night on the campus of Barry University. In the previous three contests, Miami United excelled at frustrating The Miami FC. The rough tackles, the willingness to go to ground, and the physicality all carried over from 2018. There was absolutely zero love lost between the two sides. Unfortunately for United, the 2019 version of Miami FC responds to adversity far better.
The Magic City Clásico is the showcase for the start of the 2019 NPSL Sunshine Conference on Saturday night, as The Miami FC and Miami United FC face off. Watch our LIVE coverage, in partnership with The Miami FC Broadcast Network, below. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Few would equate the dynamics of college football with soccer. Somehow, the Magic City Clasico and the NPSL on a shortened schedule shares the chaos, uncertainty, and euphoria of NCAA football. Every game is a must win and the lack of an official “pre-season” means clubs are often thrown straight into the deep end. The University of Miami often had to deal with their season hanging in the balance with Florida State University being their first opponent throughout the 2000’s. For the winner, the path has been cleared for the rest of the campaign. For the loser, panic attacks and prayers hoping to salvage a damaged season. This is what the Magic City Clasico has become.
Despite not walking away with a trophy in 2018, Miami United had one of their best seasons to date. Would a deep run in NPSL playoffs have been great? Of course. United, however, managed to make an impressive run through the 2018 U.S. Open Cup with a roster of genuine unknown players to the local soccer scene. 2019 proves to be a tougher challenge, however, the pink and black have a chip on their shoulder.
It’s been a long time. A long, long winter. But now spring is coming and the NPSL is back. Miami FC head into their second NPSL regular season as defending national champions after a celebrated run to the title in 2018. What can we expect this season?
What would the Miami MLS saga be without yet another lawsuit? This time, FXE Futbol is getting in on the action.
FXE Futbol, LLC, the group that challenged Inter Miami CF for the right to redevelop Lockhart Stadium, has sued the City of Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beckham United, LLC (the holding organization behind Inter Miami). The lawsuit was first reported by the Miami Herald.
While the complaint discusses topics we have seen before, there is one wild twist that is being alleged. Perhaps the battle for Lockhart stadium isn’t quite over.
At first glance the complaint, filed by attorney David J. Winker, requests that the court review the Public-Private Partnership Process with regards to the Lockhart site and the city’s decision to award the project to Inter Miami.
“This is an action challenging the validity and effect of the frantic and, ultimately, statutorily inadequate, Public-Private Partnership Process undertaken pursuant to Fla. Stat. Sec. 255.065 by Defendant CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE”
FXE Futbol is seeking a writ of mandamus and civil action against not only the City of Fort Lauderdale but Miami Beckham United, citing damages of over $15,000. While this has been par for the course, this is the first time a competitor has filed a claim seeking to reverse the decision by a local government.
Asbestos questions
Where the petition really begins to get interesting is on line item 13. According to FXE Futbol, Inter Miami was spreading falsehoods regarding the level of asbestos present at Lockhart in its current state. FXE Futbol has outlined that Inter Miami was advising the city council that there was “a tremendous amount of asbestos present at the stadium” and therefore revitalization or renovation was not actually possible.
The complaint discusses how procedural violations were made by the City of Fort Lauderdale throughout the process, which is much like what we have seen argued and alleged against Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami. Due to this being the first complaint being filed by a competing interest, FXE Futbol is seeking monetary damages in the amount of “lost profits”.
With March 2020 coming closer with each passing day, Inter Miami cannot afford another lengthy court battle that stalls the process of acquiring permits, clearance, and the demolition of Lockhart stadium. With the timeline already being questioned by the public, if this judgement is granted in favor of the plaintiffs we could see a real snag in Inter Miami’s plans to open in 2020.
Author’s Note: Omar Moubayed is not an attorney and does not claim to be an active member of the Florida Bar Association. Any and all information in this news story is neither his legal opinion nor the legal opinion of Magic City Soccer.
Twelve days before the club’s home kickoff, Miami United FC announced that it would be moving venues, leaving Ted Hendricks Stadium at Milander Park for the North Miami Athletic Stadium.
You can watch The Miami FC finish its preseason calendar against FC Miami City live!
Magic City Soccer and The Miami FC Broadcast Network today announce the formation of a broadcast partnership to stream all of The Miami FC’s 2019-2020 NPSL regular- and post-season matches.
The coverage will include a preseason match this Saturday against FC Miami City at 7 p.m., as well as the home opener against Miami United FC on April 20 at 7 p.m., both from Barry University.
The broadcast will include Magic City Soccer contributors Omar Moubayed, Lee Ifans and Matthew Bunch, as well as Kartik Krishnaiyer, who served on the broadcast last season and contributes regularly to the club’s multimedia offerings.
Magic City Soccer contributor Abel Iraola will be working in a production capacity on the studio side while continuing to provide excellent coverage of the local soccer scene in English and Spanish. Christian Gomez will be filling in throughout the season and continuing to serve in his primary capacity with our UPSL streams.
“We are pleased to continue offering live complimentary streaming of our home NPSL matches this season for our fans in South Florida and throughout the country,” Miami FC Vice President of Marketing and Communications Matt Britten said in a statement released by the club. “With Kartik’s depth of knowledge of the game and our club, along with the experience that Lee, Matthew and Omar bring from covering and broadcasting local Miami soccer for years, we will provide a versatile, high-quality broadcast for our fans and corporate partners.”
“Magic City Soccer is honored to partner with The Miami Football Club in their fourth year of competition,” Magic City Soccer co-founder Omar Moubayed said in the statement. “Throughout the years, MCS has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with The Miami FC while covering the club. This agreement allows us to take the next step with our platform and shine the brightest of spotlights on Miami’s premier soccer organization as The Miami FC look to defend their NPSL title.”
U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday that The Miami FC will host Miami’s Florida Soccer Soldiers in Round 1 of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition.