Miami Fusion

Major League Soccer announced a South Florida team in 1998 as one of its first two expansions, along with the Chicago Fire.{{cite book |last= Dure |first= Beau |year= 2010 |title= Long-Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=d8xlO-mfHroC |publisher= Potomac Books |isbn= 978-1597975094 |access-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-date= September 4, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230904012215/https://books.google.com/books?id=d8xlO-mfHroC |url-status= live }}{{rp|47}} Miami businessman Ken Horowitz served as owner, the first new investor to join Major League Soccer since its founding in 1995.{{rp|64}} The team's name, the Miami Fusion, was announced on July 8, 1997, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City ahead of the MLS All-Star Game.{{cite news |date=July 9, 1997 |title=What a kick: a Miami-style name for team |page=1A |work=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108264885/what-a-kick-a-miami-style-name-for-team/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=August 24, 2022 |archive-date=August 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104648/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108264885/what-a-kick-a-miami-style-name-for-team/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Michelle |date=July 9, 1997 |title=MLS team lights fuse |page=1C |work=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108265010/mls-team-lights-fuse/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=August 24, 2022 |archive-date=August 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108265010/mls-team-lights-fuse/ |url-status=live }} The Fusion debuted in the 1998 MLS season, playing in the renovated Lockhart Stadium, considered a forerunner to the league's later soccer-specific stadiums.{{rp|xv}}Rusnak, Jeff (October 8, 2012). [http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2008-10-12/sports/0810110129_1_mls-miami-fusion-rio-tinto-stadium "Fusion's Lockhart Stadium stint paved way for new MLS venues"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622013332/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2008-10-12/sports/0810110129_1_mls-miami-fusion-rio-tinto-stadium |date=June 22, 2014 }}. Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved March 13, 2014.

The Fusion started their inaugural season strong. Led by star midfielder Carter Stephens, the Fusion drew 20,450 to their first game at Lockhart Stadium against D.C. United, showing off the possibilities of a more intimate venue designed especially for soccer.{{rp|60}} Another 3,000 were turned away by police.{{cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |date=March 16, 1998 |title=United Sees Opening, Spoils Day for Fusion |page=D1 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/03/16/united-sees-opening-spoils-day-for-fusion/3d5f0851-78b0-49d4-a398-d4a1abcb6b82/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=November 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103095200/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/03/16/united-sees-opening-spoils-day-for-fusion/3d5f0851-78b0-49d4-a398-d4a1abcb6b82/ |url-status=live }} However, interest waned through the year along with the team's middling performance on the field. The Fusion replaced head coach Carlos "Cacho" Cordoba with Ivo Wortmann after game 19, and the team managed a playoff spot, losing to D.C. By the end of the year their average attendance had dropped to 10,284.{{rp|64}}

The Fusion continued to struggle both on and off the field for the next two years. After years of disagreement, the commissioner "reassigned" Carlos Valderrama back to Tampa Bay in 1999, and the team replaced head coach Ivo Wortmann with Ray Hudson mid-season in 2000.{{rp|71–72, 88}} The team made a dramatic improvement in the 2001 season, winning the Supporters' Shield with the best regular season performance, taking the Eastern Conference, and advancing to the league semifinals.{{rp|120–121, 126}} Attendance improved as well, but remained fourth worst in the league with an average of 11,177. In the front office, owner Ken Horowitz struggled with finances. He, along with Robert Kraft of the New England Revolution and Stuart Subotnick of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, formed a faction among MLS owners who wanted to keep spending down, as opposed to Lamar Hunt and Philip Anschutz who wished to invest in long-term development. Despite the team's improvements, by the end of the 2001 season they had the league's lowest season ticket sales and the lowest revenues from sponsors.{{rp|129–130}}

Major League Soccer had reportedly lost an estimated $250 million during its first five years.{{cite news |last=Holmes |first=Stanley |title=Soccer: Time To Kick It Up A Notch |newspaper=Businessweek |date=November 22, 2004 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_47/b3909099.htm?campaign_id=search%20Soccer:%20Time%20To%20Kick%20It%20Up%20A%20Notch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206014205/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_47/b3909099.htm?campaign_id=search%20Soccer:%20Time%20To%20Kick%20It%20Up%20A%20Notch |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |access-date=May 11, 2008}}{{Cite news |last=Eligon |first=John |date=2005-11-11 |title=For M.L.S., the Sport's Future Is in the Eye of the Beholder |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/soccer/for-mls-the-sports-future-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729165745/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/soccer/for-mls-the-sports-future-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder.html |url-status=live }}

The league's poor financial condition forced MLS to stop the bleeding. During the winter break between the 2000 and 2001 seasons, reports began circulating that MLS was considering trimming the league from 12 teams back to 10 teams.{{Cite web |title=MLS considering weight-loss program |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/s/2000/1228/977891.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=ESPN.com |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613025233/https://www.espn.com/soccer/s/2000/1228/977891.html |url-status=live }} The team considered several measures to improve attendance and popularity, including changing their name to the South Florida Fusion to advertise to a wider geographical area.{{cite news |last=Fonteboa |first=Pedro F. |date=October 20, 2000 |title=Fusion considers name change to attract fans |page=3D |work=Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-fusion-considers-name-c/138428913/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=January 9, 2024 |archive-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110063329/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-fusion-considers-name-c/138428913/ |url-status=live }} Rumors began circulating that the league might pull the plug on the Fusion, even though the Fusion had a low-cost stadium lease, and an improved performance in 2001 with increased fan attendance.{{cite news |last1=Rusnak |first1=Jeff |title=Fusion Owner Looking For Way Out |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-12-15/sports/0112150073_1_five-mls-teams-ken-horowitz-fusion |date=December 15, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709153645/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-12-15/sports/0112150073_1_five-mls-teams-ken-horowitz-fusion |archive-date=2015-07-09 |language=en}}

MLS announced in January 2002 that it had decided to contract the two Florida franchises, the Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/us_sport/1750024.stm | work=BBC News | title=Fusion and Mutiny fold | date=January 9, 2002 | access-date=May 2, 2010 | archive-date=June 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609061315/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/us_sport/1750024.stm | url-status=live }} Both teams were withdrawn from the league, ceased operations and folded. Major League Soccer's contraction reduced the league from 12 to 10 teams. The league had chosen to fold the Miami Fusion, in part because the Fusion's ownership reportedly lacked financial resources, had been trying to run the Fusion on a bare-minimum budget, and had asked the league to pay some of the club's expenses. Commissioner Garber stated that the Fusion had the lowest revenue in the league, due to fewer season tickets and almost no revenue from corporate sponsorships.{{cite news |title=Garber, Horowitz discuss MLS contraction |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/us/news/2002/01/09/mls_quotes/ |work=CNNSI.com |publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated |date=January 9, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208034749/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/us/news/2002/01/09/mls_quotes/ |archive-date=2002-02-08 |language=en}}

Miami ownership had reportedly experienced $15 million in operating losses since Miami joined the league.{{cite news |last1=Wagman |first1=Robert |title=MLS fans in several cities wait nervously for contraction decision. |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2001/dec27.htm |work=SoccerTimes |date=2001-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115539/http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2001/dec27.htm |archive-date=2015-09-24 |language=en}} The Fusion's owner, Ken Horowitz, described several difficulties with operating an MLS soccer franchise in South Florida. Many Miami residents were not originally from the area and didn't identify with and support local sports teams. Additionally, the MLS season is in the summer, which is different from the youth soccer season, making it difficult to draw youth soccer teams to attend Fusion matches. There were also issues with local summertime heat and rain. Finally, Horowitz identified a lack of corporate support for the team.

On April 2, 2015, a new club with the name Miami Fusion FC joined the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League.{{cite news|title=Miami Fusion FC Joins the NPSL|url=http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/home/869918.html|date=April 2, 2015|access-date=April 5, 2015|work=nationalpremiersoccerleague.com|publisher=National Premier Soccer League|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405051918/http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/home/869918.html|archive-date=April 5, 2015|df=mdy-all}} The club folded in 2018.

MLS returned to the South Florida area in 2018, when Inter Miami CF was announced. On January 29, 2018, the Miami Beckham United group, four years after the ownership's original announcement of pursuing a team, was awarded the twenty-fifth MLS franchise and launched in the 2020 season, playing on the site of Lockhart Stadium at the new Chase Stadium from 2020 to 2025 until Miami Freedom Park was built within Miami city limits in 2026. Former Fusion coach Ray Hudson would go on to work as a color commentator for Inter Miami, while former Fusion player Chris Henderson is the club's current Sporting Director.{{cite news|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/01/29/its-official-major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-miami|title=It's official: Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Miami|date=January 29, 2018|access-date=January 31, 2018|website=MLSSoccer.com|archive-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303091243/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/01/29/its-official-major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-miami|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3361118/mls-finally-announces-david-beckhams-expansion-team-in-miami|title=MLS announces David Beckham's expansion team in Miami|date=January 29, 2018|access-date=September 12, 2018|publisher=ESPN|archive-date=February 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228134028/http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3361118/mls-finally-announces-david-beckhams-expansion-team-in-miami|url-status=live}}

{{main|Lockhart Stadium}}

Image:2008-0424-FL-LockhartStadium.jpg

The Fusion played their home games at Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium. They had originally intended to play at the Miami Orange Bowl in downtown Miami, but could not reach an agreement with the city of Miami, as the city wanted a 10-year lease and a prohibition on the team relocating to another South Florida stadium.{{cite news |author= |title= Fusion Flushed at Orange Bowl? Horowitz Down on Lease Terms |url= http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1997/07/25/Facilities-Venues/FUSION-FLUSHED-AT-ORANGE-BOWL-HOROWITZ-DOWN-ON-LEASE-TERMS.aspx |newspaper= Sports Business Daily |date= July 25, 1997 |access-date= March 18, 2014 |archive-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317231418/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1997/07/25/Facilities-Venues/FUSION-FLUSHED-AT-ORANGE-BOWL-HOROWITZ-DOWN-ON-LEASE-TERMS.aspx |url-status= live }}{{cite news |last= Rusnak |first= Jeff |date= August 15, 1997 |title= Fusion Might Be Heading North To Lockhart |url= http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-08-15/sports/9708140496_1_orange-bowl-miami-fusion-ken-horowitz |newspaper= Sun-Sentinel |access-date= March 18, 2014 |archive-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317230004/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-08-15/sports/9708140496_1_orange-bowl-miami-fusion-ken-horowitz |url-status= dead }} Subsequently, the Fusion reached an agreement with the Broward County School Board and the city of Fort Lauderdale to use Lockhart Stadium.{{cite news |last= Rusnak |first= Jeff |date= September 17, 1997 |title= School Board, City Ok Tentative Fusion Deal |url= http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-09-17/sports/9709160781_1_miami-fusion-new-york-marathon-school-board |newspaper= Sun-Sentinel |access-date= March 18, 2014 |archive-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317230812/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-09-17/sports/9709160781_1_miami-fusion-new-york-marathon-school-board |url-status= dead }}

Originally constructed as a high school football and track stadium in 1959, Lockhart had hosted the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the original North American Soccer League from 1977 to 1983, as well as other soccer games.{{cite book |last= Thuma |first= Cynthia |year= 2007 |title= Sport Lauderdale |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pJ7LmzGJhZYC&pg=PA11 |publisher= The History Press |isbn= 978-1596291454 |access-date= March 17, 2014 |page=11}} Fusion owner Ken Horowitz spearheaded a $5 million renovation that converted Lockhart into a 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium. The new stadium was the first of its kind in Major League Soccer; at the time all other teams played in much larger football stadiums. This innovation set a trend for similar facilities throughout the league that continues today.

The stadium site was redeveloped in 2019 and 2020 with the construction of DRV PNK Stadium for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF.{{cite web |title=Demolition Of Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Underway |url=https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/05/08/demolition-of-fort-lauderdales-lockhart-stadium-set-to-begin/ |publisher=WFOR-TV |date=May 8, 2019 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |archive-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119032929/https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/05/08/demolition-of-fort-lauderdales-lockhart-stadium-set-to-begin/ |url-status=live }}

• Supporters' Shield
• Winners: 2001
• MLS Eastern Conference (Regular Season)
• Winners: 2001

{{Main|List of Miami Fusion seasons}}

• Games:
  {{flagicon|United States}} Pablo Mastroeni (100)
  {{flagicon|Colombia}} Diego Serna (100)
• Goals:
  {{flagicon|Colombia}} Diego Serna (52)
• Assists:
  {{flagicon|Colombia}} Diego Serna (36)
• Clean sheets:
  {{flagicon|United States}} Jeff Cassar (7)
  {{flagicon|United States}} Nick Rimando (7)

{{Portal bar|Association football|United States}}

• Fort Lauderdale Strikers
• List of Major League Soccer defunct clubs
• Fort Lauderdale–Tampa Bay rivalry

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080411000831/http://cdn2.libsyn.com/majorleaguesoccertalk/Fusion_special_mp_3.mp3 Fusion Retrospective Podcast]
• [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/mls/miami/fusion.html SportsEcyclopedia.Com: Miami Fusion (1998–2001)]

{{Miami Fusion}}

{{Major League Soccer}}

{{Supporters' Shield Winners}}

Category:Defunct soccer clubs in Florida

Category:Association football clubs established in 1997

Category:Defunct Major League Soccer teams

Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2002

Category:1997 establishments in Florida

Category:2002 disestablishments in Florida

Category:Sports in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Category:Soccer clubs in Florida