Strikers Announce Pursuit of Soccer-Specific Stadium

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2012) – Traffic Sports, the ownership group of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, has appointed Tim Robbie to the position of Managing Director of Team Personnel and Stadium Development with the task of securing a long-term home at a soccer-specific stadium in South Florida. Assuming the position of Team President will be Tom Mulroy, an industry veteran with ties to the South Florida soccer community reaching back more than 35 years.

“The success of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers requires a facility which enables the team to give the fans, sponsors and media the experience they expect in professional sports today,” said Aaron Davidson, President of Traffic Sports USA. “With the growth of the NASL and the majority of teams building, planning or recently completing expansions or renovations, adding Tom [Mulroy] to allow Tim [Robbie] to focus on this crucial phase was a natural and necessary step to ensure the Strikers achieve this goal.”

“Traffic Sports has given me a mandate to seek a permanent, first class home for the Strikers,” said Tim Robbie. “Our top priority is to work with the city of Fort Lauderdale to renovate Lockhart Stadium as part of the overall development of the area. However, we are prepared to explore any and all options for a new soccer facility in the South Florida area. Given the numerous meetings and conversations I have had on the matter, I am optimistic our efforts to find a worthy, long-term home for the Strikers will be successful.”

“It’s an honor to serve as the president of one of the most historic soccer franchises in America,” said Tom Mulroy. “It’s very exciting to become president of the club with the growth of the NASL and to have the opportunity to work side by side with Tim Robbie to fulfill this commitment of establishing a permanent home stadium for the Strikers. I am thrilled to be part of it all.”

Robbie has served as president of the Strikers since 2011, when the team tripled its average attendance from the previous year and ended the season as runners-up in the NASL Championship Series. In 1987, Robbie’s father, Joe Robbie, secured 115 million dollars in private financing to build the current home of the Miami Dolphins, Sun Life Stadium. Tim Robbie served as President of the Miami Dolphins from 1990-94 and will bring that experience to his new position within the Strikers organization.

Tom Mulroy has been with Traffic Sports since 2009 when he was hired to lead its grassroots and sponsorship activation division. This included Traffic assuming joint ownership of Copa Latina and Fiesta Cup, two of the leading Hispanic soccer tournaments in the country, which Mulroy founded more than 20 years ago.

Mulroy has been actively involved in Traffic’s efforts to grow the NASL and Strikers. As team president, Mulroy will assume the overall responsibilities for the club on and off the field. Mulroy is known as “Soccer Tom” in United States and international soccer circles due to his participation in soccer at all levels throughout his career. Mulroy has been a South Florida community soccer leader for the last 25 years highlighted in part by serving as a member of the 1996 Olympic Soccer Games Executive Committee, organizing the Ball Run for the 1996 Olympics soccer tournament and serving on the Miami 2018–2022 World Cup Bid Committee.

“The combination of Tim Robbie and Tom Mulroy leading the Strikers gives us one of the most experienced soccer management teams in the country,” said Davidson. “Their experience and love for South Florida, the Strikers and the sport of soccer makes them the ideal team to take the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to the next level.” Both Tom Mulroy and Tim Robbie will be available for individual media interviews today. Please contact Ken Mendonca, kmendonca@strikers.com or 954-547-7567, to schedule a time. 2013 Strikers season tickets are now on sale. Contact the Strikers ticket office by calling (954) 606-0400 or by going to www.strikers.com. Follow the Strikers on Facebook and twitter @FTLStrikers.


ABOUT THE FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers, South Florida’s only professional men’s soccer team, will begin their eighth season in 2013. The Strikers have been a part of the North American Soccer League [NASL] since the 2011 season. The team is owned by Traffic Sports USA, the North American subsidiary of The Traffic Group, the leading soccer event management company in the Americas, with headquarters in Brazil, and offices in the U.S. and Europe. The organization is committed to the advancement of soccer in South Florida at the youth, amateur and professional levels. The Strikers web site is located at http://www.strikers.com.