I'm in the UK, I'm a Manchester United supporter, that's my team that I go & watch week in, week out. I said I watch their local rivals games - that is Orlando yes and I do watch pretty much every Orlando game on TV over here, and usually get over to a two or three games a season, for example I'm heading over for the St Louis game next week and I'll be back out for a play-off game later in the year as long as they qualify.
I do understand the situation and the geography by the way - they built a stadium, in Fort Laurderdale which is a completely different city to Miami, on the same site that Fort Lauderdale Strikers previously played, the most recent incarnation of whom became Fort Lauderdale Strikers after relocating from Miami where they had been called Miami FC. The plan is for their reserves to continue playing there once they move to Miami, and what did they initially call their reserves? Ah yes, Fort Laurderdale. That's why Orlando supporters have generally referred to them as Fort Lauderdale since before they began playing in the MLS. Once they're in Miami, fine, they'll be Miami, until then they just aren't for me so they'll be Fort Lauderdale. The comparison made with Manchester United was frankly ridiculous as Manchester United (or Newton Heath as it was initially) were formed in Manchester, and played in Manchester for 30+ years before the move to Old Trafford, which even then is only a mile or so outside the boundary of Manchester, whereas "Miami" have been formed and quite literally built a stadium over 30 miles away in another city. For completeness, the other poster referred to "Greater Miami" which actually unless I'm mistaken even has an official government office name where Fort Lauderdale is specified. Like I also said on the previous page, there are other reasons I have for disliking Miami the club, such as their attempts to cheat the system upon joining the league and the impact they had on Miami FC who were a very decent side until they essentially stole their fanbase.
Just to be clear, I'm not saying that people going to games primarily to watch Messi are either Messi or Miami fans, I totally get that people want to see Messi play; just as I completely understood that United became an even bigger draw to opposition supporters for a period who wanted to see Ronaldo (as were Orlando for a period with Kaka, too but obviously to a much lesser extent). I made a throwaway comment about people who support individual players rather than clubs being weirdos purely in reaction to someone suggesting I was a "bitter Ronaldo fan". Wanting to watch a particular player play is very different to "supporting" a player, which is what a worryingly growing number of people seem to do, so no judgement from me on going to a game to see Messi and/or look for Beckham. I actually agree with you about the marquee signings being great for the league overall, by the way, but ultimately they arrive to play for a team. It baffles me when people essentially support whoever Ronaldo plays for, or Messi or Mbappe etc and then just pick up another clubs shirt to wear when they change clubs, that just doesn't make sense to me and never will as I support the club, and once players are gone they are gone.
Maybe that explains why I'm coming at this from such a different angle, maybe not, happy to agree to disagree if so. Next time I'm in Philadelphia I'd be more than happy to grab a drink, fantastic stadium you've got - I've not actually done a game there yet so it's certainly on the to-do list.
But then seemingly you went to a game the other night just to watch Messi so no wonder my comment struck a nerve, if the boot fits etc.
