According to news sources, Armando Gutierrez and the Bases Loaded Orlando have targeted the Tampa Yankees of the Advanced-A Florida State League to move to Orlando.

He plans on his investment group purchasing the team, and planting them in a baseball stadium located at the Beachline and International Drive, most likely the southeast corner by SeaWorld Aquatica water park.

I see two huge problems.

First, I don’t see the Tampa Yankees selling. Currently they say they are in “very preliminary talks” with Gutierrez, which means, essentially, “Yeah, he called us. So?”

The Yankees are middle-of-the-road in attendance for 2010 in the FSL, with 1,506 per game, making them 5th out of 12. Only three teams–the Charlotte Stone Crabs (Rays), Clearwater Threshers (Phillies) and Daytona Cubs (duh), in descending order–have attendance figures over 2,000 per game.

Plus, they play in George Steinbrenner Field.

Allow me to repeat that: George. Steinbrenner. Field.

He’s not even cold in the ground yet, and they’re talking about vacating his adopted home.

Well, they may not be. Gutierrez seems to think they do.

But if the idea of ceding Orlando to the Evil Empire isn’t unpalatable enough, look where they want to put it: the corner of the Beachline and International Drive.

I’ve looked at the Google Maps. Either it’s going in an armpit of the Orlando Hilton, or between an exit ramp and SeaWorld Aquatica.

To make matters worse, he plans on installing a baseball museum there as well. What are we going to do, have an exhibit on Joe Tinker? Erect a statue of Carlos Peña? In pinstripes?

When I saw that as the location, to me it gave the impression that this is for tourists, not Orlando.

I can’t support it. It needs two things: 1) A different location away from the tourist traps, and 2) a team other than the Tampa Yankees.

I myself think we can support up to Triple-A baseball. Yeah, fat chance of that ever happening. But if we’re going to start with Advanced-A, then at least let’s target one of the four FSL teams that are below 1,000 fans per game. We have Jupiter, Palm Beach, Bradenton and Dunedin, higher-to-lower.

The Dunedin Blue Jays only draw 576 per game. That sounds like a much better plan.

The Orlando Predators have officially signed a 5-year lease for the new Amway Center. They will begin play there in 2011, for the team’s 20th-anniversary season.

The press release also announces that the new Arena Football League is looking to make the ArenaBowl a neutral-site game once more.

ArenaBowl XXIII was made the right of the top team in the final; that went to the Spokane Shock. But they have an attendance limit just under 11,000. Obviously they would like larger crowds and more fan tourism opportunities, the way they did in the last four seasons of the old AFL. ArenaBowls XIX and XX were held in Las Vegas, while XXI and XXII were held in New Orleans.

Orlando is a finalist for ArenaBowl XXIV. Considering the brand new arena and the team with the grand AFL history, it looks likely we’ll win if they go that route.

Season tickets for 2011 are on sale, and the seating chart has been updated to reflect the new Amway Center. It looks like initially they will close off the upper deck end zones, leaving approximately 14,000 seats available. Season tickets range $45-$216, with lower bowl tickets ranging $144-$441. This is for eight games plus the first playoff game.

Club seats start at $720, or $80 per game, and include access to the Amway Center’s club amenities, something that was unavailable in 2010 (or any other time in Predators history for that matter). The club sections are the lower halves of the sideline lower bowl sections, plus the loge boxes on the east side of the facility. Luxury suites will also be available.

The team will also be able to boast the largest video scoreboards in the AFL.

If you’re interested in buying season tickets, you can call the Predators ticket office at 407-648-4444. If you want to renew, contact your personal representative.

The Orlando Predators will continue their road to the Arena Bowl this Saturday night when they face the Tampa Bay Storm. The game will be at 7:30pm on Bright House Sports Network (BH channel 47) and 740 the Game (104.1 FM HD-3).

Tickets are still available. And will you look at that? Ticketmaster finally put their fees in the price dropdowns, so you don’t have to wait until you get to the checkout counter to find out how badly you’re getting hosed. Prices w/fees are $26-$139.

The prices still don’t include shipping (and TicketFast really ought to be free) or the order processing fee. So you’re still paying a premium of twice the price for the cheapest tickets just for the honor of ensuring you don’t get sold out on.

********

Sorry for short notice, but I only found out last night. We’re getting together for the U.S. Soccer friendly (soccer term for exhibition game) against Brazil tonight at Buffalo Wings & Rings in South Orlando. Mark Dillon of the Orlando Pro Soccer franchise will be in attendance. So if you have any questions about our coming USL-1 franchise, I’m sure he’ll be able to tell.

Tonight at 8pm, the Orlando Predators face the Jacksonville Sharks in the first round of the 2010 AFL Playoffs.

They will do so without G Julius Wilson and WR Bobby Sippio, who were suspended for entering the stands on July 31 to break up a fight between Predators and Storm fans. Wilson was suspended for six games and will have to apply for reinstatement. Sippio was only suspended for one game.

With the ascent of Robert Quiroda as a viable second option to star receiver T.T. Toliver, Sippio’s suspension should not be disastrous for the Preds. The bigger hole to fill is Wilson’s. If the Preds can make up for his absense, they have the talent otherwise to pull off anything.

The game is in Jacksonville, with tickets still available at regular-season prices of $10-$130. The game will also air on TV on NFL Network and on the radio through 740 the Game (104.1 FM HD-3).

Sorry I’ve been quiet the past week or so. Had some stuff to take care of in the real world.

********

The Orlando Predators are currently sitting 5-7 with four games left in the regular season. That includes home games this Friday against Alabama, and on Saturday night, July 24, against Oklahoma City. The game on Friday night will air on NFL Network, and of course tickets are available. Game time is 8pm.

********

The Kraze are 4-3-2 right now. Their next game is this Friday at Showalter Field in Winter Park. Game time is 7pm.

********

The Florida Tuskers is planning the big kickoff for their Supporters Club. It will happen next Tuesday, July 13, at Ember, a high-end bar and grill in Downtown Orlando at 42 W. Central Blvd. There is parking right next door at 55 W. Central Blvd. (no, that’s not the 55 West… that’s a couple blocks south on Church St.)

Drink specials and complementary appetizers will be provided.

The Tuskers have not been sitting around in terms of personnel decisions. They have signed running back Dominic Rhodes. That name ought to be familiar. It’s the same guy who saved Peyton Manning’s hind quarters by rushing 113 yards with one touchdown in Super Bowl XLI. For his NFL career, he has 7,257 all-purpose yards with 32 TD.

Their provisional roster, which they will take into preseason training camp, was announced last Wednesday.

********

The only recent news on the Orlando Titans is that they recently reshuffled their ownership structure. The primary owner, Gary Rosenbach, has sold some of his stake to other ownership partners.

Team president Steve Donner said there is interest in bringing in local partners. I’m certain we’ll get news when that happens.

The team stated there are no major difficulties with our NLL lacrosse team. Although not profitable their first year (what team is?), they did do better this year than during any year in New York City. Their financial goal is to break even during their third season in town.

********

As for UCF… I scooped that Jeffrey Jordan would join his brother, Marcus, at UCF for men’s basketball. This was made official last week. He’ll sit out this coming season, and play his senior season, 2011-12.

Women’s basketball announced just today that assistant coach Courtney Locke has been promoted to recruiting coordinator. Locke has been an integral part of head coach Joi Williams-Felton’s staff. She played at Rutgers from 2002-2006.

It should be noted that all five starters in women’s basketball, and 4 of 5 starters in men’s basketball, return next year. So there are high hopes for improvement in 2010-11.

Season tickets for UCF football are on sale now. General season tickets are $190 on the sidelines and $130 in the end zone. Both prices are lower than the first-year prices in 2007 ($210 anywhere). Faculty/staff pricing is $156, and student pricing is $60 with valid UCF ID.

In baseball, Chris Duffy is being named first-team All-American by everybody: ABCA/Rawlings, Baseball America, NCBWA, and Yahoo! Sports, among others. Whether or not he wins the Golden Spikes Award (for which he’s one of 5 finalists) will be announced next Tuesday prior to the MLB All-Star Game.

Owen Dew signed his tender with the Cleveland Indians, and will report to Short-A Mahoning Valley in the New York-Penn League. Shane Brown signed with the Yankees, and will report to Short-A Staten Island in the same league.

Chris Duffy has been assigned to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League by the Phillies, meaning he’s playing in Clearwater. (Interestingly enough, he’s not the only Chris Duffy in the Phillies system.)

After one more exciting game, the United States ran out of miracles, falling to Ghana in extra time, 2-1, in the Round of 16.

The adventure does not end there. We need not wait four years to get the excitement of soccer back. All you need to do is look in your own backyard.

For now, there is the Central Florida Kraze, our top-level amateur development team. Their next home game is next Thursday, July 1, at Showalter Field in Winter Park.

Coming in September, UCF Soccer, both men and women, will ramp up, with high school soccer resuming in October.

And soon we will be getting new announcements on our second-tier professional team, still on track to begin play in 2011. I have it on good authority that an announcement is forthcoming, but I am not privy as to exactly what will be announced.

Don’t let the excitement only come around every four years. Keep the thrill of soccer going.

The City of Orlando has given approval today for AstroTurf to be installed at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

AstroTurf was selected over FieldTurf, which is installed in several venues in Florida already, most notably Tropicana Field, who replaced their original AstroTurf “painted concrete” with grasslike FieldTurf in 2000, and its successor, FieldTurf Duo, in 2007.

Modern AstroTurf is more like FieldTurf Duo, which nearly put AstroTurf out of business in the past decade. The particular turf would likely be something in its GameDay Grass line.

But FieldTurf is crying foul, stating that AstroTurf does not have a contractor license in the State of Florida.

I get the sense that this will not be the end of the saga.

The Orlando Soccer Supporters Club is holding its final group stage watch party at Buffalo Wings & Rings in Orlando. It is at 2079 Town Center Blvd. on US 441 just south of SR 417 exit 11.

Game time is 10am on Wednesday, June 23. The venue will open at 9:30am.

Amway Center is now listed as a venue at Ticketmaster. Its official postal address is 400 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801

There are no events scheduled or any seating charts listed. But you can add it as a favorite if you have a Ticketmaster account, so that you can receive alerts to events.

I shot an e-mail to Orlando Titans/Orlando Pro Soccer president Steve Donner today regarding whether or not he would be coming to the Titans’ watch parties this weekend for their two away games Friday and Saturday night.

This is what I got back.

Jeff,

I will not be at the watch parties this weekend as I will be in England meeting with some Premiership Clubs regarding their participation with our Orlando Club.  I have not moved forward with a formal name until I made this trip because there is a chance we may use a brand of one of the teams I am meeting with.  Once I get back, we will be moving forward aggressively with  name and venue, as well as an announcement regarding a local youth club.  Feel free to reach out to me next week.

Steve

BTW, he did permit me to report this.

Translation: He is seeking alliance with a club in the English Premier League, and our team identity might emerge from any alliance he forms.

This move is certainly not unprecedented, even in the second tier of American soccer. In MLS, Colorado Rapids is allied with English Big Four club Arsenal F.C., and Real Salt Lake is connected to Spanish superclub Real Madrid. In USSF Division 2, Crystal Palace Baltimore is allied with English lower-level side Crystal Palace F.C.

Certainly there will be speculation regarding which clubs he will be meeting with. I seriously doubt it will be any of the Big Four, as I doubt they’ll want anything to do with a second-tier club. Certainly not Manchester United, for obvious reasons. (see: Malcolm Glazer)

But given he referred to “Premiership Clubs” in the plural, he’s likely got plans to meet with more than one team.

Personally, the top of my English Premier League wish list is Wolverhampton Wanderers. They have experience with working in the United States. In fact, in the 1960s-era United Soccer Association, they were imported (like all the other teams in the league) as the Los Angeles Wolves, and won the first USA title in 1967. I think Orlando Wolves has a nice ring to it.

Other clubs that I think could form a useful alliance with Orlando include Everton F.C., Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham F.C. But these are all pure speculation.

I did tell Mr. Donner I’d like him to meet with Wolves, though.

The other main piece of news is that an Orlando Pro Soccer youth academy will be forming soon. This has been expected since the beginning, as Mr. Donner understands the importance of a complete top-down organization. He already has the Titans Lacrosse Academy for lacrosse.

So, there you have it. Expect the news wheel to turn rapidly starting next week.