Miami Herald Logo

New CONCACAF chief could enhance South Florida’s soccer appeal | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

Sports

New CONCACAF chief could enhance South Florida’s soccer appeal

By Michelle Kaufman

    ORDER REPRINT →

July 17, 2012 12:01 AM

A pair of headlines over the past 48 hours suggest that South Florida is solidifying its place as a major international soccer hub: Enrique Sanz, a Colombian-born Miami resident, was named general secretary of CONCACAF, the soccer federation for North and Central America and the Caribbean. And, ticket sales are approaching 50,000 for the July 28 friendly between Chelsea and AC Milan at Sun Life Stadium.

CONCACAF already has an office on South Beach, and holds important meetings here. The selection of Sanz as general secretary could mean the regional headquarters will move to Miami from New York, home of the previous general secretary. It makes geographic sense because Miami is one flight away from most cities in Central America and the Caribbean.

Sanz, 38, has lived in Miami for 13 years and was vice president of Traffic Sports USA, a soccer marketing and event-management agency that does business all over the Americas. They helped run the CONCACAF Gold Cup, CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, and other regional events. His relationships with the region’s federations, expertise in the commercial side of the soccer business, understanding of regional politics and Hispanic background were among the reasons he was appointed by new president Jeffrey Webb.

“I want to be part of the rebuilding of CONCACAF,’’ Sanz said by phone Monday. “We need to figure out how to improve our players and competitions, and how to produce more income so we can make those improvements. We are going to run a more professional, transparent CONCACAF, and I’m very excited about helping lead that process.’’

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Sanz replaces interim general secretary Ted Howard, who had been filling the role vacated by Chuck Blazer, who resigned last December after 21 years at the post. Blazer was a whistle-blower in last year’s FIFA voting scandal, which involved former FIFA vice president and CONCACAF president Jack Warner.

Knowing cultures

“I have spent the past seven or eight years managing relationships with the leaders in most of these countries, so I know their potential, their problems, and cultural differences,’’ Sanz said. “Because I was not born in any of the CONCACAF countries, I hope to be viewed as objective and not favoring one country over another.’’

He said it would be “beautiful’’ and “make a lot of sense’’ to move the headquarters to Miami. Sanz said there has been some talk of building or renting an office space that has a soccer training facility attached, although no specific sites have been explored yet.

“It would be ideal if we could host clinics and events for our players, referees, national teams,’’ he said. “If we could find a good space here in Miami, it could become the true center of the sport in our region. Miami has so many Latin Americans, Europeans and Caribbean people who love the sport.’’

Big crowds

Case in point: The big crowd expected for the Chelsea vs. AC Milan match. More than 70,000 fans showed up at Sun Life Stadium last August for Barcelona vs. Chivas, 51,000 watched Colombia vs. Mexico, and 48,000 tickets were sold for the Lionel Messi All-Star game last month. Another exhibition between Argentine club Boca Juniors and Colombian club America de Cali is scheduled for Aug. 16.

“This is the geocenter of the Americas, and if we bring good soccer teams here, people will come watch,’’ Sanz said. “Our job now at CONCACAF is to raise the level of our teams from a global perspective. Mexico and the U.S. have done a very good job, and other countries in the region have great potential if we approach it the right way.’’

Webb said of Sanz: “I am certain that we have found a professional with competence and integrity to implement our road map to reform.’’

Aaron Davidson, vice-president of Traffic and CEO of the NASL, has worked side by side with Sanz for many years. He believes Sanz is the perfect choice to manage CONCACAF.

New ideas

“Enrique has such a great knowledge of the game globally and a real sound understanding of this region,’’ Davidson said. “They could have conducted a worldwide search and not found a better qualified guy for the job.

“It’s going to be fun to see his impact. He knows about selling TV, radio and internet rights. He knows about getting sponsors. He is a very professional guy with new ideas, which is what CONCACAF needs.’’

Sanz officially takes over the position on July 25.

  Comments  

Videos

Emanuel Terry speaks after signing 10-day contract with Heat

Erik Spoelstra on return of Goran Dragic and Derrick Jones Jr.

View More Video

Trending Stories

It’s not so hard for an immigrant to become a U.S. citizen. Here’s what you have to do

February 20, 2019 01:20 PM

Think Florida is a ‘sinful’ place to live? You’re right, according to this new study

February 20, 2019 01:18 PM

Americans arrested in Haiti driving around with an arsenal are flown to the U.S.

February 20, 2019 06:54 PM

Cuts are coming for Dolphins’ receivers, but there’s one their new coach raves about

February 19, 2019 12:31 PM

Here are two young players the new Dolphins staff really likes. And two issues looming

February 20, 2019 04:00 PM

Read Next

Georgia basketball team loses after fan throws stuffed animal on the court

SEC

Georgia basketball team loses after fan throws stuffed animal on the court

By Pete Grathoff

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 09:23 AM

The Mississippi men’s basketball team made a free throw to break a tie after a Georgia was given a technical foul because a fan threw a stuffed animal on the court with 0.5 seconds to play on Wednesday night.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE SPORTS

With Zion injured, No. 8 UNC routs No. 1 Duke 88-72

Nation & World

With Zion injured, No. 8 UNC routs No. 1 Duke 88-72

February 21, 2019 02:11 AM

Business

Nike probing Zion shoe malfunction that led to injury

February 21, 2019 10:37 AM
Syracuse coach Boeheim strikes, kills pedestrian on highway

Nation & World

Syracuse coach Boeheim strikes, kills pedestrian on highway

February 21, 2019 10:46 AM

Sports

Scottish soccer leaders hold talks over fan misbehavior

February 21, 2019 10:24 AM

Sports

Charter bus fire damaged I-5 overpass

February 21, 2019 10:12 AM
Get hip to this: Paris wants Olympic debut for breakdance

Nation & World

Get hip to this: Paris wants Olympic debut for breakdance

February 21, 2019 10:05 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story