Fort Lauderdale United FC and Nova Southeastern University welcomed the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance for a morning connecting business leaders with professional soccer, education and opportunity in Broward County.
The morning started with breakfast and introductions. By the time it ended, approximately 50 business and community leaders had met professional soccer players, explored Nova Southeastern University’s campus and gotten a closer look at the partnership helping make Amerant Bank Field a destination for South Florida.
On Tuesday, September 29, Fort Lauderdale United FC welcomed members of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance for an experience that brought together the people helping our region grow with the athletes, staff and university leaders investing in its future.
For Gail Bulfin, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the collaboration made the visit a natural fit.
“Tommy Smith worked with the Alliance to fashion a unique, up-close experience which would introduce key business leaders to the world of professional soccer,” Bulfin said. “At the same time, our members were able to see the vast resources NSU invests in building a world class workforce ready to power our ever-expanding businesses. It’s that collaboration of business and talent that makes Broward so special.”
Guests began their day at Coquina, the brand-new bar and grill at Amerant Bank Field. Breakfast offered time to meet fellow Alliance members, reconnect with colleagues and experience a new gathering place at the home of Fort Lauderdale United FC.
Fort Lauderdale United FC Founder and Chairman Tommy Smith then addressed the group, sharing how the club and Nova Southeastern University are working together to create a place where sports fans, athletes, families and students can connect to build a stronger community relationships.
“Fort Lauderdale United FC is open for business, and hosting the Alliance was an opportunity to show what that means,” Smith said. “Together with Nova Southeastern University, we’re building a destination that brings professional sports, education and community together. We wanted local business leaders to meet our players, see our facilities and experience the investment taking place across this campus. There’s tremendous opportunity here, and we want the business community to be part of it.”
From there, guests headed to practice to see the team at work.
Experiencing live training and joining the players for a Q&A gave Alliance members a personal introduction to the club. They had the opportunity to ask questions, hear from the athletes and experience the preparation behind the action fans see on matchday. NSU’s Razor the Mako Shark even joined the gathering, mingling with the visiting business leaders.
“It was thrilling,” Bulfin said. “To have ‘behind the scenes’ access to a professional sports team—especially one rooted in Lauderdale—was just the sort of experience our members appreciate.”
The visit continued with a guided bus tour led by Smith, who highlighted Nova Southeastern University’s campus, sporting investments and the Fort Lauderdale United FC training center. It offered a broader look at how the club fits into a university environment serving students, developing talent and creating opportunities across the region.
Guests also had the opportunity to speak with NSU Dean Melanie Kevorkian, adding another connection between the university’s academic work and the Alliance’s efforts to attract businesses to Broward County.
“This event gave us a chance to share the exponential growth of Nova, not just athletically, but academically,” Bulfin said.
Throughout the morning, the Fort Lauderdale United FC staff made time for introductions, questions and conversations. That personal attention stood out to Bulfin.
“Fort Lauderdale United went above and beyond in delivering a great experience,” she said. “Our business leaders loved the personal attention and interaction with the players, and the accessibility of the Fort Lauderdale United FC staff.”
For our club, welcoming the Alliance was an opportunity to share what is taking shape here and introduce more of our neighbors to the people behind it. From breakfast at Coquina to conversations beside the practice field, the morning gave guests a firsthand look at the connections Fort Lauderdale United FC and Nova Southeastern University are building through sports, education and community.
Thank you to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, our partners at Nova Southeastern University and everyone who joined us. We look forward to building on those relationships and welcoming you back to Amerant Bank Field.
Are you a community leader or small business interested in visiting or working with Fort Lauderdale United? We’d love to hear from you! Email us: Diego@FTLUTD.com
Leave a Reply