He said he's had preliminary discussions with the MLS and league commissioner Don Garber on bringing a team to St. Pete, and he expects to continue those conversations in a meeting with Garber in early January. Edwards said Garber has said positive things about the Tampa Bay region as a potential MLS market, most recently at an appearance at the University of South Florida in October.So we still might hear something definite about the Rowdies going to MLS in the next few months; it is being talked about and things sound encouraging. St. Pete officials are on board, which is something Don Garber had mentioned as being necessary in his comments back on October 26th. We have a mention from Edwards that he has "a good investment group" which sounds like he has some new investors, but no word yet on who they might be. Something to watch closely in the next few months.
Garber said during that speech that while Orlando City Soccer controls the MLS territory and TV rights to this region, "it's something that can be worked out," a spokeswoman for Edwards said.
Edwards said he has "a good investment group" but declined to identify any investors or discuss any potential ownership structures of a MLS team. The league intends to raise franchise fees and could charge $200 million for the next expansion team.
“Major League Soccer has met with Bill Edwards and is aware of the Rowdies’ campaign to bring an MLS expansion team to the Tampa/St. Petersburg market,” MLS Executive Vice President Dan Courtemanche said in a statement. “There is a rich tradition of professional soccer in the area dating back more than 40 years, and we are impressed with their vision and plans for a world-class soccer stadium on the downtown waterfront in St. Petersburg. We look forward to learning more about their plans in the coming months.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/731054?referrer_id=2824806
Rowdies Launch #MLS2StPete Campaign to Join Major League Soccer
By Rowdies Communications, 12/06/16, 6:00PM EST
Plan Includes Privately Funded Renovation and Expansion of Al Lang Stadium
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 6, 2016) – The Tampa Bay Rowdies unveiled #MLS2StPete on Tuesday, a campaign to drive local support to show Major League Soccer (MLS) that the club is ready to be the next expansion team. The campaign also includes a privately funded renovation and expansion plan for Al Lang Stadium.
To learn how fans can support the campaign and to view the renderings of the proposed renovations to Al Lang Stadium, visit MLS2StPete.com.
“We are committed to expanding the world’s game right here in downtown St. Petersburg, and we feel strongly that joining Major League Soccer is the next logical step,” said Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards. “We have met with MLS executives, including Commissioner Don Garber, and it is clear that they are looking at cities that have demonstrated their support for soccer via season ticket memberships, single game ticket sales and sponsorships.”
The Rowdies were the first professional sports franchise in Tampa Bay and over the last 41 years the team has undergone multiple changes, but none as dramatic as what has taken place over the last few years.
“Major League Soccer is watched all over the world,” commented Edwards. “This move will bring national and international exposure to St. Petersburg, while also boosting tourism in the area. Bringing Major League Soccer to St. Petersburg will be a great economic driver for the entire region, and will serve as another platform to unify fans on both sides of the bay."
Leading stadium planners and architects ICON Venue Group and Populous have studied the region, the city and the Al Lang Stadium site and have developed a concept that provides a world-class soccer experience, while maintaining the scale and character of the downtown waterfront.The concept is consistent with, and contemplated by, the Waterfront Master Plan developed by the community and approved by the city.
Edwards added, “We need the people of St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon, Sarasota, Bradenton and our entire region to get behind this effort. We need to show MLS leadership that we are the next great MLS city!”
Fans can show their support for #MLS2StPete by purchasing 2017 season tickets. Call (727)222-2000 or click here to secure your seats for the upcoming season.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/StadiumPlan
Stadium Plan
A STADIUM THAT FITS OUR WATERFRONT AND MOVES OUR CITY FORWARD
Leading stadium planners and architects ICON Venue Group and Populous have studied the region, the city and the Al Lang Stadium site and have developed a concept that provides a world-class soccer experience, while maintaining the scale and character of the downtown waterfront.
The concept is consistent with – and contemplated by – the Waterfront Master Plan developed by the community and approved by the city.
KEY ELEMENTS OF THE CONCEPT
The project will not overwhelm the site or the waterfront; specifically:
The expansion will be built completely on the existing site and will not protrude into the surrounding streets or water
The expansion will provide a stunning waterfront view corridor from the stadium seats east into the bay.
The expansion is designed to operate in harmony with the Mahaffey Theater, the Dalí, Saturday Morning Market and Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg circuit.
The project will provide the public with an expanded multi-use venue for sporting events, festivals and concerts, while allowing for the long term success of the Rowdies.
The project will be funded with private dollars!
INSPIRATION
The stadium design is inspired by the adjacent St. Petersburg Municipal Marina. Each building component of the new expansion design directly relates and pulls from the neighboring sailboats and water that populate the Marina.
The stadium is organized around the intimate relationships of a boat and the water that supports it. The main canopy relates and pulls inspiration from the fabric lightweight sails, the architectural façades relate to the wood and fiberglass bow and hulls and are organized to suggest movement from front to back or entry to back of house. Additionally each stadium component is held together and unified by the large iconic masts. The concourses and plazas have been design and coordinated to mimic the changes of elevations and the irregular patterns of the wake that is left from a moving vessel while provide 360 degree views and connections to the adjacent neighborhood.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2016/12/06/railhawks-owner-announces-bid-for-major-league.html
RailHawks owner announces bid for Major League Soccer
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http://www.thebluetestament.com/2016/12/6/13845958/mls-expansion-update-st-louis-cincinnati-north-carolina-san-diego
MLS Expansion Update: St. Louis, Cincinnati, North Carolina, San Diego, Phoenix, Sacramento, LAFC, Minnesota, Atlanta
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/12/06/twice-lifetime-new-york-cosmos-brink-folding-second-time/
Twice in a Lifetime: New York Cosmos on brink of folding for the second time
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http://www.wralsportsfan.com/malik-north-carolina-take-aim-at-mls-nwsl-new-stadium/16313736/
Malik, North Carolina take aim at MLS, NWSL, new stadium
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http://www.wtsp.com/sports/soccer/rowdies-announce-bid-for-joining-major-league-soccer/364393093
Rowdies announce bid for joining Major League Soccer
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http://wunc.org/post/pro-soccer-triangle-rebrands-announces-push-mls
Pro Soccer In Triangle Rebrands, Announces Push For MLS
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http://wfla.com/2016/12/06/tampa-bay-rowdies-announce-quest-to-join-major-league-soccer-plan-for-stadium-renovations/
Tampa Bay Rowdies announce quest to join Major League Soccer, plan for stadium renovations
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http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bhsn/2016/12/6/tampa_bay_rowdies_mls_campaign.html
Tampa Bay Rowdies launch campaign to get into Major League Soccer
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http://www.fox13news.com/sports/222077163-story
Rowdies make first big push to join Major League Soccer
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http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/story/3013685/tampa-bay-rowdies-unveil-campaign-to-attract-mls-expansion
Tampa Bay Rowdies, North Carolina FC unveil campaigns for MLS expansion
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http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2016/12/06/rowdies-launch-campaign-to-bring-major-league.html
Rowdies launch campaign to bring Major League Soccer to St. Pete (Renderings)
Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards is officially launching a campaign to bring Major League Soccer to St. Petersburg.
Edwards on Tuesday unveiled an $80 million renovation and expansion to Al Lang Stadium, a project that he says will be entirely funded by the private sector. Edwards said he started reaching out to the MLS early on in his ownership of the Rowdies, which he bought in 2013.
He said he's had preliminary discussions with the MLS and league commissioner Don Garber on bringing a team to St. Pete, and he expects to continue those conversations in a meeting with Garber in early January. Edwards said Garber has said positive things about the Tampa Bay region as a potential MLS market, most recently at an appearance at the University of South Florida in October.
Garber said during that speech that while Orlando City Soccer controls the MLS territory and TV rights to this region, "it's something that can be worked out," a spokeswoman for Edwards said.
Edwards said he has "a good investment group" but declined to identify any investors or discuss any potential ownership structures of a MLS team. The league intends to raise franchise fees and could charge$200 million for the next expansion team.
“Major League Soccer has met with Bill Edwards and is aware of the Rowdies’ campaign to bring an MLS expansion team to the Tampa/St. Petersburg market,” MLS Executive Vice President Dan Courtemanche said in a statement. “There is a rich tradition of professional soccer in the area dating back more than 40 years, and we are impressed with their vision and plans for a world-class soccer stadium on the downtown waterfront in St. Petersburg. We look forward to learning more about their plans in the coming months.”
There are currently 20 MLS teams. There will be 24 teams by 2018, with franchises confirmed in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Minnesota and negotiations underway in Miami. The league has a goal of eventually having 28 teams in the league and could announced the next expansion teams at the league's board of governors meeting on Dec. 15, Courtemanche said.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2016/12/grand_rapids_fc_in_talks_with.html
Grand Rapids FC in talks with city, investors to bring in pro team
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http://www.ibj.com/articles/61563-future-of-indy-elevens-league-grows-even-murkier
Future of Indy Eleven's league grows even murkier
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http://www.wbtv.com/story/33943784/raleigh-takes-on-charlotte-in-bid-to-land-major-league-soccer-franchise
Raleigh takes on Charlotte in bid to land Major League Soccer franchise
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http://www.espnfc.com/united-states/story/3013624/us-soccer-delays-decision-on-reclassifying-divisions-of-nasl-and-usl
U.S. Soccer delays decision on reclassifying divisions of NASL, USL
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http://www.phillysoccernews.com/us/mnt.php?article_id=15951
NO DECISION
U.S. Soccer board postpones D-2, D-3 sanctioning for 7-10 days
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http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-owner-bill-edwards-seeks-bigger-stadium-bigger-league/
Rowdies’ owner Bill Edwards seeks bigger stadium, bigger league
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http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/news/tampa-bay-rowdies-launch-mls-expansion-campaign/1wj2gzuw7jbbv1hroaptm1pm7j
Tampa Bay Rowdies launch MLS expansion campaign
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http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2016/12/6/rowdies_biggest_supp.html
Rowdies biggest supporter is recruiting more fans
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http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bhsn/2016/12/6/rowdies_launch_campa.html
Rowdies launch campaign to join Major League Soccer
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http://web.tampabay.com/sports/rowdies-to-pursue-move-to-mls-seek-fan-support/2305367
Rowdies to pursue move to MLS, Al Lang renovations
ST. PETERSBURG — Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards wants to become part of first division Major League Soccer, announcing a campaign toward that goal during a highly-attended event before fans at the Birchwood in downtown St. Petersburg on Tuesday night.
A presentation included renderings of renovated Al Lang Stadium, which would have to be expanded well past its current capacity of around 7,000 for an MLS franchise. Edwards said renovations would be privately funded.
But for any of it to happen, he needs the appropriate fan support. There will be no 18,000-seat Al Lang without an MLS franchise.
"I need a waiting list," said Edwards, who seeks enough new season ticket holders to impress the MLS.
The campaign, centered around the hash tag MLS2StPete, is similar to other cities (Cincinnati, St. Louis, Nashville) which will be vying alongside St. Petersburg. The league has 20 teams, with four more to join in 2018, and a possible four more beyond that where the Rowdies hope to fall in.
Edwards has been speaking with MLS commissioner Don Garber for some time about the move, even as the Rowdies switched from the NASL to what Edwards calls a more stable USL after the recently completed season.
"The commissioner kept referencing how each of the top 10 (media) markets has an MLS team, and we're No. 11. He sounded intrigued. I'm intrigued too," Edwards said.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman expressed excitement, calling the city and MLS a "perfect fit" while former Mayor Rick Baker, now president of the Edwards Group, laid out the four requirements for a franchise.
"The first is a strong ownership group, and we own that space," he said. "Second, a strong media market, we own that space as well. Number three is a stadium site, and stadium plan. We would have the most gorgeous (waterfront) view not just in soccer, but in every sport in the country."
The fourth — community support — seems to be the stickler.
"If I get enough people to buy seats, I'll add them," Edwards said after the news conference. "It has to be enough to make me spend my money. If not, why waste it?"
Edwards told the enthusiastic crowd, which included MLS representatives, that Al Lang would remain the site of the Rowdies. Improvements, rumored to be in the $80 million range if they take place, would lead to filled-out east end of the stadium where the old baseball centerfield wall now resides.
Orlando City has already made the MLS jump from the USL, considered the American Soccer Federation's third division but gaining ground and perhaps surpassing the struggling NASL as its second.
Edwards said he has a meeting planned with Garber next month.
"We've got all the pieces in place. Our goal is to bring Major League Soccer to St. Petersburg, where it belongs," Edwards said.
In a statement from MLS, executive vice president Dan Courtemanche said: "Major League Soccer has met with Bill Edwards and is aware of the Rowdies' campaign to bring an MLS expansion team to the Tampa/St. Petersburg market. There is a rich tradition of professional soccer in the area dating back more than 40 years, and we are impressed with their vision and plans for a world-class soccer stadium on the downtown waterfront in St. Petersburg. We look forward to learning more about their plans in the coming months."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2016/12/06/rowdies-launch-mls-bid-reveal-plans-for-al-lang-upgrades-using-private-money/2441
Rowdies Launch MLS Bid, Reveal Plans for Al Lang Upgrades Using Private Money
December 6, 2016
by JAKE NUTTING
After much speculation, the Tampa Bay Rowdies did what many expected and publicly declared their intentions to join the ranks of MLS in the coming years.
The interesting wrinkle to Tuesday’s event hosted by the team in downtown St. Petersburg, though, was the additional revelation that owner Bill Edwards is now offering to use private funding for the upgrades at Al Lang Stadium that would be necessary for an MLS move. Those extensive renovations — which include expanding Al Lang from 7,000 to 18,000 seats — will cost around $80 million, according to Edwards.
Whispers of existing renderings for the planned expansion of the historic venue passed around by many supporters over beers at gameday tailgates in the Al Lang parking lot were also finally proven true. Artist renderings of the collaboration between Populous and ICON Venue show the team hopes to expand while remaining inside the current footprint of Al Lang.
The current grandstand at Al Lang would remain intact, with a whole new addition being constructed in what was the outfield and bullpen area during the facility’s baseball days to bring the capacity up.
The design has a connection to the Tampa Bay Ray’s ill-fated attempted to build a new ballpark at the same site over a decade ago in that both took inspiration from the nautical environment of St. Petersburg’s waterfront.The covering of the new seating area is meant to be reminiscent of sailboats in the St. Pete Marina close by Al Lang, while symbolic “masts” are present at either end of the addition. Unlike the Rays’ failed proposal, though, the Rowdies plan to keep the stadium at the same height in hopes of avoiding the obstructive and gaudy complaints that their MLB neighbors received. The Rowdies say the new seating area would match the height of the Mahaffey Theater next door.
Offering up private funds for a stadium puts Edwards ahead of many owners vying for a spot in MLS, but he’s still in need of a few things before that check is cut by him or some other investors. First and foremost, according to his own words, is a boost in the team’s season ticket holder numbers. The Rowdies ranked third in the NASL with around 5,800 this year, but only had 3,600 season ticket holders. Without growth on this front, Edwards claims an MLS move won’t happen.
If the season ticket numbers do jump up and MLS comes calling, then Edwards and city officials will place a referendum on the ballot for St. Petersburg citizens to vote on whether to extend Edwards’ lease to manage Al Lang. His current lease to manage the venue runs through 2018, but a long term lease is a must for the owner if he is to follow through on the costly stadium renovations. Any lease over five years for any property on the city’s waterfront requires pubic approval.
Right now Edwards is calling on all Rowdies supporters to show their support by purchasing season tickets and spreading the word on the MLS push through social media with the hashtag #MLS2StPete.
UPDATE: MLS has released a statement on Tampa Bay’s bid to join the league.
“Major League Soccer has met with Bill Edwards and is aware of the Rowdies’ campaign to bring an MLS expansion team to the Tampa/St. Petersburg market,” said MLS VP of Communications Dan Courtemanche. “There is a rich tradition of professional soccer in the area dating back more than 40 years, and we are impressed with their vision and plans for a world-class soccer stadium on the downtown waterfront in St. Petersburg. We look forward to learning more about their plans in the coming months.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.socceramerica.com/article/71508/mls-expansion-st-pete-and-ncfc-enter-race.html
MLS Expansion: St. Pete and Carolina enter race
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