http://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2016/12/31/14132066/the-daily-dirt-december-31-nasl-nwsl-atlanta-dekalb
The Daily Dirt, December 31: Happy New Year for NASL and NWSL in Atlanta?
Details continue to emerge
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http://napavalleyregister.com/national-premier-soccer-league-team-coming-to-napa/article_09295b2a-d887-5a5c-bafb-da55f1f31f60.html
National Premier Soccer League team coming to Napa
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http://midfieldpress.com/2016/12/30/exclusive-atlanta-group-to-bring-pro-soccer-to-dekalb-county/
Exclusive: Atlanta Group To Bring Pro Soccer To DeKalb County
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http://www.newstalk.com/NASL-NY-Cosmos-collapse
Failed 'galacticos' model brings New York Cosmos crashing back down to earth
The historic franchise are on the brink of collapse again
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http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/big-part-st-louis-soccer-history-stars#stream/0
A big part of St. Louis soccer history is in the Stars
By Wayne Pratt • Dec 30, 2016
The effort by backers of a potential Major League Soccer expansion franchise for St. Louis has some fans reflecting on the history of the sport in the region. That includes memories of a top-level professional team in late 1960s through the mid-1970s called the St. Louis Stars.
The team was part of the old North American Soccer League and featured plenty of area players, such as Pat McBride, who was on the Stars for a decade.
"The soccer purists, so to speak, they came out and there was good support," McBride said in an interview for St. Louis Public Radio.
"As we gravitated toward having more of a nucleus of St. Louis players, I think we gained support."
The NASL had teams scattered throughout the continent, and in an effort to raise the profile of the sport in Canada and the U.S., the flagship New York Cosmos attracted big-name international players, like Pele, who is considered one of the best of all time.
Pele attracted a crowd when he came to St. Louis.
"At that time we were probably averaging maybe 12-to-15,000 a game. When Pele came we had 30,000," McBride recalled.
The 1968 match with Pele was at the old Busch Stadium. The Stars split their home games through the years between that venue and Francis Field at Washington University. The Wash U location provided a better atmosphere because of the size of most crowds. Like many throughout the league, the stadiums were built for other sports and that caused significant problems.
"Those stadiums needed to be modified in some way for soccer," said Jack Galmiche, a former Stars player, and now general manager, president and chief executive officer of the Nine Network of Public Media, the public television service in St. Louis.
Despite the stadium issues, he said the team managed to build a strong connection with hardcore soccer fans, with the help of an outreach program.
"We said 'hey, look. If you need a speaker, if you need a clinic, if you need an athlete to be part of your event, we're very happy to provide that.'"
Galmiche said that approach helped with ticket sales.
"Whenever we would do these things, we would invite these organizations to bring a group down."
There was also a focus on families.
"Kids could play at half-time and so we would attract parents and grandparents and brothers and sisters," Galmiche said.
"We did all kinds of things to attract interest in the team at that time."
The ticket office might have tried to pull out all the stops to get people in the stands, but for at least a few years the team's on-the-field success helped fill the seats. That includes the 1972 season. The Stars went to the league championship, but lost to New York.
The St. Louis Stars joined the NASL in 1968 and lasted until 1977. That's when an ownership group from California bought the team and moved it to Anaheim. The California Surf was dissolved in 1981. The league lasted until the mid-80s, but eventually ended with many of the remaining teams losing money.
Former St. Louis Stars player Pat McBride has kept newspaper clippings, programs, photographs and other memorabilia from his on-the-field career.
Credit Wayne Pratt | St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis-based soccer announcer Bill McDermott goes back decades with the sport. He says one of the key reasons why the current, top-level, pro league, Major League Soccer, is on more solid footing than its predecessor of more than four decades ago is the construction of soccer specific stadiums throughout the U.S.
But that's not the only reason. Essentially, the game has become more attractive as an investment for those with deep pockets.
"They now realize that it is a viable alternative for the sports dollar," McDermott said in an interview.
He also said soccer is not for investors trying to make a quick buck.
"Are they going to make money the first couple of years they are involved in it? Of course not. That’s not going to happen. The outlay of money at the outset is so extraordinary — it takes a while to regain that money, to recoup that.”
McDermott is among those hoping the effort to build the stadium and secure and expansion MLS franchise are successful so the St. Louis region can help regain an unofficial title.
"St. Louis used to be the soccer capital of the United States. It no longer is. I don't know where that is. Is it in Plano, Texas; Pasadena, California — we don't know," McDermott said.
"But one thing that we are abundantly certain of — any degree of acceptance, a new found cache, a respectability, a notoriety that the sport of soccer enjoys in our country today is directly responsible to what St. Louis started well back in 1875."
The stadium financing issue could be sorted out early in 2017, providing a clear indication on whether the city is about to write a new chapter in its rich soccer history that includes the St. Louis Stars.
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https://cpa.ds.npr.org/kwmu/audio/2017/01/1230StarsF.mp3
St. Louis Public Radio's Wayne Pratt talks with some of the people who had key roles with the St. Louis Stars of the old NASL.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGdTaxypexI
1977-07-30 St.Louis Stars vs Tampa Bay Rowdies
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https://www.facebook.com/TampaBayRowdies/photos/a.442996013834.230638.109366663834/10155603059653835/
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Due to the high volume of calls received to renew season tickets, the Rowdies have decided to extend the deadline to secure special pricing for 2017 season tickets to Friday, January 6! Fans now have until 6 p.m. on Friday to secure their 2016 seats for next year, while getting the lowest prices on 2017 season tickets.
BUY ONLINE -> http://tinyurl.com/TBRSTH17
For more information on season tickets, visit rowdiessoccer.com/season-tickets.
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https://issuu.com/the863magazine/docs/the-863-magazine-2016-sept-oct
The 863 Magazine - September & October 2016
Published on Sep 12, 2016
Soccer Pro Alex Morrell: Living the Dream; For the Love of Horses: Life Lesson from the Ranch; Finding Peace in Chaos; Winners of the Annual 863 Summer Vacation Photo Contest; Non-Profit Spotlight: Michelle's Closet. The 863 Magazine features the people, places, and experiences that make Polk County in Central Florida exceptional. Discover Your Polk!
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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/738450?referrer_id=2824806
Lakeland Native Alex Morrell Joins Rowdies For 2017 Season
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https://www.facebook.com/TampaBayRowdies/photos/a.442996013834.230638.109366663834/10155587630148835/
Tampa Bay Rowdies
FOX Sports's Rob Stone is showing us a little love today in his #MLS2StPete shirt! Thanks for the support, Rob!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho7zoA84gB4
Playing alongside Freddy Adu! | Tubes Meets Joe Cole
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http://www.empireofsoccer.com/strikers-ownership-deny-allegations-in-edwards-suit-seeking-sale-to-psg-academy-florida-56552/
Strikers Ownership Deny Allegations In Edwards Suit, Seeking Sale to PSG Academy Florida
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http://fox2now.com/2017/01/02/plans-for-proposed-st-louis-major-league-soccer-stadium-may-be-unraveling/
Plans for proposed St. Louis Major League soccer stadium may be unraveling
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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/739668?referrer_id=2364194-news-archive
Edwards Taking Rowdies to Next Level
By CHARLIE CORR
01/02/17, 2:16PM EST
2017 newcomer displays big expectations with stadium expansion design of Al Lang
Tampa Bay Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards has made it clear in the past that he wanted to expand Al Lang Stadium.
For the past two years, the Rowdies have regularly brought in some near-capacity crowds at the waterfront venue in St. Petersburg, Fla., and heading into its first campaign in the USL, they are expected to be one of the league’s top draws.
In early December, Edwards and the team unveiled an elaborate expansion and renovation of Al Lang that would up the capacity to 18,000 while maintaining the aura of the venue being adjacent to the waterfront. Should the plans come to fruition, it would be not only an impressive soccer-specific gem, but also one that stays true to the downtown St. Pete area – a much different approach than what Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays had wanted to build over at one stage.
“It was too imposing, running across the street and into the water,” Edwards said in reference to the Rays’ plans. “We’re doing it in a footprint that’s there, and we’re taking our neighbors into consideration, which was our first and most important goal.”
The Rowdies organization has a rich soccer history in North America, and so too does Al Lang, which had been a part of baseball lore for the past century. The Rowdies have progressively made the stadium their own in the footballing realm in recent years.
“We’ve got new locker rooms, new concession stands, new seats – we’ve totally refurbished a stadium that was named in 1922, when Babe Ruth played, so there’s a lot of history to that,” Edwards said. “We kind of covered it over as best we could to not disturb [the history]. We’re growing it out and we’re selling tickets.”
Like all USL teams, Edwards spent mid-December at the 2016 USL Winter Summit in Clearwater Beach, Fla., and he expressed his praise of the league and the benefits it will have for the Rowdies.
“Everything was done in a way to position us to go where we wanted to go. We’re glad to be here, and I couldn’t be happier with what I’m seeing here,” Edwards said. “[The league is] lightyears ahead of where I just came from, and it’s allowed me to focus on building my brand and team.”
Tampa Bay Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards has made it clear in the past that he wanted to expand Al Lang Stadium.
For the past two years, the Rowdies have regularly brought in some near-capacity crowds at the waterfront venue in St. Petersburg, Fla., and heading into its first campaign in the USL, they are expected to be one of the league’s top draws.
In early December, Edwards and the team unveiled an elaborate expansion and renovation of Al Lang that would up the capacity to 18,000 while maintaining the aura of the venue being adjacent to the waterfront. Should the plans come to fruition, it would be not only an impressive soccer-specific gem, but also one that stays true to the downtown St. Pete area – a much different approach than what Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays had wanted to build over at one stage.
“It was too imposing, running across the street and into the water,” Edwards said in reference to the Rays’ plans. “We’re doing it in a footprint that’s there, and we’re taking our neighbors into consideration, which was our first and most important goal.”
The Rowdies organization has a rich soccer history in North America, and so too does Al Lang, which had been a part of baseball lore for the past century. The Rowdies have progressively made the stadium their own in the footballing realm in recent years.
“We’ve got new locker rooms, new concession stands, new seats – we’ve totally refurbished a stadium that was named in 1922, when Babe Ruth played, so there’s a lot of history to that,” Edwards said. “We kind of covered it over as best we could to not disturb [the history]. We’re growing it out and we’re selling tickets.”
Like all USL teams, Edwards spent mid-December at the 2016 USL Winter Summit in Clearwater Beach, Fla., and he expressed his praise of the league and the benefits it will have for the Rowdies.
“Everything was done in a way to position us to go where we wanted to go. We’re glad to be here, and I couldn’t be happier with what I’m seeing here,” Edwards said. “[The league is] lightyears ahead of where I just came from, and it’s allowed me to focus on building my brand and team.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/01/02/rowdies-roster-will-see-an-injection-of-new-younger-faces-in-the-usl/2484
Rowdies Roster Will See an Injection of New, Younger Faces in the USL
January 2, 2017
by JAKE NUTTING
Expect to see quite a bit of new, younger faces on the field when the Tampa Bay Rowdies kick off in the USL in March.
While the NASL generally skewed toward veterans from MLS or abroad, the USL is made up more of players just starting out in their professional career. It didn’t take head coach Stuart Campbell long to recognize the difference and decide to adjust his roster for the new season accordingly.
“We scouted it a fair bit because we’ve come up against USL teams in the Open Cup,” said Campbell. “So we knew a bit, but now obviously we’re pretty much up to speed and the big thing that stuck out for me as a coach is the age of the players. The average age is a lot, lot younger than the NASL. It’s something that I’ve looked to adjust. I was fortunate enough to bring back quite a few of the guys I wanted to from last year. A lot of them are experienced players. Now I’m going to compliment them with some younger guys, which I definitely think we’ll need in the USL.”
The team has finalized and announced deals for 11 of last year’s players to return for the new year, but the re-signings are expected to stop there. The bulk of the returnees are seasoned players with years of experience. At 24, defender Zac Portillos is the only returning player under the age 26.
Tampa Bay’s next round of signings is expected to be more in line with last week’s addition Alex Morrell. A first-round draft pick in MLS last year, Morell fits closer to the mold of what Campbell is hoping to build the rest of his roster with after solidifying a core group from last year.
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