Rowdies deserve your vote as they try to join Major League Soccer

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https://www.newstalkflorida.com/featured/rowdies-deserve-your-vote-as-they-try-to-join-major-league-soccer/

Rowdies deserve your vote as they try to join Major League Soccer

By James Williams -

March 31, 2017

The Rowdies are making the case they belong in the MLS and it is time St. Pete joins them

Voters in St. Petersburg need to do the right thing and vote yes on May 2nd to allow the city to negotiate a long-term lease with the Tampa Bay Rowdies for a new waterfront stadium at the site of Al Lang Field.  The deal is contingent on the Rowdies being part of the Major League Soccer expansion and the new 18,000 seat showcase facility would be built by team owner Bill Edwards.

The Rowdies have done a very good job of impressing executives of the MLS and that is key since 11 other cities are in the mix for four to six spots to come over the next three years. I think that Sacramento and San Antonio are likely to get a league invitation.

The Rowdies are likely a lock if they get the go ahead from St. Petersburg that is a key part of the bid. With the city’s support for the Rowdies they would check all of the key blocks that the MLS are looking at when they award a franchise.

It begins with an owner who can pay the $125 to $150 million dollars for a franchise fee to the league and that is a check. Next is the stadium with the $80 million coming from the team to craft what would be one of the most beautiful stadiums in all of sports. That would be a very strong check two.

The third check is attendance with business community support and at present the Rowdies average 5,500 fans per game at Al Lang and that is good start but could always be a bit better. The business community is on board but they too must understand what a great addition an MLS team would be to downtown St. Pete.

Check four is the TV market both from an English as well as a Hispanic viewpoint. The Tampa-St. Petersburg market is 13th largest market in the United States and growing. Plus, they are 19th in the amount of Hispanic viewers and again that number is expanding. Then you factor in Orlando who is 19th and 17th respectively. That would give the MLS two Top 20 television markets in English and Hispanic viewers.

Something they could help build their next TV contract on in 2020.

As someone who attended the first ever Tampa Bay Rowdies game at the old “Sombrero,” back in 1976 this team has a sports history that needs to be rewarded. The Rowdies were the first professional sports team in the Bay area and they were embraced by a soccer crazy area.

The Rowdies were a team that really represented the Bay Area by playing their outdoor season at Tampa Stadium and their indoor season at the Bayfront Center.

I had the pleasure of serving as the producer and member of the broadcast crew for the Rowdies from 1977 – 1981 for WTOG. This team won the hearts of the region and had a national following. They were along with the New York Cosmos and the Seattle Sounders, one of the most respected franchises in the old North American Soccer League.

If Mr. Edwards can convince the Major League Soccer that the Bay Area’s soccer history makes them worthy to join the league, then fans in the region are in for a treat. Fans may also find that getting a ticket to the new 18,000 seat venue might be tough.

The reason that the MLS has been a hit in most every city they have expanded to, is due in large part to playing in venues built to fit their teams and the cities they represent.

Most of the stadiums are built to seat between 20 and 30 thousand fans. This means the sight lines are great, the crowds are loud and the fan experience is outstanding.

The Rowdies would have a close in state rival as the Orlando City SC has been a wonderful success story. They play their games in a sold out 25,000 seat Orlando City Stadium.

This is not Tropicana Field situation, a stadium that should have never been built and remains a topic of angry conversations almost 40 years after it was finished. This is a low risk and high reward deal, one that the business community should rush to support.

I would like to join the Tampa Bay Times and other soccer fans throughout the area and suggest that you live in St. Petersburg, please vote YES on the May 2 referendum question.

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http://web.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/rick-baker-confident-in-tampa-bay-rowdies-mls-pitch-but-uncertain-of/2318427

Rick Baker confident in Tampa Bay Rowdies' MLS pitch but uncertain of possible pitfalls

Charlie Frago, Times Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 29, 2017 2:41pm

ST. PETERSBURG — Rick Baker's gut feels pretty good about the Tampa Bay Rowdies' chances to become a Major League Soccer franchise playing in front of 18,000 screaming fans in an iconic waterfront stadium.

The region has the nation's 11th largest media market, and the other 10 already have MLS teams. Al Lang stadium's views of the bay and location in a thriving downtown core are selling points. So are the 200 pledges of support from local businesses. Last week's season opener selling out doesn't hurt, either.

But while Baker was long on confidence in a meeting with the Tampa Bay Times editorial board on Wednesday, he was short on details about Rowdies' owner Bill Edwards' legal issues and MLS rights to the bay area market.

The Rowdies are seeking voter approval in a May 2 citywide referendum to negotiate a 25-year lease with the city to expand Al Lang Stadium. Talks would only move forward if MLS awards one of four expansion slots to St. Petersburg. The league is expected to announce its decision by the end of this year.

Rowdies owner Bill Edwards is paying the estimated $250,000 cost of the referendum. Leading the campaign is Baker, a former St. Petersburg mayor and president of the Edwards Group, a development and entertainment company.

However, despite Baker's confidence in the Rowdies' MLS hopes, he was less certain about possible pitfalls facing Edwards and his team.

An ongoing federal lawsuit lodged by two whistleblowers accused Edwards of looting millions from his defunct mortgage company. An adverse judgement could cost Edwards hundreds of millions of dollars. Edwards has dismissed the suit as baseless.

Does the lawsuit concern MLS?

Baker said the issues has not been raised "in my presence or not to my knowledge. It may have been that Bill had conversations with them. But I'm not aware of that."

Last year, Florida's first MLS franchise, Orlando City Soccer Club, told the Times that its franchise had territorial rights over the Tampa Bay area.

"The only time I've seen that is in the newspaper," Baker said. "We've talked to (MLS Commissioner) Don Garber about that, we've talked to other officials about that. And Don Garber has — I mean I can show you a video of him speaking — he said he feels that (a Tampa Bay team) would be a great thing."

MLS already requires a $150 million expansion franchise fee on top of the $80 million that Edwards has said he'll pay to expand Al Lang. He has also said the Rowdies won't use or need public financing.

But would the team have to pay Orlando to compensate them for a lost market?

"We have never been told we have to do that," Baker said.

Baker admitted that when it comes to the details of territorial rights and whether the team would have to pay Orlando City for them: "I honestly don't know."

The former mayor has been making the circuit of neighborhood groups to pitch the plan. He said reaction has been positive whenever he has explained that there will be 9,500 parking spots available downtown for Rowdies fans and the team plans to limit noise and lights during games and other events.

Downtown neighborhood associations have been supportive and, so far, no organized opposition to the plan has emerged. At this point, there are no plans for direct mail or other campaign spending for the referendum, Baker said. Mail ballots were sent out earlier this week.

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http://www.tbreporter.com/local-news/pinellas/st-petersburg/vote-rowdies-referendum/

Want to Vote in the Rowdies Referendum?

TBadmin | March 30, 2017

Monday (April 3) is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in the May 2 Rowdies referendum. You don’t have to re-register if you’re already registered.

ST. PETERSBURG – The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections is reminding St. Petersburg residents that Monday (April 3) is the deadline to register to vote in the May 2 St. Petersburg Special Election Referendum.

Registration is required for new voters by this deadline in order to participate in the Special Election Referendum. Voters who are already registered to vote in Florida do not need to re-register but can update their voter registration address.

The referendum gives St. Petersburg residents a chance to decide whether the city can approve a deal to lease Al Lang Field for up to 25 years to be primarily used for a home field for a Major League Soccer expansion team. Any upgrades to the stadium would be paid for by the team and not with tax money. The Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team, which is applying for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise, has asked to lease the field. The team has said it will pay for upgrades.

Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark has already mailed 67,222 ballots to domestic voters who live in St. Petersburg. There’s still time for eligible registered voters to an request a mail ballot. Voted mail ballots must be received at one of the three Elections Offices by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Please note, postal delivery service has changed. Voters are advised to allow at least ONE WEEK for their ballot to be returned by mail to the Supervisor of Elections Office. Additional mail ballot requests will be fulfilled as received.

Voter registration applications are available at any Supervisor of Elections office, public library, tax collector office, government office handling social services or online at VotePinellas.com. To request a mail ballot, go to VotePinellas.com, call 727-464-VOTE (8683) or email MailBallot@VotePinellas.com. The deadline to request that a ballot be mailed is 5 p.m. on April 26.
Pinellas Elections Supervisor | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Rowdies Referendum | Elections | St. Petersburg Election | TB Reporter

#PinellasElectionsSupervisor #TampaBayRowdies #RowdiesReferendum #Elections #StPetersburgElection #TBReporter

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http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/looking-back-in-1975-the-rowdies-hosted-the-nasls-first-indoor-tournament/2318519

Looking Back: In 1975 the Rowdies hosted the NASL's first indoor tournament (Feb. 17, 1975)

By Jeremy King, Times Staff Writer

Thursday, March 30, 2017 8:49am

This story appeared in the pages of the St. Petersburg Times on February 17, 1975. What follows is the text of the original story, interspersed with photos of the event taken by Times staff photographer Jackie Greene.

Rowdies do it all

By Ron Martz, Times staff writer

Ringo Cantillo knelt on the turf at the goalmouth, raised his fists and screamed back at the Bayfront Center crowd.

A study in insouciance and a picture of stoic determination, the 18-year-old soccer prodigy from Costa Rica finally showed some emotion.

It was about time. He had already driven the crowd of 4,032 crazy.

Ringo had just slammed two goals in a space of 13 seconds of the final period to propel the Tampa Bay Rowdies to a come-from-behind 8-6 victory over the Baltimore Comets Sunday night in the finals of the North American Soccer League indoor regional tournament.

"When you have some people that care for you, some people that are behind you, you really want to play better. You can feel the crowd with you," said Ringo, named the most valuable player of the regional.

But it was a goal just a minute later that the Rowdies wanted, a goal which came off the foot of forward Doug Wark and put them in the NASL indoor finals in San Francisco March 16.

Wark drilled a shot at Baltimore goalie Alan Mayer, a shot which bounced off Mayer's chest. Wark retrieved his own show and put it into the corner of the goal.

That score gave the Rowdies the championship by virtue of a 6-5 goals' difference edge over the Miami Toros, who matched the Rowdies with a 2-0 records in the two-day tournament.

Earlier Sunday night Miami had beaten the Washington Diplomats 7-4, the same team which the Rowdies had stopped Friday night 7-2. Also on Friday, Miami beat Baltimore 11-8.

Dallas and New York have already qualified for the San Francisco tournament, which will be shown on national television on a delayed basis March 22. The fourth team for the indoor finals will be the winner of the western regional in San Jose next weekend.

"You couldn't have asked for a better script. It was unbelievable," said co-owner and General Manager Beau Rogers, pleased with the fact that the tournament was able to draw more than 4,000 people to the Bayfront on each night.

"I told them not to get excited," said Rowdies Coach Eddie Firmani, whose team was often down by two goals and once by 4-1. "I told them to take it easy, that it would come eventually. They always want to go out there and do it right away and they don't get anything done."

With Bernard "Dancing Shoes" Hartze out with a pulled hamstring and captain John Boyle nursing a leg injury, it fell to the younger players to provide the needed impetus.

Three-time All-American Farrukh Quraishi scored a goal in each period after playing defense most of Friday night, while 31-year-old Nick Papadakis added two goals.

For all of two periods and nine minutes of the third the game was all Baltimore's. The Comets jumped to a 4-2 first-period lead, mainly on the strength of two goals by forward Dennie Wit. Wit came back in the second period for a third goal and kept the Rowdies goalkeeper Mike Hewitt nervous and defenders Boyle and Alex Pringle deep in their own zone all night.

Wit's two goals within two minutes of the first period put Baltimore on top 4-1 and it looked as if the Miami Toros would be headed for San Francisco.

Miami's 7-4 win over Washington earlier in the night meant that the Rowdies needed to win their game by at least two goals to make the trip to San Francisco.

For awhile it appeared there was no chance.

Papadakis pushed in his second goal at 5:11 of the second period, but Wit retaliated at 4:32 and the Comets led 5-3. Quraishi made it 5-4 before the end of the period with a long shot that hit the corner of the goal and bounced in.

The third period erupted into a match in which both teams brutalized one another, with the official handing out penalties to both teams and Baltimore Coach Doug Millward complaining of poor officiating.

Henry Kammeirski made it 6-4 Baltimore at 13:31, but Quraishi cut the margin to one at 9:21.

At 4:17, Ringo went to work, first shooting one down the middle, just outside the penalty area. Then at 4:04, he put one in on a rebound off the wall.

Cantillo is on loan from the American Soccer League's Cincinnati Comets, where he has been the league's most valuable player at the age of 16. The asking price for him is $50,000. Had Rogers passed the hat through the crowd at that point, he probably would have gotten the better part of the money.

Wark's goal came at 3:01 of the final period and the Rowdies successfully kept the ball away from goalie Hewitt for the remaining time.

"It's really quite exciting to play here because the players are all so good and the crowd is fantastic. I've never heard an American crowd get excited like this before for a soccer game," said Cantillo.

To order reprints or download any image from this article, please visit the Rowdies 1975 photo gallery.

Jeremy King

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http://saintpetersblog.com/deadline-register-st-pete-referendum-rowdies-al-lang-lease-approaches/

Deadline to register for St. Pete referendum on Rowdies, Al Lang lease approaches

Staff Reports

St. Petersburg voters wanting a say on extending the Tampa Bay Rowdies lease on Al Lang field should be aware that time is running short to register for the citywide referendum May 2.

Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark is reminding St. Petersburg residents of a deadline Monday, April 3, to register to vote in the St. Petersburg Special Election Referendum set for May 2.

New voters will need to register by the deadline to take part in Referendum. Now-registered Florida voters need not re-register, but it is a good idea to update voter registration information such as address.

St. Petersburg residents will decide on allowing the city to approve extending the Al Lang Field lease with the Tampa Bay Rowdies for up to 25 years, part of a plan by the Rowdies to attract a Major League Soccer expansion team. The team will pay stadium upgrades, and not use tax money.

According to VotePinellas.com, the referendum will ask:

“May City Council approve an agreement regarding the disposition of Al Lang Field under conditions set forth in ordinance 262-H? These conditions include but are not limited to: term not exceeding 25 years; primary but not sole purpose is a home field for a Major League Soccer expansion team; and City funding shall not be used for stadium upgrades or expansion proposed in bid for expansion team or required for award of expansion team.”

The Supervisor of Elections office has so far mailed 68,444 ballots to domestic voters living in St. Petersburg; registered voters can still request a mail ballot for the referendum. Officials will fill additional mail ballot requests upon receipt.

Elections Offices must receive voted mail ballots must by 7 p.m. Election Day. Clark wants voters to take note of any changes in delivery service, and allow a minimum of one week ballot to be returned by mail to the Elections Office.

Voters can pick up registration applications at any Supervisor of Elections office, public library, tax collector office, government office offering social services. To ask for a mail ballot, residents can also go to VotePinellas.com, call (727) 464-VOTE (8683) or email MailBallot@VotePinellas.com. The deadline for mail ballot requests is 5 p.m. April 26.

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http://floridapolitics.com/archives/235030-rowdies-al-lang-referendum-easy-sale-rick-baker

Rowdies, Al Lang referendum an easy sale for Rick Baker

Mitch Perry

This week, St. Petersburg residents start receiving ballots for the May 2 referendum asking to give the Tampa Bay Rowdies a 25-year lease for Al Lang Field.

St. Pete Entrepreneur Bill Edwards is advocating — and paying for — the measure.

However, considering the questions fielded in public forums by Edwards’ spokesperson Rick Baker, the referendum will be something of an easy sale.

Baker, the former (and possibly future) mayor, is making his pitch to neighborhood and community groups throughout the city.

Speaking to about two dozen members of the Sunset Rotary Club at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, Baker began with a bit of recent history. He spoke of St. Pete’s barren downtown in the 1980s, to his declaration to become mayor in 2002, where the goal was for his city to become the “cultural center of Florida.”

“We made it the cultural center,” Baker says, making comments that could have easily come from the campaign trail.

Baker alluded to negotiations opening the door for a new Dali Museum, rebuilt Mahaffey Center, a new American Stage Theater, and the Chihuly Museum.

“We stole the Florida Orchestra from Tampa,” he adds, saying they were all part a mix that led to St. Petersburg becoming such a dynamic city.

Baker’s main pitch – a bigger stadium for the Rowdies, part of a bigger league – is that it is another “thing” making St. Pete special: “Some people love the Dali, some people love Janus Landing.”

Although a simple call to Stuart Sternberg can serve as a reminder exactly how sensitive St. Petersburg residents are about the waterfront, Edwards’ proposal faces little controversy.

First of all, it’s not costing taxpayers a cent. Edwards is footing the bill for the referendum’s estimated $250,000 cost.

If Major League Soccer allows the Rowdies inside its private club (11 franchises are vying for four expansion spots), Edwards would also have to pick up the tab for construction and expansion, which is estimated at around $80 million.

And Edwards and investors would have to pay the $150 million franchise fee to get into the MLS.

Unlike the Rays proposal that first became known in 2007, the Rowdies aren’t asking to expand the physical footprint of the venerable Al Lang Field, built in 1947 and restructured in 1976. Plans for the structure preserves its open views of the water, and expands pedestrian rights-of-way to include sidewalks and cafe seating.

“To bring some of that Beach Drive experience,” Baker explains.

“I did not want to mess up the Grand Prix,” he says about the stadium expansion. “We wanted to add some restaurant facilities for the Saturday Morning Market, work it so that everybody will be with us. “

The biggest questions Baker faced from the public seems to be about parking. For example, he’s had to shoot down rumors about a new parking garage at Demens Landing.

The former mayor cites a 2016 parking study by the city that found that there are 9,500 public parking spaces available in the downtown core. A study of the availability for a Saturday night 8 p.m. game shows 51 percent of those spaces were unused at that time, Baker says, adding that the Edwards Group will continue to work with the city’s traffic department.

Baker also fields questions about bicycle access. “We intend to have access to the trails that lead right into the stadium,” he says, adding that there will be “sufficient” bike parking.

The team expects 16 percent of the attendees to be coming to games via alternative forms of transportation, Baker says, either through public transit, biking, pedestrian walk-ups and ridesharing services.

For the project, the Rowdies are working with Populous, one of the world’s largest architectural firms specializing in the design of sports facilities and arenas better known in the U.S. under its earlier moniker, HOK Sports.

Populous representatives say the firm would be able to reconstruct the stadium without affecting the main field, meaning that the Rowdies would not need to stop playing in St. Petersburg if they get permission for the expansion.

“We’re very confident that this will be successful,” Baker told Rotary Club President Adam Hopkins, after he wondered if the market could support a bigger stadium.

Hopkins pointed to recent attendance woes affecting the Rays and the Buccaneers.

“We think the market has the capacity, we think the city has the capacity,” Baker says.

“My main priority is what’s good for the city,” Baker said before the meeting, describing how he connects with the public on the plan. “So, it helps that I really believe that this is a great thing for the city if we could make it all come together.”

Baker didn’t have to use the hard-sell to win support from the Tampa Bay Times editorial board.

On Thursday, a day after the former mayor spoke with editors about the plan, the Times published a full-throated recommendation for the referendum.

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http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/a-simple-rowdies-request-fans-please-turn-out-in-force-again/2318777

A simple Rowdies request: Fans, please turn out in force again

By Darek Sharp, Times Correspondent

Friday, March 31, 2017 8:37pm

ST. PETERSBURG — It would be asking a lot of Rowdies fans to show up for Game No. 2 of the season the way they did for the opener, when an Al Lang Stadium record crowd of 7,710 created a veritable soundtrack for a 1-0 victory over Orlando City B a week ago today.

Still, if supporters of the green and gold wouldn't terribly mind …

"Right now teams look forward to coming here," Rowdies coach Stuart Campbell said. "The pitch is so nice, the surroundings. We want to turn that around. We want to make teams dread coming here."

Toronto FC II, Campbell hopes, leaves with that feeling after tonight's game at Al Lang.

Campbell isn't suggesting fans get nasty. He just wants a large showing of support that uplifts the home team.

"It's absolutely priceless, just the energy, the encouragement, the lift it gives to the players," Campbell said. "(Last Saturday's game) was the best I've ever experienced at Al Lang."

A notable observer would agree. United Soccer League president Jake Edwards was there.

"You had this really loud, boisterous, tribal singing, chanting throughout the game. I thoroughly enjoyed it," said Edwards, leader of the league in which the Rowdies are spending their first season after six years in the NASL.

"At that stadium, the roof keeps the noise in the venue, which is great. But the civility goes to the ethos of the club. They put on an event that's family focused, and community focused."

Edwards is a pretty happy man after last weekend. Two other USL teams also set attendance records, with Richmond drawing 8,021 and Phoenix 6,890.

Tonight's Rowdies opponent was the visitor in the latter, and that crowd didn't bother Toronto, which won 1-0. Ryan Telfer, just signed out of York University, got the lone goal. Toronto's wing backs had their way with Phoenix.

"They were really impressive, and I've got to be honest, it wasn't against the odds they got the three points," Campbell said.

Tampa Bay will be tested more than it was by Orlando City B, which got outshot 21-3. Georgi Hristov had the only score on a second-half penalty kick.

The Rowdies substituted only twice, both in injury time

"We looked very good in the preseason, fitness wise," Campbell said. "I just felt, we looked fit, sharp, strong, and I didn't want to tinker too much with it."

Five new Rowdies went the distance: goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald, defenders Damion Lowe and Luke Boden, and midfielders Marcel Schafer and Leo Fernandes, whose run created the penalty kick.

Now, to see if the fans can keep up their endurance with another strong turnout.

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http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/soccer/fc-edmonton-open-north-american-soccer-league-season-on-the-road

FC Edmonton open North American Soccer League season on the road

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http://wfla.com/2017/04/01/tampa-bay-rowdies-beat-toronto-in-4-0-victory-move-to-2-0-in-usl/

Tampa Bay Rowdies beat Toronto in 4-0 victory, move to 2-0 in USL

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http://saintpetersblog.com/five-areas-wonder-rowdies-toronto-soccer-game/

Five things to watch for at the Tampa Bay Rowdies-Toronto soccer match

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http://www.espnfc.com/story/3092652/joe-cole-agrees-new-contract-with-tampa-bay-rowdies-sources

Joe Cole agrees new contract with Tampa Bay Rowdies - sources

Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole has agreed a new deal at United Soccer League side Tampa Bay Rowdies, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.

Cole has impressed at Rowdies since joining the club last May as a free agent, scoring nine goals in 24 appearances in the USL and he was one of 10 players nominated for the Golden Ball award.

The 35-year-old has established himself as a key member of the Rowdies side and he captained them in their opening game of the new USL season against Orlando City B last week.

The skilful midfielder signed a one-year deal with the option for another 12 months upon his arrival in the United States, but now he has agreed to extend that deal for a further year to keep him at Tampa until 2019.

Cole's new contract will take him to the age of 38 and it seems likely that the former Liverpool and West Ham man will end his career in the United States.

Cole won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup three times, the League Cup twice, the FA Community Shield twice and represented his country 56 times during his career in England.

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http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2017/03/31/usl-unveils-plan-launch-division-iii-league-us-2019/

USL unveils plan to launch Division III league in the US for 2019

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http://jacksonville.com/armada-fc/sports/2017-03-30/league-ownership-means-new-realities-armada-enters-2017

League ownership means new realities as Armada enters 2017

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https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/mar/30/new-york-cosmos-nasl-tryouts

I tried out for the New York Cosmos. Would I make the grade?

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http://www.athleticbusiness.com/governing-bodies/fla-house-passes-bill-barring-stadiums-from-public-land.html

Florida House Bill Bars Stadiums from Public Land

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http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/03/30/heres-how-cincinnatis-soccer-passion-stacks-up.html

Here's how Cincinnati's 'soccer passion' stacks up against prospective MLS teams

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http://www.stltoday.com/sports/soccer/ortiz-city-s-poor-should-not-fund-soccer-stadium/article_88bdee59-1bd9-51e2-80db-b78c6a9a67ed.html

Ortiz: City's poor should not fund soccer stadium

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/03/29/chicago-fire-hail-schweinsteiger-icon-mls-future

Chicago Fire hail Schweinsteiger as "the icon of MLS in the future"

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http://www.espnfc.com/chicago-fire/story/3091982/world-cup-for-chicago-fire-question-derails-bastian-schweinsteiger-presser

'World Cup for Chicago Fire?' question derails Bastian Schweinsteiger presser

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http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/683/main/2017/03/30/34153272/i-hope-he-has-a-wonderful-time-robben-supports-schweinsteiger-in-

'I hope he has a wonderful time' - Robben supports Schweinsteiger in swapping Man Utd for MLS

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/prishe/2017/03/30/st-louis-mls-bid-a-fiscally-responsible-partnership-with-unprecedented-city-community-benefits/#3afb4cec6f2b

St. Louis MLS Bid A Fiscally Responsible Partnership With Unprecedented City, Community Benefits

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http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-mls-hopefuls-also-interested-in-a-women-s/article_c601d682-fcb8-5574-952b-507489af4e63.html

St. Louis MLS hopefuls also interested in a women's soccer club

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http://www.givemesport.com/1018291-bastian-schweinsteiger-was-asked-two-ridiculous-questions-during-first-chicago-fire-press-conference

Bastian Schweinsteiger was asked two ridiculous questions during first Chicago Fire press conference

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/bastian-schweinsteiger-eager-to-start-mls-career/articleshow/57910904.cms

Bastian Schweinsteiger eager to start MLS career

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http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/take-it-from-a-st-louis-fan-vote-yes-on/article_037ad6a9-fd35-5fbf-96dc-3e19f37dbaf9.html

Take it from a St. Louis fan: Vote yes on MLS stadium measures

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http://www.oneindia.com/sports/football/bastian-schweinsteiger-eager-start-mls-career-2388860.html

Bastian Schweinsteiger eager to start MLS career

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http://kplr11.com/2017/03/30/mls-town-hall-meeting-thursday-in-south-city/

MLS Town Hall meeting Thursday in south city

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http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/mls-usmnt/2017/3/31/14518652/mls-expansion-bids-2017

Evaluating the latest MLS Expansion bids

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http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2017/03/31/sc-stl-to-explore-bringing-womens-soccer-to-st.html

SC STL to explore bringing women's soccer to St. Louis

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http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/03/31/schweinsteiger-world-cup-journalist-apologises

Schweinsteiger 'World Cup' journalist apologises

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http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2017/03/31/take-it-from-someone-who-isnt-a-soccer-fan-vote-yes-on-the-mls-stadium-measures

Take It From Someone Who Isn't a Soccer Fan: Vote “Yes” on the MLS Stadium Measures

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http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2017/03/31/san-antonio-stacks-up-well-against-other-mls.html

San Antonio stacks up well against other MLS expansion candidates (SLIDESHOW)

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http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/Research-Shows-San-Diego-Loves-Soccer-417823323.html

Research Shows San Diego is A Strong Soccer Market

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http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2017/04/01/sacramento-republic-mls-deal-soccer/

Sacramento Soccer Groups Still Working Out Deal Ahead Of MLS Consideration

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https://www.soccernation.com/special-edition-landon-donovan-joins-soccernation-podcast/

Special Edition: Landon Donovan Joins the SoccerNation Podcast

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http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2017/04/01/34217692/bastian-schweinsteiger-starts-in-chicago-fire-debut

Bastian Schweinsteiger starts in Chicago Fire debut

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http://www.sportal.co.in/football/research-shows-san-diego-is-a-strong-soccer-market-nbc-7-san-diego/

Research Shows San Diego is A Strong Soccer Market – NBC 7 San Diego

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-schweinsteiger-makes-immediate-impact-debut-fire-003025606--sow.html

Soccer-Schweinsteiger makes immediate impact in debut for Fire

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http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/mls/impact-fire-game-recap-saturday-1.4051293

Recap | Schweinsteiger scores in his MLS debut as Fire ties Impact

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http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/The-Fate-of-Footy-McFooty-Face-417879643.html

The Fate of Footy McFooty Face

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https://thefield.scroll.in/833472/bastian-schweinsteiger-marks-mls-debut-with-goal-in-chicago-fires-2-2-draw-against-montreal-impact

Bastian Schweinsteiger marks MLS debut with goal in Chicago Fire's 2-2 draw against Montreal Impact

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https://www.footballfancast.com/football-virals/five-man-united-players-who-could-move-to-the-mls-in-the-summer

Five Man United players who could move to the MLS in the summer

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http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/600752/Wayne-Rooney-MLS-David-Beckham-Man-United-Chris-Canetti

EXCLUSIVE: Wayne Rooney told he could flop in MLS - he's not the same as David Beckham

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http://fox40.com/2017/04/01/sacramento-republic-fc-enters-4th-year-with-high-hopes-and-a-little-drama/

Sacramento Republic FC Enters 4th Year with High Hopes — and a Little Drama

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https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/03/30/usl-division-three-us-soccer-league-2019

USL will launch second league in 2019 to occupy U.S. Soccer's Division 3

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http://www.brotherlygame.com/2017/3/30/15124456/usl-launch-third-division-league-in-2019

USL reportedly launching third-division league in 2019

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http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/2017/03/30/usl-create-division-iii-league/99844224/

USL to create Division III league

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http://www.kktv.com/content/sports/USL-to-Launch-a-Third-Division-League-in-2019-417742393.html

USL to Launch a Third-Division League in 2019

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http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2017/03/31/usl-unveils-plan-launch-division-iii-league-us-2019/

USL unveils plan to launch Division III league in the US for 2019

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http://www.thebluetestament.com/2017/3/31/15134366/what-does-the-new-usl-third-division-mean-for-sporting-kc-swope-park-rangers

What Does the New USL Third Division Mean for Sporting KC?

The Swope Park Rangers are already in the second division but change could be coming.

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2017/03/31/randy-moss-united-soccer-league-charlotte/99870032/

Former NFL star Randy Moss and soccer team write fake press release

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http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/louisville-city-fc/2017/03/31/randy-moss-joins-usl-soccer-team-well/99874774/

Randy Moss joins USL soccer team? Well ...

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http://www.rantsports.com/soccer/2017/03/31/randy-moss-joins-united-soccer-league-charlotte-independence/

Former NFL Star Randy Moss Joins United Soccer League's Charlotte Team

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http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/soccer/article142021954.html

Fresno in hunt for USL team with ‘very strong’ proposal for expansion club

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http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/7219974-cpl-in-2018-a-viable-option-mitchell/

CPL in 2018 ‘a viable option’: Mitchell

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http://90soccer.com/ussoccer/usl-to-launch-a-third-division-league-in-2019/

USL to Launch a Third-Division League in 2019

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https://ussoccerplayers.com/2017/03/jurgen-klinsmann-us-soccer-institutional-memory.html

Jurgen Klinsmann and US Soccer’s institutional memory

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https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/03/31/rocco-commisso-new-york-cosmos-nasl

A fax away from destruction, Cosmos have new life in NASL under Commisso

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http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170402/SMALLBIZ/170339971/major-league-soccer-not-team-owners-sets-players-pay

Major League Soccer, not team owners, sets players' pay

The practice is designed to prevent bidding wars for talent that could lead teams into bankpruptcy

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http://www.thesportsbank.net/football/manchester-united/bastian-schweinsteiger-rejects-the-mls-is-a-retirement-league-narrative/

Bastian Schweinsteiger Rejects the MLS is a Retirement League Narrative