Rowdies offer free admission to upcoming Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rowdies/2019/04/30/rowdies-offer-free-admission-to-upcoming-lamar-hunt-us-open-cup-match/

Rowdies offer free admission to upcoming Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match

Tampa Bay will host the Lakeland Tropics or The Villages SC in the second-round match.

Leo Fernandes and the Rowdies will host the Lakeland Tropics or The Villages SC in their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup second-round match.

The Rowdies are offering free admission to their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup second-round match Tuesday, May 14 at Al Lang Stadium.

They will host the Lakeland Tropics or The Villages SC. Both clubs...

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https://www.abcactionnews.com/sports/tampa-bay-rowdies-announce-free-admission-to-upcoming-open-cup-match

Tampa Bay Rowdies announce FREE admission to upcoming U.S. Open Cup match

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https://www.wfla.com/sports/rowdies-to-begin-us-open-cup-play-with-free-admission-for-fans/1967018748

Rowdies to begin U.S. Open Cup play with free admission for fans

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/bj6je6/rowdies_tampa_bay_rowdies_offering_free_walk_up/

[Rowdies] Tampa Bay Rowdies offering Free Walk Up Tickets for First Open Cup Game Official

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/bj453y/rowdies_tampa_bay_rowdies_offering_free_walk_up/

[Rowdies] Tampa Bay Rowdies offering Free Walk Up Tickets for First Open Cup Game

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1123233042137481218

Tampa Bay Rowdies
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Verified account

@TampaBayRowdies

NEWS: Our @opencup match against either @lakelandtropics or @TheVillagesSC on Tuesday, May 14 (7 p.m. kickoff) will be FREE to attend. No tickets or reservations required, just come to the stadium and enjoy the match.

7:30 AM - 30 Apr 2019

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https://www.tampabay.com/transportation/cross-bay-ferry-wraps-up-its-season-today-but-looks-to-return-in-a-big-way-20190430/

Cross-Bay Ferry wraps up its season today, but looks to return in a big way

The service connecting Hillsborough and Pinellas could be back later this year on a seasonal basis before becoming a permanent fixture in 2022.

Downtown St. Petersburg disappears in the distance as the Cross-Bay Ferry heads to Tampa at the start of the 2018-19 season in October. With ridership on the rise, officials want the service to return for another season in the fall, and plans are afoot for permanent, year-round service that would start in 2022.

For the last time this season, the Cross-Bay Ferry sets sail between Tampa and St. Petersburg on Tuesday, boasting a substantial ridership increase from its pilot season in 2017.

Any plans to make...

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https://wdef.com/2019/04/30/nashville-sc-remains-top-10-usl-championship-power-rankings/

NASHVILLE SC REMAINS IN TOP 10 OF USL CHAMPIONSHIP POWER RANKINGS

It will get easier for Nashville in the next five USL Championship matches as the club will play four of its next five against teams currently 17th and below in the rankings. The only game in that stretch more difficult is May 8 against the top-ranked Tampa Bay Rowdies on ESPN2 at First Tennessee Park.

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https://the18.com/soccer-news/deandre-yedlin-solidarity-payments-denied-fifa

Five Years Later, FIFA Denies DeAndre Yedlin’s Youth Club Solidarity Payments With No Reason Specified

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https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/pluto-tv-has-15-million-monthly-users-is-adding-major-league-soccer/

Pluto TV Has 15 Million Monthly Users & Is Adding Major League Soccer

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https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/04/29/mls-and-twitter-extend-content-partnership-through-2022

MLS and Twitter extend content partnership through 2022

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http://www.sportbible.com/football/reactions-news-take-a-bow-minnesota-united-fc-have-adapted-oasis-wonderwall-as-clubs-anthem-20190430

Minnesota United FC Have Adopted Oasis Song 'Wonderwall' As Club's New Anthem

MLS fans have been branded 'cringeworthy' and 'embarrassing' for their unconventional chants in the past, but Minnesota United have turned that perception around with a proper anthem from the stands.

It turns out after every home win 'The Loons' supporters participate in singing Oasis' number one hit "Wonderwall" and well, it might just be the best thing to come out of Major League Soccer for years.

With scarves raised and smoke surrounding the recently opened Allianz Field, thousands came together to sing the classic tune in unison. "BECAUSE MAYBEEEEEE!"

We strongly suggest you give this one a watch, folks.

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3839481/fifa-rules-against-solidarity-payments-over-yedlins-tottenham-transfer

FIFA rules against solidarity payments over Yedlin's Tottenham transfer

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http://www.flowsports.co/major-league-soccer/news/wta-star-stephens-announces-engagement-toronto-altidore

US Major League Soccer

WTA star Stephens announces engagement to Toronto's Altidore

Sloane Stephens - a six-time WTA Tour winner - and United States international Jozy Altidore are engaged.

Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens announced her engagement to Toronto and United States international striker Jozy Altidore on Monday.

Stephens - a six-time WTA Tour winner and world number eight - shared the news via Twitter with a tweet saying, "Forever yes."

Altidore plays for MLS outfit Toronto after leaving Sunderland in 2015 and the 29-year-old has 110 caps for USA.

He excitedly shared the news on social media with a tweet, "Forever starts now."

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https://mlsmultiplex.com/2019/04/30/mls-expansion-dark-horses-already-building-great-soccer-palaces/

MLS expansion: Dark horses already building great soccer palaces

The Chattanooga Red Wolves, Louisville City FC, and Indianapolis Eleven are all making stadium plans ahead of an MLS expansion bid. Here is the rundown on all three.

Three USL fringe candidates for Major League Soccer expansion aren’t waiting to get a nod.  Instead, they’ll make USL the Upgraded Stadium League and simply hope that MLS takes notice.

The Chattanooga Red Wolves, Louisville City FC, and Indianapolis Eleven all have long-term hopes to field MLS expansion teams on their pitches. But right now, their stadiums hold them back. So, the three cities launched firm plans to build top-flight soccer-specific stadiums. And soon.

All the stadiums reside in new entertainment complexes. That’s the kind of thing that grabs MLS governors’ attention.

Here’s the rundown:

Chattanooga Red Wolves stadium   5,500 seats

Louisville City FC stadium   11,700 seats

Indy Eleven Park   20,000 seats

Chattanooga expanding naturally

In MLS expansion mania, there’s no darker dark horse than the Chattanooga Red Wolves. The team is focused on building USL League One competitiveness. They’ve also had to repeatedly explain themselves as a piece of that area’s complex soccer puzzle.

That’s because of the already established National Premier Soccer League entry – the Chattanooga Football Club. The complaints are sort of like this: Imagine if there were a longstanding community theatre in your town. And then a flashy troupe opened a local stage that featured the traveling Broadway productions. And then the new theatre built an even greater, multi-purpose entertainment complex. That’s what’s launched in Chattanooga. And nobody wants to stop it.

And don’t bet $1 out of your worst enemy’s wallet that MLS isn’t monitoring this with extreme interest.

Louisville moving ahead

Louisville City FC have been waving to the league for MLS expansion for a while. Like the others, they have no intention of merely planning for future growth. Instead, they’re growing now and taking the community with them.

Their new stadium in Louisville’s historic Butchertown has financing in place. FC President Brad Estes made one of six finalists for Executive of the Year, the 2019 TheStadiumBusiness award. This stadium complex project pushed his name forward. So he’s in the running for an award whose judges each year seek the most outstanding venue visionary in the world. The award is presented this June, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, UK.

Indianapolis getting there fast

Indy Eleven would appear as dark a horse as Chattanooga. But they have brought up the subject of MLS expansion to the league before.

MLS expansion watchers discounted the Indianapolis bid because the league has plenty of strong Midwest coverage from Columbus and Cincinnati. But the market says just the opposite.

The Columbus Crew were saved from relocation in a strong and dramatic fashion. Cincinnati athletes played and supporters sang and chanted their way in the league, with their momentum not slowing, and there seems to be more room to grow in the local market. All Indianapolis needed was a soccer-specific stadium project.

The Indiana governor has such a project on the desk for action right now. It’s among the most ambitious multipurpose stadium complexes proposed that could involve MLS.  This certainly moves Indianapolis up in the line for MLS expansion.

Sacramento is in for sure, even though that’s not official, so for Indianapolis to become automatic, Phoenix would have to stumble. The Arizona contenders haven’t gotten close to doing that yet.

In the meantime, all contenders, from the front of the pack to the fringe, have to keep making plans. MLS expansion enjoys drama and suspense before it happens.

There is no effort in Louisville to join MLS. Our club is concentrating on being the best where we are. That requires a new soccer only stadium.

Until promotion and relegation are brought to the States, the US soccer pyramid is a shaky house of cards. Until teams earn their way into the top division and control of the club remains locally, I would prefer Louisville City FC stayed right where it is.

We understand the need for one of the country’s most successful soccer clubs to appear to be working to “buy” its way into the MLS but that is simply not the case.

Absolutely zero chance for Chattanooga. Too small of a market sandwiched halfway between Nashville and Atlanta.

Only the Indianapolis plan meets MLS capacity requirements.

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/philadelphia-union/alejandro-bedoya-on-lack-of-charter-flights-its-not-a-philly-issue-its-a-league-issue/

PHILADELPHIA UNION

Alejandro Bedoya on lack of charter flights: ‘This is not a Philly issue. This is a league issue.’

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https://www.sounderatheart.com/2019/4/30/18524338/fifa-crossfire-solidarity-deandre-yedlin

FIFA rejects Crossfire solidarity claim involving DeAndre Yedlin

“This is horrendous, Whatever they [Dispute Resolution] say now, is just going to be a Pandora’s Box.”

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https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-whitecaps-brand-hit-2019

Whitecaps' bulletproof brand has taken a hit in the last 12 months

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2019/04/29/sloane-stephens-jozy-altidore-announce-engagement-twitter/3622686002/

2017 U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens and U.S. soccer star Jozy Altidore are engaged

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanlake/2019/04/30/u-s-soccer-sued-over-denial-of-application-to-bring-ecuadorian-regular-season-game-to-the-us/#2c53f8606a7b

U.S. Soccer Sued Over Denial Of Application To Bring Ecuadorian Game To U.S.

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3839984/david-beckhams-inter-miami-stadium-rival-bids-to-halt-development

David Beckham's Inter Miami stadium rival bids to halt development

The latest legal dispute involving Inter Miami FC's attempt to build an arena on the site of Lockhart Stadium took an unexpected turn on Tuesday, with rival bidder FXE Futbol having to go to court to halt what it deemed to be demolition work that had begun at the venue.

Last month the Ft. Lauderdale City Commission selected Inter Miami's $60 million plan to tear down Lockhart Stadium, and replace it with a new 18,000-seat stadium, as well as a training facility and fields for the public. Inter Miami's plans -- put forward by an ownership group that includes David Beckham and MasTec chairman Jorge Mas -- include playing its first two seasons in Major League Soccer at the rebuilt venue, starting in 2020. Inter Miami and the city signed an interim agreement last week, with demolition scheduled to begin on May 6.

- Carlisle: What's the latest with Beckham's MLS team?
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- MLS Power Rankings: LAFC up top, Rapids anchored to floor

Inter Miami's proposal was selected over that of FXE Futbol, whose plans involved renovating the facility as opposed to tearing it down. In response, FXE Futbol filed a lawsuit alleging that the City of Ft. Lauderdale City violated Florida state law as it relates to unsolicited offers for development of public land by a private entity by not getting "an architect, landscape architect, or an engineer licensed in this state" to review the proposals. State law also requires an "independent analysis" to demonstrate the public-private partnership's cost effectiveness.

FXE Futbol also accused Inter Miami of falsely stating to the City of Ft. Lauderdale that the FXE Futbol's proposal wasn't viable because of the "tremendous amount" of asbestos on the site, thus making a renovation unfeasible. FXE Futbol's managing partner J.P. Reynal was also concerned that "the subsequent signing of the interim agreement to demolish Lockhart would render our proposal impossible to deliver."

A hearing for the suit is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET on May 1, but on Tuesday workers began tearing down the light stanchions that ring the stadium. Ft. Lauderdale city manager Chris Lagerbloom denied that demolition work had begun on the site.

"Demolition is not occurring," Lagerbloom said in an email to ESPN. "The only work being performed on the City-owned property, as of today, is the removal of stadium lights in conjunction with aviation authorities and Florida Power and Light in accordance with the approved Interim Agreement."

David J. Winker, acting as counsel for FXE Futbol, went to court to put a halt to the work. In an email to ESPN, he said the work being done a day before the scheduled hearing marked "a new low" in the 25 years he had practiced law.

"Their defense was that they were only 'removing the lights in anticipation of demolition.' This is clearly not true as evidenced by the many pictures on social media.

"Caught red-handed and forced to stop, they have agreed they will not engage in any further demolition of Lockhart pending [Wednesday's] hearing."

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https://www.timesnewspapers.com/westendword/mls-thelou-gives-first-look-at-stadium/article_62701648-6b64-11e9-ba70-3f1982b246a7.html

“MLS4TheLou” Gives First Look At Stadium

Campaign for Major League Soccer team led by Enterprise’s Carolyn Kindle Betz

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https://stpetersburgfoodies.com/podcast/interview-with-ronnie-lane-from-tampa-bay-sports-radio-620-st-petersburg-foodies-podcast-episode-35/

Interview with Ronnie Lane from Tampa Bay Sports Radio 620 – St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast Episode 35

Interview with Ronnie "Night Train" Lane

Welcome to the St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast Episode 35. Our featured interview today is with Ronnie "Night Train" Lane, the co-host of the Ronnie & TKras Show on Tampa Bay Sports Radio 620. They are live from 6-9am Monday through Friday as they talk Bucs, Rays, Lightning, NCAA and more. We talk to Ronnie about his life-long career in radio, local food, and our local teams as mentioned above. We also hear the story of him and Bobbi eloping in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve.