Could the Tampa Bay Rowdies replace David Beckham’s Miami as MLS Team #24?

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https://thefloridasqueeze.com/2016/12/19/could-the-tampa-bay-rowdies-replace-david-beckhams-miami-as-mls-team-24/

Could the Tampa Bay Rowdies replace David Beckham’s Miami as MLS Team #24?

December 19, 2016 · by Kartik Krishnaiyer

On Thursday, Major League Soccer announced the list of the 10 locales that are in the running for Major League Soccer clubs 25-28. Miami which was originally slated as team 20 or 21 has slipped to 24 and from the outside view is nowhere closer to securing a team than they were in 2013 – and rumors persist that David Beckham is close to pulling the plug on the area.

Tampa Bay was named among the 10 locales by MLS on Thursday and as we discussed on December 7, the bid to bring the top soccer league in the United States and Canada to Downtown St Petersburg is a sure-fire winner. On Thursday Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards said:

“It’s great to know that less than two weeks after announcing our #MLS2StPete campaign, Major League Soccer is acknowledging us as one of the potential expansion cities,” stated Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards. “Bringing Major League Soccer to the Tampa Bay Area by 2020 is my goal.”

The Rowdies formal bid for an MLS team was announced on August 6, but the side which currently plays in the lower division United Soccer Leagues has major advantages over many of the other nine finalists. In Bill Edwards, the Rowdies have an owner whose net worth probably meets MLS requirements unlike most of the other interested cities and clubs. The Rowdies have a solid stadium plan which is far ahead of each of the other potential new MLS markets with the possible exception of San Antonio. But unlike San Antonio, whose facility is far from the center of town, the Rowdies Al Lang Stadium is right on Tampa Bay in Downtown St Petersburg. Finally, the Tampa Bay media market is the largest single one that does not have an MLS team currently – with the league increasingly concerned about lagging TV ratings this market makes sense.

Since Miami continues to be a struggle why should Tampa Bay with an existing club, a real stadium plan and a capable owner step right in? As was written here a little over a week ago (with some revisions):

It is important to note while arguments can be made for Miami as an important MLS market, the Tampa/St Petersburg TV market is actually larger than Miami/Fort Lauderdale. It is also critical to note that between 1975 and 2016, the Tampa Bay area and Miami/Fort Lauderdale areas have had pro teams in the same soccer leagues for 25 seasons. In that period only three times did the southeast Florida team boast higher attendance than the Tampa Bay-based one. This includes four seasons in Major League Soccer (1998-2001), where Tampa Bay led Miami in attendance three of the years, and nine seasons in the NASL (1975-1983) when Tampa Bay led Miami or Fort Lauderdale every single season.

Miami is more of a global branding opportunity than a soccer-crazed market. Major League Soccer has survived for years without a Miami team, and now is thriving despite the debacle taking place under the palm trees in southern Florida. But Tampa Bay’s stadium plans – a waterfront vista in St Petersburg probably represents something far more “Florida” than anything Miami can conjure up. This is also exactly what MLS wanted David Beckham to produce – a waterfront vista, but he was unable to secure the community and political support for the project.

While the Tampa Bay market “failed” once before in MLS, that was a different time. A fear about cannibalization of the audience from Orlando which is nearby could be real, but the rivalry implications (Orlando City and the Tampa Bay Rowdies already have a robust rivalry fostered at the lower-division and US Open Cup level) probably offset those concerns. A “war on I-4” rivalry would be far bigger for MLS then an organic club like Orlando City battling a manufactured and largely plastic club like Beckham’s Miami entry promises to be.

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MLS has to likely add a 24th team in 2018 or 2019 before the next round of expansion begins in 2020. With LAFC entering the league in 2018, the idea of the Tampa Bay Rowdies replacing Miami as team 24 to begin league play let’s say in 2019 should be strongly considered.

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http://www.espnfc.com/atletico-madrid/story/3023638/antoine-griezmann-hopes-to-play-in-miami-for-david-beckham-and-says-usain-bolt-perfect-for-atletico-madrid

Antoine Griezmann hopes to play in Miami for David Beckham in future

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http://www.wbtv.com/story/34086713/bruton-and-marcus-smith-in-talks-with-pro-soccer-league-to-bring-new-team-to-charlotte

Bruton and Marcus Smith in talks with pro soccer league to bring new team to Charlotte

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http://www.nashvillepost.com/politics/legislation/article/20847120/capitol-roundup-mls-vouchers-child-abuse-legislation

Capitol roundup: MLS, vouchers, child abuse and nursing homes

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http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/greitens-opposes-public-funds-for-mls-stadium/373338874

Greitens opposes public funds for MLS stadium

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3023545/missouri-governor-elect-calls-st-louis-mls-stadium-plan-welfare-for-millionaires

St. Louis MLS stadium plan 'welfare for millionaires' - Missouri governor-elect

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http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2016/12/19/nashville-host-2017-gold-cup-us-soccer-july/95612812/

Nashville to host US Soccer in 2017 Gold Cup tournament

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http://ussoccerplayers.com/2016/12/changing-mls-for-the-better-major-league-soccer.html

Changing MLS for the better

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http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2016/12/19/gov-elect-greitens-opposes-public-money-for-st.html

Gov.-elect Greitens opposes public money for St. Louis MLS stadium

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/735993?referrer_id=2364194-news-archive

Goals Align Between Blues, New Partner LAFC

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http://saintpetersblog.com/st-petersburg-face-tough-climb-get-mls-team/

Does St. Petersburg face tough climb to get MLS team?

Gary Shelton

From the outside, it would appear that St. Petersburg has some catching up to do in its pursuit of Major League Soccer, particularly if it wants to be on the front-burner of expansion.

St. Petesburg, home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, has announced that it wishes to expand Al Lang and join the MLS. But the website fivefiftyone.com, evaluating the 10 cities that are scrambling for a team, ranks St. Petersburg only eighth.

Owner Bill Edwards has said he would like to join the MLS in short order.

However, the website ranks Sacramento and St. Louis as the odds-on favorites, followed by Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Raleigh and San Antonio. On this site’s list, St. Petersburgh-Tampa Bay ranks ahead of only San Diego and Nashville. The site used demographics such as population, grown and Forbes 500 companies, which isn’t the entire picture, but it’s a start.

Of course, it’s hard to see the league expanding to both Charlotte and Raleigh. Cincinnati needs stadium expansion. Detroit needs to shore up its ownership.

Regardless,the perception is out there that  if St. Pete is to crack the list – particularly for the next expansion – then there is work to do. Edwards’ plea of fan support is vital, and the stadium plan has to come together quickly.

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http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/12/19/tennessee-legislature-proposes-bill-help-fund-nashville-mls-stadium

Tennessee legislature proposes bill to help fund Nashville MLS stadium

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/incoming-governor-opposes-st-louis-soccer-stadium-funding-170321587--mls.html

Incoming governor opposes St. Louis soccer stadium funding

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https://www.soccernation.com/mls-to-san-diego-and-the-sports-elephant-in-the-room/

MLS to San Diego and The Sports Elephant In The Room

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https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/incoming-governor-opposes-st-louis-soccer-stadium-funding-170321587--mls.html

Incoming governor opposes St. Louis soccer stadium funding

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http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2016/12/19/governor-elect-greitens-blasts-st-louis-stadium-deal-complicating-aldermanic-discussion#

Governor-Elect Greitens Blasts St. Louis Stadium Deal, Complicating Aldermanic Discussion

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http://www.prweb.com/releases/usl/teamworks/prweb13935908.htm

United Soccer League Adopts Teamworks to Streamline Operations and Internal Communication

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https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/16/12/p8821762/united-soccer-league-adopts-teamworks-to-streamline-operations-and-inte

United Soccer League Adopts Teamworks to Streamline Operations and Internal Communication

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http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/cosmos2.php?article_id=46683

December 18, 2016

SAD, DISAPPOINTED, BUT HOPEFUL

Former members of the original Cosmos comment about the NASL franchise's problems, potential fate

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci8ULeZKhGE 

CONCACAF Gold Cup 2017 - Tampa Bay 

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https://www.facebook.com/TampaBayRowdies/posts/10155556034743835

Let us know you want Major League Soccer (MLS) in Tampa Bay by sharing these beautiful renderings of the future of Al Lang Stadium. Bill Edwards wants MLS here by 2020, but we need YOUR help!

MORE INFO: MLS2StPete.com

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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/mls2stpete

#MLS2StPete Dec. 6 Event - Photo Gallery

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http://www.espnfc.com/concacaf-gold-cup/story/3023239

CONCACAF confirms 14 venues to host matches at the 2017 Gold Cup

The 2017 Gold Cup will feature four first-time hosts: the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas; FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio; Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California; and Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Returning in 2017 are 10 previous Gold Cup host venues: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston; Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida; Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey; the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California; Sports Authority Field in Denver; Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas; University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona; and Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

The group stage venues and dates are as follows:

July 7, Group A -- Red Bull Arena (Harrison, New Jersey)
July 8, Group B -- Nissan Stadium (Nashville)
July 9, Group C -- Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego)
July 11, Group A -- BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston)
July 12, Group B -- Raymond James Stadium (Tampa)
July 13, Group C -- Sports Authority Field (Denver)
July 14, Group A -- Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
July 15, Group B -- FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)
July 16, Group C -- Alamodome (San Antonio)

Knockout Round venues (in alphabetical order by metropolitan area):

Bay Area -- Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
Dallas -- AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Los Angeles -- Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Philadelphia -- Lincoln Financial Field
Phoenix -- University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)

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http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/roads-set-u-s-mexico-concacaf-gold-cup-group-stage-121916

USMNT and Mexico learn cities and dates for 2017 Gold Cup

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http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/12/19/st-louis-mls-expansion-stadium-funding-governor-elect

Missouri's governor-elect: St. Louis MLS stadium plan is 'welfare for millionaires'

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http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2016/12/19/san-antonio-scores-concacaf-gold-cup-next-summer.html

San Antonio scores major international soccer event

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http://www.consumerelectronicsnet.com/article/United-Soccer-League-Adopts-Teamworks-to-Streamline-Operations-and-Internal-Communication-4744891

United Soccer League Adopts Teamworks to Streamline Operations and Internal Communication

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/griezmann-reveals-mls-dream-104522078.html

Griezmann reveals MLS dream

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has revealed a desire to end his career in MLS, saying the chance to play for David Beckham's Miami franchise would be "the best".