Tampa Bay Rowdies and The MLS

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http://www.coinflipsoccer.com/2015/12/tampa-bay-rowdies-and-mls.html

Tampa Bay Rowdies and The MLS

Before Orlando City became an established MLS franchise and I became an active member of the US Soccer community I thought it would be intriguing to write my high school junior thesis paper on the Tampa Bay Rowides becoming an MLS franchise. The people who I cited in bringing this article together eventually became friends with me as this last year progressed. Now with Orlando's season at a close and a new Rowdies season set to begin here is the paper that never got published on my fully detailed and analyzed evaluation of why the Rowdies could and should be a successful MLS franchise should the ownership choose to head in that direction. At the time of this writing I still support ownership attempting to make the Rowdies a strong NASL force combining with other teams in an attempt to make a first division status..but that is an article for another time.

The Beginning

Pictured: Rodney Marsh(left) and George Best(right)

In 1995, the Rowdies organization had been metaphorically buried. Following the decline of the old North American Soccer League in 1984, the Rowdies were in the US soccer tier limbo until their folding in 1993. The summer of 1994 had sparked a new interest of soccer in the US, which had made a resurface since the glory days of the old NASL. After the US hosted the 1994 World Cup, the fever had struck thousands of Americans that fell in love with the beautiful game. The decision had been made to use the cup as the final push to start a new soccer league, Major League Soccer. The MLS announced its plans, and one of the first teams signed up was the Tampa Bay Mutiny. The Mutiny were the revived Rowdies, including players and staff from the previous team, as well  as World Cup 94 star Carlos Valderrama. Despite winning the first 1996 MLS season, the team would fold again in 2001. Then, in 2008 two local investors, Andrew Nestor and David Laxer, worked together to resurrect soccer once again in the Tampa Bay area with the formation of FC Tampa Bay. It would be known as FC Tampa bay until 2011 when the rights to the original Rowdies name was won by Nestor and Laxer. After winning the 2012 NASL title, the Rowdies and their fans are now on the hunt for MLS. MLS expansion in Florida fell out in 2001 with the loss of the Mutiny and the Fusion; however, the club development of the Rowdies along with growing support for the team and the future plans for the club and the structure of the national league tier could allow the Tampa Bay to have an MLS team again.

(Tampa Bay Online, Pictured Carlos Valderrama)

The New Era

(Original FC Tampa Bay logo)

The Rowdies club has blossomed since it's new beginning in 2008. The original Rowdies(1975-1993) had won the NASL title, the Soccer Bowl, in their inaugural season. A feat that the new Rowdies had accomplished the first season with the Rowdies name. The currently hold one of the 5 NASL titles that has been given out so far in the new NASL. While the club tries to hold onto newer values, there is also trust in the past and experience. The team added veteran MLS coach Thomas Rongen in 2015, who was a player in the NASL as well. Rongen won the 1996 MLS season with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, alongside former Rowdies player and current Scout and General Manager Perry Van der Beck. Though Rongen was sacked through the 2015 season, Rowdies club legend Stuart Campbell took the helm half way through the fall season.

Along with the addition of old coaches, the club also teamed up with Clearwater Chargers academy in 2014. Now know as the Charger Rowdies, the club is listed as a United States Soccer Development Academy. Under control of the Rowdies, the team now has a youth academy to raise young talent to compete with the likes of other large MLS clubs such as the LA Galaxy and Orlando City SC. In addition to the start of a youth academy, the team has also focused on bring back previous youth talent from the area. Signings in 2015 of defender Ben Sweat, a former Chargers player, and Zak Boggs, a former USF student, both who had MLS careers as well. In addition to this, it is rumored at this time that the Rowdies will also field a B team starting in the 2016 NPSL season.
      
Competing with these MLS clubs at the youth level is only the beginning, the team has also notched wins against great MLS teams, in 2013 they won a US Open Cup match against MLS Supporters Shield Champions Seattle Sounders, along with a preseason victory over Philadelphia. During pre-season 2015, the team also traveled to Portugal to prepare for competition against higher divisions. This increasing talent in the Rowdies has led to a rise in the team's popularity.

Recognizing the Brand

(2015 Tampa Bay Rowdies team, photo from Florida Leisure)

Season ticket sales have risen since the team has moved to Al Lang stadium in downtown Saint Petersburg, FL from Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Even though Tampa is historically a baseball town, the legacy of the old Rowdies along with the rise of the new Rowdies has the support growing locally. From the 2013 season to the 2014 season, attendance rose 15% in only one year. As well as playing last seasons home opener to a crowd of 7,100. As a part of growing local support, the Rowdies have teamed up with their winter counterparts across the bay. Doing event with the Tampa Bay  Lightning such as ‘Meet the Player’ events at Amalie Arena has helped expand the awareness of the return of the Rowdies. In 2015, the team began working with the advertisement group Dunn and Co. for the first time since the 2013. Along with the creation of game day posters, Dunn and Co. also shot a commercial for the Rowdies 2015 season in late February. Adding onto the local recognition factor, Dunn and Co. are known locally for Tampa Bay Lightning’s “Be The Thunder” campaign. The team is currently aiming to regain the recognition they once had. In the old NASL the Rowdies were the second most supported team in the country, behind the New York Cosmos.
         

In attempts to revitalize the past, the Rowdies are going to need the stadium in the same caliber as the one they once held. Tampa Stadium in Tampa, FL was the home of the original Rowdies. Tampa stadium held about 71,000 and the Rowdies average attendance in the old NASL was about 40,000  a game, often outselling other professional teams in the league and the area. In 2014 the team announced it’s plans to build an 18,000 seat stadium as a part of the new downtown Saint Petersburg waterfront plans. In 2015 the Rowdies home field is Al Lang stadium in downtown Saint Petersburg, a baseball stadium that is being converted to be used as a soccer pitch. Edwards had initially planned to spend about $1 million to improve the stadium, and now expansion looms after spending over $2 million in stadium renovations. Even though the stadium has had activists fighting to protect it, the stadium shifted controlling hands in October 2014 to Edwards himself, allowing for his stadium dreams to continue. In addition, the city has already allocated approx. five-hundred thousand dollars toward the developing waterfront plans, which include the planned 18,000 seat stadium.

Finance and Ownership

(Photo from Tampa Bay Times)

The team, which has been under control of majority owner and real estate mogul Bill Edwards since 2014, has been used as a focal point for the development of a new downtown plan presented by Edwards. Edwards, who has already renovated Bay Walk, now known as the Sundial, has the same plans for the stadium. Like Baywalk, the plan is to expand on what is currently available, rather than to tear down and start again. The plans for the stadium that have been presented host a current estimate of 18,000 seats, this being the minimum for any team seeking entrance into the MLS. Along with these plans for the waterfront, Edwards has also purchased a closed restaurant Midtown Sundries. This location will be known as the Rowdies Den as of April 2015, and is the beginning of the sports bar culture to surround the Rowdies. Edwards has prepared to back the team financially, pumping the club with funding for player transfers, field repairs, and stadium upkeep. He could well possibly be the most prepared and influential backer financially in US Soccer. Allocating funds allowing the Rowdies to sign big name players on 2015 such as Freddy Adu and Tom Heinemann

In late 2014, the Rowdies announced a new kit sponsorship by professional organization Nike, which was already in control of the kit design for the Clearwater Chargers. Nike has background in sponsoring professional teams, including FC Barcelona of Spain. Other attempts to become a more professional team is through players. A majority of Rowdies signings in the post 2014 season include MLS veterans Maicon Santos and Miguel Saragoza. With old stars also comes the younger stars. The team also signed several players from Soccer Bowl 2014 2nd Place winners Fort Lauderdale Strikers, including Darnell King, age 21. With the addition of youth talent from Ft. Lauderdale,  the Rowdies have also signed South American youth prospect Robert Hernandez in the post 2014 season window.

The Past and the Future

(Rowdies with the 2012 NASL Soccer Bowl, Florida Leisure)

Even though the MLS in Florida was a failed prospect, the teams were ejected from the league due to poor management. The team failed because of the poor league management at the time of MLS conception. In plans to start the league with multiple teams, several teams had to become league owned in order to get the league off to a good start. Despite having decent attendance and winning the first MLS title in 1996, the Mutiny lacked investment. They needed a financial owner as the team was ready to lift off, but was cut down. Even though the team was losing money at a rapid rate, about $2 million a year, the return to MLS could now be strong in the Bay Area. But finances were a major issue in the failure of the MLS Miami market as well. The fact that MLS has placed another team in this south Florida area is almost mind boggling. The area that will host Beckham's new Miami team will face trials against other pro teams in the area, including Miami FC and The Strikers of the NASL, who both have famed reputations with Ronaldo Lima and Paulo Maldini.

The failures of Florida's past are behind them now as a new team, with roots similar to the Rowdies, has now taken off. Orlando City SC, who once competed in America's 3rd division known as USL, have now earned their spot in MLS. Even though the team has enormously more support than the Rowdies, Tampa Bay should be next. The academy in Bradenton, IMG, produces the most talented players that the MLS has seen, including team USA and MLS LegenD Landon Donovan. Many of them have also passed through Chargers academy, which is now being operated by the Rowdies. Along with the introduction of young stars, Tampa Bay has the largest sport market in a state that is in need of a new MLS team. Though Miami has finally gotten its stadium off the ground,  Jacksonville also on the trail for MLS, Tampa Bays dominated television market could help their case in the hunt for the first division.

The Rowdies stand more of a chance of securing that last MLS bid more than any other developing team. The culture has grown, the markets are open, and the fans are rising. Nostalgia may have been the first key factor in the revitalized team but now the team is ready for growth. Though the MLS past haunts the Bay Area, the times have changed and investors with backing, such as Edwards and Nestor, are ready to take the next steps the team needs to become MLS once again. The last resort, if all MLS team slots are taken, would be the predicted Canadian Revolution. Canada teams have recently had difficulty entering the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a tournament hosted by FIFA which is a club style world cup playoff competition. If the Canadian teams in the MLS, NASL, and USL decided as an entity to leave their respective leagues in order to form their own, they would have an easier time entering the competition. Currently 6 Canadian teams in both of the top 2 divisions. and with a minimum of 8 they could form their own league. If the 3 Canadian teams in the MLS were to leave, they would open up 3 new MLS slots to be given away. This is seen as being even more plausible with MLS looking to expand to 28 teams in the near future, then Tampa Bay will most likely be the first choice of the next fielded MLS team.

Posted by Tyler Bodnar at 12/14/2015 03:26:00 PM

Labels: bay, coin, flip, league, mls. major, nasl, rowdies, soccer, tampa, usa

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Public Forums on Lease Referendum

St. Petersburg City Hall

175 5th St. N., 2nd Floor

First Reading

Thur. Feb. 16

3:00 PM

Support Al Lang

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https://www.facebook.com/TampaBayRowdies/photos/a.442996013834.230638.109366663834/10155752022373835/

Tampa Bay Rowdies

February 8

Single-game tickets to our 2017 USL season are now available!

A message from Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards: http://tinyurl.com/z7ocpp8

BUY TODAY: Ticketmaster.com/Rowdies

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http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/visualarts/exhibit-of-star-wars-costumes-and-drawings-coming-to-the-museum-of-fine/2312790

Exhibit of 'Star Wars' costumes and drawings coming to the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg

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http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/02/11/judge-puts-sc-stls-stadium-funding-proposal-vote-april

Judge puts SC STL's stadium funding proposal up for vote in April

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http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/st-louis-blues-home-undergo-renovations-after-aldermanic-vote-mls-funding-lined-too#stream/0

St. Louis Blues' home to undergo renovations after aldermanic vote; MLS funding lined up, too

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http://www.sporttechie.com/2017/02/11/sports/soccer/los-angeles-football-clubs-stadium-to-feature-most-led-video-display-in-mls-venue/

Los Angeles Football Club’s Stadium To Feature Most LED Video Display Square Footage In MLS Venue

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http://newschannel9.com/news/local/chattahooligans-are-back-cfc-take-on-first-ever-mls-opponent 

Chattahooligans are back; CFC take on first-ever MLS opponent

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https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/feb/11/official-optimistic-that-mls-exhibition-will-retur/

Official optimistic MLS exhibition will return in 2018

San Jose tops Los Angeles, 1-0, at Cashman Field

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http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/earthquakes-score-late-goal-defeat-galaxy-cashman-field

Earthquakes score late goal to defeat Galaxy at Cashman Field

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https://eaglenews.org/sports/mls-team-chicago-fire-holds-preseason-training-camp-at-fgcu/

MLS team Chicago Fire holds preseason training camp at FGCU

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http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/columnists/dan-mcswain/sd-fi-mcswain-soccer-mls-stadium-subsidy-20170209-story.html

After rejecting NFL, will San Diego subsidize soccer?

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http://sleterfc.com/yes-returns-broadcast-nycfc-matches/

YES Returns To Broadcast NYCFC Matches

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http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/soccer/20170213_U_S__national_team_s_fate_is_tied_to_that_of_MLS.html

U.S. national team's fate is tied to that of MLS

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http://mlsmultiplex.com/2017/02/12/mls-commissioner-garber-talks-canada-whitecaps-season-launch/

MLS commissioner Garber talks Canada at the Whitecaps Season Launch

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http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-world-agog-at-the-amazing-feats-of-bassogog

Football world agog at the amazing feats of Bassogog

LIBREVILLE • Eighteen months ago, Christian Bassogog was a teenager 10,000km from home playing third-division football on a last-place team before crowds of 2,500 on Cape Fear in North Carolina.

A week ago, the Cameroonian winger was basking in the global glow of winning the African championship and being named the top player in the tournament.

From Wilmington Hammerhead to Indomitable Lion, Bassogog followed an unlikely trail to football fame and positioned himself for a greater leap in the months to come.

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/the-buzz-baker-may-run-against-kriseman-for-mayor-residents-to-vote-on-al/2312976

The Buzz: Baker may run against Kriseman for mayor; residents to vote on Al Lang Stadium expansion

Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor

Sunday, February 12, 2017 12:10pm

Former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker still may be flirting with a run for governor — and he has talked to Gov. Rick Scott about an attorney general appointment — but increasingly politicos around Tampa Bay see Baker as moving toward taking on current Mayor Rick Kriseman on Aug. 29.

Baker wouldn't talk to us, and we've heard nobody suggest it's a done deal. But Kriseman assumes it's more likely than not. The mayor raised $200,000 in the first month since he announced his re-election kickoff and will need to maintain strong money-raising if Baker does jump in. St. Pete's mayor from 2001 to 2010 is the toughest candidate Kriseman could face.

Before the mayor's race kicks into gear, however, city residents will head to the polls May 2 to decide whether to approve a long-term lease and big expansion of Al Lang Stadium. It would be privately funded through businessman Bill Edwards, who owns the Rowdies soccer team, which he wants to turn into a Major League Soccer franchise.

And here's where things could get awkward. Baker is president of the Edwards Group and one of Edwards' top advisers. Edwards has the support of Kriseman and City Hall in the MLS quest, but can't afford for relations to sour amid a brewing political rivalry between Baker and Kriseman.

"Soccer's not a political thing. Soccer's soccer. It's clean of politics," Edwards said, dismissing that concern. "It's about a new stadium with private funding and bringing Major League Soccer into downtown for the fans."

Edwards said he has "no knowledge of any office (Baker) is running for." Asked about Kriseman's performance as mayor, Baker's boss sounded ready to conclude the conversation.

"He's doing fine. We're getting along fine. Everything is good," Edwards said. "At this moment I've got no complaints."

Should Baker wind up challenging Kriseman, the current mayor would bear some responsibility for practically goading him into it. Kriseman keeps suggesting previous mayors bear much of the blame for the city's recent sewage and stormwater problems.

"Politicians like to put their names on plaques — on nice buildings and rec centers and libraries," Kriseman, 54, said of the city's decaying infrastructure at a meet-and-greet last week hosted by Tony and Carrie Gibbons, a few doors down from Edwards' Snell Isle home.

"Those things are all important, but when it came to prioritizing, those things were given priority over sewers and pipes and things that you can't see and don't get to cut a ribbon on," Kriseman said. "So we find ourselves in a place where we've got pipes that are aging, we've got manholes that are leaking."

Baker, 60, has plenty of options if he decides to return to politics. He has spoken to Gov. Scott about the attorney general's office, which Pam Bondi is expected to vacate this year for a job in the Trump administration. The name most often mentioned for that appointment, however, is Republican state Rep. Jose Felix "Pepi" Diaz of Miami.

'Alligator Ron' mulls gubernatorial run

One of the more colorful business leaders in Florida, “Alligator Ron" Bergeron, tells the Buzz he is considering — "reasonably seriously" — running for governor in 2018. "I've had an awful lot of people approach me," said Bergeron, 73, a rodeo champ, alligator wrestler and eighth-generation Floridian who grew up swimming in the Everglades and made a fortune in the development, road construction and cattle business. "I think I have to first of all look at my family and how it would affect my family and make the decision after that."

A Republican who describes himself as a "moderate conservative," Bergeron says private sector experience is critical in government, as is building consensus, listening and bringing people together. He is a big fan of Gov. Scott, but also is complimentary of Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, and likely Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam.

"We'd have to have a hitchin' post at the governor's mansion for my horse," mused Bergeron, who expects to make a decision within four months or so.

Asked if he would be capable of spending as much money as Scott did in 2010 — about $75 million — Bergeron said, "I could," but he has made no decision.

"Getting the support of the people of Florida. I think that's probably more important than financing your own campaign," said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation commissioner who drives a gold-plated Hummer.

Democratic personal injury lawyer John Morgan versus Ron Bergeron for governor: a political writer's dream.

Gloria Allred co-hosts Crist fundraiser

As a Republican running for and serving as Florida governor, Charlie Crist attended multiple fundraisers hosted by Donald Trump. How the world changes.

On Feb. 22, Democratic U.S. Rep. Crist is scheduled to be in Beverly Hills for a fundraising reception whose hosts include ubiquitous lawyer Gloria Allred, representing a former contestant on The Apprentice who accused Trump of sexual assault during the presidential race and last month sued Trump, saying the president defamed her when he claimed that she had made up the assault claims.

Winner of the week

Rick Scott. The governor will be able to appoint the next Republican nominees for CFO and, probably for attorney general, after current CFO Jeff Atwater steps down for a Florida Atlantic University gig, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, probably, moves to a Trump administration gig. That's a huge gift for a likely Senate candidate to be able to handpick people with whom to share the ballot.

Loser of the week

Bill Nelson. Florida's Democratic senior senator is nothing if not cautious, and he faces a lose-lose choice with President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nomination of Neil Gorsuch as he heads toward a re-election campaign: Voting to confirm Gorsuch would infuriate a liberal base he needs to stay fired up, and voting against such a well-qualified judge invites attacks from the right painting him as out-of-step with centrist Florida.

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http://www.satprnews.com/2017/02/12/st-pete-steamfest-welcomes-record-crowd/

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Press Release

St. Pete STEAMfest Welcomes Record Crowd

2nd Annual Event Engages more than 400 Families in STEAM Activities.

St. Petersburg, FL, February 12, 2017 –– On a sunny Saturday in February, more than 400 families converged on the campus of Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg to participate in a variety of family-friendly activities, all centered on the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math – or STEAM.

Shorecrest, a preschool-12th grade independent school in St. Pete, has sponsored and hosted the event since its inception in 2016. “STEAM subjects and projects are a part of what we do everyday at Shorecrest,” says Dr. Anna Baralt, Shorecrest Director of Educational Technology and STEAMfest Committee Chair. “We launched STEAMfest as an outlet for sharing this kind of engaging, experiential learning with the greater community.”

The community has embraced STEAMfest, drawing families from all over the Tampa Bay Area, as well as community partners from other educational organizations. STEAMfest 2017 welcomed exhibitions from Busch Gardens, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Dali Museum, Great Explorations, Mathnasium, PVC ROV, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Wonder Studio, Create 3D, Glazer Children’s Museum and iD Tech Camps.

St. Petersburg dad Matt Gowens brought his 4-year-old son to STEAMfest for the second consecutive year. About the 2017 event he says, “I work in technology and it’s fun to be able to take a step back from being so in the weeds and so in the details and see that kids are actually putting these things to practical uses and doing the things that you do in your job. The experience of it and the older kids actually volunteering there and showing the little kids how to do things makes it even more of a spectacular event.” Gowens’ son, Tucker, is a current student in The Experiential School of Tampa Bay at Shorecrest.

The outdoor festival featured 35 booths including robotics demonstrations, arts and crafts, design and engineering challenges, and mad scientist games. The 2017 STEAMfest also had a dedicated area for younger children 3-6 years-old, which was led by faculty of The Experiential School of Tampa Bay, the 3, 4, and 5-year-old program at Shorecrest, and educators from The Wonder Studio, a popular local play-based, multi-sensory program for toddlers and their caregivers.

Meredith Norman, mother of 4-year old-daughter, says, “We had a really great time. The Experiential School was a great addition to STEAMfest. By far Everrett’s favorite part was seeing an actual heart and seeing the inner workings. Yesterday she said to me, ‘Mom, my heart is pumping oxygen through my body.’ I loved the hands-on activities and getting dirty with painting and sand.”

Plans are already underway for the 2018 St. Pete STEAMfest. The event planning committee welcomes partner organizations to join in this growing celebration of learning through fun and building community. To get involved contact Dr. Anna Baralt at abaralt@shorecrest.org.

About Shorecrest:

Founded in 1923, Shorecrest Preparatory School is a PK(3) through 12th grade coed, nonsectarian independent school located in Tampa Bay. Known for its student-centered approach to teaching and learning, Shorecrest is continually on the leading edge of innovation in education. Shorecrest was the first school in Pinellas County to open a school Makerspace, a high and low-tech engineering and design studio for students of ages. In 2016 the school opened the Center for Medical Sciences applied-science track for high school students, won a grant from Steelcase Education for its interdisciplinary work in Middle School, and became an Apple Distinguished School. Learn more at www.shorecrest.org.

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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-city-lions/on-the-pitch/os-sp-orlando-city-news-0212-story.html

Orlando City scrimmages Tampa Bay Rowdies, Montverde Academy

Alicia DelGallo

Most of Orlando City’s first team already had gone inside when the gates to Saturday’s training scrimmage opened.

They’d taken on the United Soccer League’s Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier, a performance head coach Jason Kreis said wasn’t perfect, before allowing media in to see mostly reserves opposite Montverde Academy’s nationally-recognized high school squad.

Orlando City B signed two Montverde products — left back Jules Youmeni and forward Albert Dikwa, both of Cameroon — to USL contracts on Thursday.

“Montverde is amazing to me, the talent that they have in their group with these young players,” Kreis said after the session. “I think they’re doing an amazing thing over there, and not just the talent of the individual players but the collective way they play is very nice.

“Pleased all in all with the [Orlando City] group that played the second 60 minutes. I think they did a real nice job.”

The lineup that closed out the scrimmage included defenders Tony Rocha, Conor Donovan, Victor “PC” Giro and OCB centerback Zach Carroll; midfielders Pierre Da Silva, Cristian Higuita, Servando Carrasco and Richie Laryea; and forwards Carlos Rivas and Hadji Barry.

Barry said it was the first time he practiced alongside Rivas with two strikers up top.

“Oh I’m telling you, if you come out here and think they’re just high school players, you're going to get beat,” Barry said. “That’s what happened to us last year. So, today we wanted to come out and show them who’s the pro team.”

Richie Laryea said Montverde gave them all a good workout, and the team was able to practice pressing and defensive matchups.

Da Silva was back on the field after missing training in Jacksonville due to concussion protocol. Kevin Alston and Danny Deakin watched from the side with minor quad and groin injuries, respectively, according to a club spokesman.

As for the first scrimmage against the I-4 rival Rowdies, it was described as physical and intense. Kreis said his players struggled to play controlled.

“A lot of difficulty with the guys just almost to control their emotions and to settle themselves down enough to really maintain possession for any decent strings of stuff,” he said. “But we still created, I think, probably enough chances to score. I’d like to see a few more of those converted, but all in all I think it’s very typical for where we’re at in the preseason. It’s the fatigue and a little bit of mental frustration coming through in the game today. So, a lot of work to do still.”
Familiar Rowdies

Luke Boden was back on the training field where he played for so many years in purple, but this time he was a Rowdie.

Fans’ hearts broke when Boden’s option was declined in November. He was an original Lion, part of the inaugural 2011 USL team, and moved to MLS with the club.

Orlando was home for him and his family, but he was able to stay close after the Rowdies signed him in early January.

Boden hugged and chatted with his former teammates after the scrimmage, according to club representatives.

Another former Lion also suited up on trial with the Rowdies: Martin Paterson. The English striker was on loan with the Lions for five months at the start of their inaugural 2015 MLS season. He made just four appearances during that time.

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/756713?referrer_id=2364194-news-archive

Carolina Challenge Cup Paved MLS Preseason’s Path

Since 2004’s debut, Battery have welcomed top-class talent to Charleston

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http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/story/2017/feb/13/chattanoogfc-should-benefit-mls-experience/412525/

Chattanooga FC should benefit from MLS experience

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http://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/professional_sports/sounders/sounders-welcome-return-of-key-pieces-before-south-carolina-trip/article_c19b2d4c-f1ae-11e6-be9c-7f7aae42f20d.html

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Sounders welcome return of key pieces before South Carolina trip

Evans, Marshall and Morris all back with Seattle after time with U.S. Men's National Team

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http://aftn.ca/episode-176-the-aftn-soccer-show/

Episode 176 – The AFTN Soccer Show (As Easy As Pythagoras with Don Garber)

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http://tampabaybaseballmarket.com/why-mls2stpete-will-spell-doom-for-baseball-in-st-pete/

Tampa Bay Rays, Vs Other Venues

Why #MLS2StPete will spell doom for baseball in St Pete

by Michael Lortz • February 10, 2017 • 2 Comments
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During the baseball offseason, there has been a lot of headlines and action regarding the Tampa Bay Rowdies quest to move up in leagues to Major League Soccer. On Dec 7th, the Rowdies kicked off the #MLS2StPete campaign to generate support for their endeavor.

While St. Pete and even Tampa are awash with marketing materials promoting the campaign, there have been a few articles of pushback. On Jan 27th, Robert Trigaux of the Tampa Bay Times wrote a piece entitled “It’s Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Tampa Bay Rays in scramble for fans, money in St. Pete sports market“. It was an absolutely solid piece detailing the growing battle between the two St Pete franchises.

    The result is a new dynamic emerging between the Rowdies and Rays, two sports teams located within a mile of one another in a rapidly evolving city. Each sports franchise is trying at the same time to win the hearts, dollars and attendance from St. Pete’s (and Tampa Bay’s) business community and residents.

Trigaux hits a lot of the typical notes: the Rays are struggling to draw fans, MLS is hot, the Rays need money for a new stadium, the Rowdies are willing to pay to expand Al Lang Stadium.

But his article had two small drawbacks: 1) it failed to talk about disposable income and economic capacity and 2) it ended with questions.

    Will some businesses be forced to choose between the Rays and Rowdies? Can area residents support baseball and soccer in a hometown city with population of 260,000?

Let me answer:

Question 1) Yes.

Very simply, some businesses will only have enough funds to support one team. Some businesses are very profitable and can support professional sports teams, Little League teams, non-profits, and everything in between. Some small businesses can barely support paying their bills. So yes, if some businesses wanted to provide corporate support, they might have to choose between the Rays and the Rowdies.

Question 2) No.

I have repeatedly written about Tampa Bay’s lack of disposable income. I’ve written about the area’s economic capacity. I’ve written about average income, job growth, and demographics. Nothing indicates that Tampa Bay, and St Petersburg specifically, can support the growth of a sports team.

This area already supports

    Rays
    Lightning
    Bucs
    Storm
    4 Minor League Baseball teams
    Approximately 50% of Spring Training attendance

All with a population of 3 million people making an average of less than 50,000 a year.

Increased attendance and focus on the Rowdies would require time and money to be diverted from other entertainment or leisure venues. Whether the movies, a museum, the Rays, or a restaurant, people will be switching focus to the Rowdies. Stadiums don’t come with people – they aren’t old GI Joe vehicles that came with the pilot. People live in the area and have to be won over.

Of course, in their pitch, no one with the Rowdies has said there is the economic capacity to support expansion. They’ve cited the TV market (which the Rays commonly do as well) and the demographics. But those demographics are not exclusive to soccer. They are shared by almost every major sport.

Despite so much evidence to the contrary, Mayor Kriseman and the St Pete Area Chamber of Commerce are supporting the Rowdies initiative. Mayor Kriseman believes St Pete is big enough for the Rays and the Rowdies.

It’s not.

Currently, single game tickets to a Rowdies match costs $23.50. Times 18,000 seats = 423,000. Times 17 game schedule = over $7 million total in disposable income to sell-out each Rowdies match. And that’s just ticket sales. Currently, the Rowdies seat 6,000 at $23 = 2.2 million. So nearly $5 million more required from the Rowdies market.

Meanwhile, for the Rays sell out every game at $15 at ticket, they would require $36.4 million.

That’s $50 million minimum to max out attendance in an area with a population of 259,906 and a median income under $50,000. Unless they are counting on people from outside the Tampa Bay area to support the local teams.

How’s that “Team Tampa Bay” working out right now?
   
Mike
February 11, 2017 at 3:04 pm

Your math is off on the Rowdies numbers. There are only 17 home games, meaning a total of $7M to fill vs. $14M. It would be about $4-$5M of additional disposable income, since there is an existing base of 6,000 attendance for the Rowdies today. Plus the demographics for soccer skew differently for soccer, so while there is some overlap it’s not a zero-sum game between the Rowdies and Rays. Now, some of the additional $5M of Rowdies disposable income will have to come from somewhere…perhaps other activities. I agree that there is a cap on disposable income in the area, but the portrayal is not as dire as indicated. The Rowdies overlap pales in comparison to the Rays unlocking the $15-$20M worth of attendance revenue that aren’t making the choice to buy a ticket today. This is a big market and as a former sponsor of the Rays in the past, we always found great value because of TV. Incomes are challenging here, but there are things to be sorted out on the Rays side that can make that puzzle solvable.

 Michael Lortz
February 12, 2017 at 1:32 am

I was told by a few people that I forgot to split home and road Rowdies games. Fixing that. The biggest problem is regionally. The area is overstretched overall, not just in St Pete, but the entire area. Regionally, TB is the fifth most overstretched sports market in the US. These teams need support from throughout TB and I think expansion is the wrong answer until we either raise population or per capita income.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/5tgy63/why_mls2stpete_will_spell_doom_for_baseball_in_st/

Why #MLS2StPete will spell doom for baseball in St Pete (tampabaybaseballmarket.com)

submitted 1 day ago by Tampa Bay Rowdiesphat7deuce

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all 10 comments
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[–]Tampa Bay Rowdiesunsubmatt 7 points 1 day ago

According to this, the Rowdies will be playing 34 home games?

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[–]jmnutt 7 points 1 day ago

Wow. That's some really questionable conclusions to draw based on current ticket prices. Also, baseball and soccer definitely do not share the same core demographics.

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[–]Tampa Bay Rowdiesphat7deuce[S] 4 points 1 day ago

Interesting piece...don't know if I agree with it, but interesting nonetheless. I'm not sure a public battle of Rowdies vs. Rays would be good for our effort, however it's quite possible the Rowdies would be a better fit for St. Pete than the Rays are. While there is certainly a cap on disposable incomes, there have been periods where the Rays have been supported much better than they are now. I do think they can co-exist, but it requires the Rays to fix some things on their end...

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[–]jmnutt 6 points 1 day ago

Sorry. He loses almost all credibility when he falsely claims and bases his doubts on the Rowdies playing a 34-game schedule. They're playing a 16-game HOME schedule. His math is off.

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[–]Tampa Bay Rowdiesreanimate_me 5 points 1 day ago

You gave that piece longer than I did. I gave up when he mentioned how this area "supports" the Storm and 4 minor league baseball teams. I go to minor league baseball games frequently and it's a miracle if most games even have 1,000 people.

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[–]Tampa Bay Rowdiesphat7deuce[S] 2 points 1 day ago

I didn't even catch that. I don't think this is the last time we'll see someone try to pit baseball and soccer against each other though.

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[–]jmnutt 2 points 1 day ago

Definitely not. I probably shouldn't be too harsh. Lord knows I've made plenty of mistakes on stories. That's just a big one to make here.

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[–]Tampa Bay Rowdiesphat7deuce[S] 3 points 1 day ago

Well, especially if your purpose is a fact-based economic analysis...

EDIT: I left him a comment. Additionally the Rowdies already have an existing fan base, so it's not like finding the income for 18,000...we need to find 12,000.

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[–]Tampa Bay Rowdiesreanimate_me 3 points 1 day ago

Why is baseball in St. Pete something people are trying to cling to? The team clearly wants to be in Tampa. Let them go and embrace the team that actually wants to be in St. Petersburg.

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[–]Tampa Bay Rowdiesburr11 3 points 1 day ago

That's my attitude as well. I think he has a point that there's only so much money and support to go around, but to me that's just all the more reason to favor MLS over MLB. It's a lot cheaper and fewer games to sell. Still it's something you want to avoid putting off baseball fans with.