Stadium issues goes to voters

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http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/251978012-story

Stadium issues goes to voters

By: FOX 13 News staff

Posted:May 01 2017 06:29PM EDT

Updated:May 01 2017 06:29PM EDT

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - People living in St. Petersburg will help decide whether Major League Soccer will make its way to the bay area.

A special city wide election will be held Tuesday to allow city council to negotiate a 25 year lease for the Tampa Bay Rowdies to control and renovate Al Lang Stadium.

It would modernize and more than double the size of the current stadium.

Rowdies owner Bill Edwards has a lot on the line, he’s even covering the cost of tomorrow’s special election—which costs $280,000.

Stadium renovations, which will cost a lot more than that, will also be paid for by the team – and not tax payers.

MLS is looking to expand two four new cities and Tampa Bay is the largest television market MLS isn’t already in.

People living in St. Pete can vote at their normal polling location tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihwkiXTU-eg

Rowdies' Celebrity Lookalikes

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on May 1, 2017

Find out which famous celebrities the Rowdies think they look like!

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/787534

USL Power Rankings – Week 6

Undefeated San Antonio retains top spot, Louisville sits close behind

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https://www.facebook.com/Unusedsubspod/photos/a.358253711006015.1073741829.356617531169633/774290486069000/?type=3&theater

The Unused Substitutes

NEWS: Tampa Bay Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards has taken a medial leave to have a pacemaker installed. Will miss tomorrow night's referendum watch party.

"I'm very sad to miss the election night celebration," Edwards said. "But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly; ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort."

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http://thetacomaledger.com/opinion-soccers-rise-popularity-exciting-watch/

Opinion: Soccer’s rise in popularity is exciting to watch

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http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/05/01/fc-cincinnati-moves-up-the-charts-in-mls-expansion.html

FC Cincinnati moves up the charts in MLS expansion race

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http://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2017/5/1/15510484/when-will-we-see-division-alignment

When will we see division alignment?

Some ideas for how the MLS will be revamped into separate divisions

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https://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/05/01/atlanta-united-surpasses-seattle-sounders-kings-mls-home-attendances/

Atlanta United surpasses Seattle Sounders as kings of MLS attendances

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http://www.caltimes.org/3545/opinion/does-the-mls-have-a-chance-in-pittsburgh/

Does the MLS have a chance in Pittsburgh?

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http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2017/5/1/15495294/2017-usl-eastern-conference-elo-power-rankings-week-6-charleston-battery-top-team-ratings

2017 USL Eastern Conference Elo Power Rankings — Week 6

It’s that time again, folks! We’re here to tell you which teams are hot and which are not.

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/morning-watch-live-coverage-of-paul-mccartney-ticket-sales-trump-touts-his/2322250

Morning watch: Live coverage of Paul McCartney ticket sales; Trump touts his new health plan; SpaceX launches spy satellite; food editor gives Instacart a spin

FLORIDA GOP COULD PICK OFF HIGH PROFILE MAYOR

Bill Edwards Group president Rick Baker spoke to the Tampa Bay Tiger Bay Club luncheon last week, promoting Tuesday's election asking voters to let city leaders negotiate a long-term lease for an expanded waterfront stadium if the Tampa Bay Rowdies become a Major League Soccer franchise. The former mayor would not bite on questions about running for mayor again, but he is receiving loads of encouragement and many of his allies expect he will decide to take on incumbent Rick Kriseman.

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/tampa-bay-rowdies-owner-bill-edwards-takes-medical-leave-before-tuesdays/2322295

Tampa Bay Rowdies' owner Bill Edwards takes medical leave before Tuesday's vote

Times staff

Monday, May 1, 2017 2:21pm

ST. PETERSBURG — Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards announced Monday that he will take a "brief" medical leave of absence to have a pacemaker installed. That news came a day before city voters were to vote on a measure that could bolster the Rowdies' chances of landing a Major League Soccer expansion franchise.

"I'm very sad to miss the election night celebration," said Edwards in a statement released Monday by the Rowdies organization. "But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly — ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort."

ROWDIES REFERENDUM: Tampa Bay Rowdies' vote breaks mold of past waterfront spats in St. Petersburg

Edwards Group president Rick Baker, a former mayor of St. Petersburg, said Edwards voted via the mail once ballots were available. Baker said he did not know how long Edwards will be out.

Edwards is hoping that when St. Petersburg voters go to the polls they will vote to allow city officials to negotiate a 25-year lease with the Rowdies. Edwards and his investors, in turn, would then spend up to $80 million to expand and upgrade Al Lang Stadium, more than doubling its capacity to 18,000 seats.

This effort is being done with an eye toward convincing MLS to award an expansion franchise to St. Petersburg either this year or in the coming years. MLS is looking to add two expansion franchises this year and two more in the coming years. The City Council would have final say over any agreement the city makes with the Rowdies.

The polls open to residents at 7 a.m. Tuesday at 60 locations and close at 7 p.m. No early voting was offered. To find your polling place, go online to votepinellas.com.

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http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-st-petersburg-voters-should-back-soccer-referendum/2322321

Editorial: St. Petersburg voters should back soccer referendum

Monday, May 1, 2017 5:07pm

More than 23,000 St. Petersburg voters already have cast ballots in today's referendum on allowing the city to negotiate a long-term lease for a new waterfront stadium if the Tampa Bay Rowdies win a Major League Soccer franchise. Rowdies owner Bill Edwards would pay for the expansion franchise and an 18,000-seat stadium on the Al Lang Stadium site, and there is no downside to allowing this effort to move forward. City voters who have yet to cast ballots should go to the polls today and send a strong signal that St. Petersburg wants an MLS franchise.

Even with a favorable vote, MLS in Tampa Bay isn't a lock. St. Petersburg is competing with about a dozen cities for four new franchises, and a "yes'' vote on the stadium would strengthen the Rowdies' bid. Edwards proposes building an $80 million stadium on the existing footprint of Al Lang using only private money. The design preserves open views of the water, does not disrupt existing streets and is similar in height to neighboring Mahaffey Theater. The ballot language guarantees no public money would go toward the new stadium or the purchase of an MLS franchise, estimated at $150 million. As required by the City Charter for long-term leases on public waterfront land, voters are being asked to authorize the city to enter into an agreement of up to 25 years to make Al Lang the home field for an MLS team. If St. Petersburg is not awarded a franchise, no stadium would be built.

Edwards and his staff ran an inclusive campaign to win residents' support and address concerns in the run-up to the vote. Parking, noise and light pollution from games and other events at the new stadium are genuine quality of life issues to downtown residents. The team has cited a parking study that identified nearly 5,000 public parking spaces available downtown after the stadium fills up during a home game. The stadium design uses directional lighting and sound technology to limit the impact on neighbors. Popular events like the Saturday Morning Market and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg would be protected. There is no significant organized opposition to this idea, only some questions, such as how many non-soccer events would be held in the stadium. Fine-tuning those and other details will fall to city officials in negotiating the lease, another crucial step in this process that would need approval by six of eight City Council members.

Edwards' plans for the Rowdies are ambitious but viable. Home games now draw about 5,500 fans per game, and attendance has risen steadily since Edwards bought the team in 2013. The Rowdies have carved a niche among Tampa Bay sports fans whose attention and dollars are already in high demand with three other major league sports franchises in the area.

Now part of the United Soccer League, the Rowdies are vying to join the top tier of U.S. professional soccer. Their potential move also presents an exciting opportunity for St. Petersburg that would enhance the city's treasured downtown waterfront. Voter approval would send a strong signal that the region is ready for Major League Soccer.

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https://www.sportstalkflorida.com/soccer/tampa-bay-rowdies/rowdies-mls-status-may-get-boost-voters/

Rowdies MLS Status May Get A Boost From Voters

By Evan Weiner -

May 1, 2017

St. Petersburg voters may have a big say in the future of the soccer team.

Soccer is now a part of the permanent sports landscape of the United States with leagues and national teams and in fact, the American women’s team is one of the strongest squads in the world. But there is still a state of flux as soccer seeks a niche. Major League Soccer seems firmly established but none of the individual franchise owners have made any money on their teams.  Jonathan Kraft, the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has turned his attention to the family’s other business, Major League Soccer and that league’s expansion process. Jonathan Kraft, whose family owns the New England Revolution, is reviewing now 11 applications that Major League Soccer has received to see if any of the proposals work well enough to fill four slots that have been allocated for the expansion. That would take the number of teams in a league in its two-decade existence to 28.

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http://saintpetersblog.com/eve-tampa-bay-rowdies-vote-owner-bill-edwards-announces-hes-getting-pacemaker/

On eve of Tampa Bay Rowdies vote, owner Bill Edwards announces he’s getting a pacemaker

Peter Schorsch

During his presentation to the Suncoast Tiger Bay club last week, former Mayor Rick Baker was asked what would happen to the Tampa Bay Rowdies aggressive plans for the future if ‘Bill Edwards died?”

It was meant to be rhetorical.

Yet on the eve of the crucial vote to give Al Lang Field an extended lease with the Rowdies – essential for St. Petersburg to attract a Major League Soccer franchise – Edwards announced he will be undergoing surgery to install a pacemaker.

“I’m very sad to miss the election night celebration,” Edwards said in a brief statement Monday.  “But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly – ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort.”

If (or when) the referendum passes – the measure faces nearly universal support, and scant opposition – Edwards would pick up the tab for construction and expansion of Al Lang, which is estimated at around $80 million.

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http://malden.wickedlocal.com/news/20170501/photos-boston-city-fc-opens-season-with-draw

PHOTOS: Boston City FC opens season with draw

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http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/sports/2017/05/01/tim-dibisceglie-mine-hill-gill-st-bernards/101049206/

DiBisceglie finding his way in pro soccer

Jim Hague, Correspondent 5:56 a.m. ET May 1, 2017

Although he finished his collegiate soccer career at the University of Scranton last fall, Tim DiBisceglie was certain that his career was not over.

The Mine Hill resident was determined to prove that he was destined for a life in professional soccer.

After "a couple of good years" with the Electric City Shock, the 22-year-old DiBisceglie kept the faith and believed that some professional team would offer him an opportunity to play.

That opportunity came in the form of a tryout with the expansion Philadelphia Atoms of the American Soccer League.

The Atoms were a fixture in the old North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1973 through 1976, but folded after the before the 1977 season. In honor of the 40th anniversary of that team, owners decided to bring back the Atoms for this season in the ASL and start fresh with newcomers like DiBisceglie, a former defender at Scranton.

“I went to the tryout and made the first cut, then the second cut,” said DiBisceglie, who played high school soccer at Gill St. Bernard’s. “Once I made it through the second cut, we were down to about 30 players. I felt pretty confident and comfortable that I was going to make the team.”

The Atoms, who train in Pitman and play their home games at Arcadia University just outside of Philadelphia, lost their first two games of the season to Massachusetts United and Maryland.

“I felt good to be out there,” DiBisceglie said. “I felt comfortable and relaxed. It felt like any other game for me. I had fun out there.”

About a third of the team is players fresh from college, like DiBisceglie, who helped Scranton win the Landmark Conference championship last fall and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. There are only two players over the age of 30.

“It’s exciting to be out there with a new team and a new coach (George Gunn),” said DiBisceglie, who can play both center midfield and center back. “I didn’t have any expectations. I just went out there to have fun and I did. It was a lot of fun being part of a new team.”

Gunn, a 26-year-old from England, also serves as the team’s general manager. He saw DiBisceglie at a tryout and came away impressed.

“He had good technique,” Gunn said. “His ability on the ball was good. He was a little part of the puzzle that we could work with. ... His size and composure on the ball helps him tremendously. The league’s mission statement is to help young American soccer players to get a chance to play at a higher level. It was up to us to find them and give them experience. That’s what we wanted with Tim.”

DiBisceglie has to complete two more semesters to earn his degree in early and primary teacher education, with a minor in coaching. He aspires to become a first- or second-grade teacher and coach.

“Hopefully, I’ll have a few offers,” DiBisceglie said. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. ... It’s awesome being able to continue my career. I’m able to keep playing at a high level and I plan on doing that for as long as I can.”

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http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/05/01/cheat-sheet-verything-you-need-to-know-about.html

Cheat sheet: Everything you need to know about Tuesday's Rowdies vote

St. Petersburg voters will decide Tuesday whether or not to let the city move forward on long-term lease negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rowdies to accommodate an $80 million renovation to the team’s home at Al Lang Stadium.

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http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2017/05/01/orlando-city-is-quickly-becoming-one-of-the-top-sides-in-mls/

Orlando City is quickly becoming one of the top sides in MLS

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https://twitter.com/UnusedSubsPod/status/859064755012685824

Unused Substitutes‏

@UnusedSubsPod

NEWS: #Rowdies Owner Bill Owner is taking medical leave to have pacemaker installed.

8:19 AM - 1 May 2017

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/68mk11/game_5_rowdies_home_attendance_thread_429_vs/

Game 5: Rowdies Home Attendance Thread [4/29 vs. Richmond] (self.TampaBayRowdies)

Hello all. Many of you know...I'm a total attendance nerd. I post on a few subreddits and on Twitter. It's just always been interesting to me, as it is one of the most public gauges of relevance and financial stability.

This is the only place that I track it a little differently. For the others I just focus on averages, but here I look at game by game to see how we are tracking. For this particular season, it's going to present a bit of an issue. Historically, because of the NASL split season we would experience a bump in the Spring Finale and the Home Opener. Game 5 would have been our Spring Finale last year. Game 6 is going to look even worse as it was our 4th of July Flo-Rida game in 2016 and in 2017 it's going to be a run of the mill mid-season game. We are also accumulating home games at a rapid clip (probably due to our nice weather in the Spring vs. those in colder climates) - our schedule is very much front loaded compared to prior years (perhaps leading to some level of schedule fatigue).

All of that said, comparison to last year is going to probably look rough for a bit, and I actually do think we are behind the pace even with those considerations in play. Will a successful referendum and increased media coverage help us out? Here's hoping.

Gm     Date     Opp     '17 Attn     USL Avg     % vs USL     '16 Attn     % Cml Growth
1     3/25     OCB     7,710     *4,806     +60.4%     5,740     +34.3%
2     4/1     TFC2     4,326     *3,923     +10.3%     4,429     +18.4%
3     4/8     OTT     5,310     *4,311     +23.2%     5,948     +7.6%
4     4/22     CHS     5,016     *3,451     +45.4%     6,702     -2.0%
5     4/29     RIC     4,829     *4,829     0.0%     6,078     -5.9%
                       
Avg             5,438     4,273         5,779    
Total             27,191     371,720         28,897    

% Cml Growth: Year-over-year running season total growth (cumulative)

*Average-to-date, not all teams have played comp home games

TEAM AVERAGES (YTD)
Rnk     Team     HGP     Avg Attn     High     Low
1     FCC     3     19,608     23,144     15,244
2     SAC     2     11,569     11,569     11,569
3     LOU     3     8,038     9,074     6,758
4     SAFC     3     6,898     8,074     6,217
5     PHX     3     6,794     7,162     6,330
6     OTT     1     6,502     6,502     6,502
7     RGV     4     6,378     7,820     5,481
8     RIC     4     5,541     8,021     1,567
9     TBR     5     5,438     7,710     4,326
10     RNO     3     5,001     5,691     4,430
11     STL     3     4,827     5,566     4,107
12     OKC     2     4,466     5,899     3,032
13     TUL     3     4,242     4,952     3,015
14     CHS     4     3,464     6,563     2,421
15     BTS     4     3,042     3,102     2,976
16     PIT     4     2,884     3,352     2,513
17     ROC     2     2,700     3,459     1,941
18     HAR     2     2,639     3,264     2,013
19     COS     3     2,254     3,249     1,482
20     SLC     3     *2,044     2,316     1,771
21     T2     4     2,043     2,602     1,226
22     OCB     4     1,590     2,741     1,008
23     LAG2     3     1,573     2,225     977
24     CLT     2     1,539     2,048     1,030
25     S2     4     1,003     1,115     952
26     SPR     3     878     1,060     572
27     NYRB2     3     641     806     396
28     TFC2     1     525     525     525
29     WFC2     3     516     738     403
30     OCSC     0     –     –     –

*Missing information, not all games reported as of yet

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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/04/30/tbrvric-player-ratings/2833

#TBRvRIC Player Ratings

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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/04/29/the-bench-volume-2-issue-5/2796

The Bench: Volume 2 Issue 5

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https://www.soccernation.com/soccernation-exclusive-ziggy-korytoski-and-albion-pros-back-on-track-part-1/

SoccerNation Exclusive: Ziggy Korytoski and Albion Pros back on track (Part 1)

Oh how strange this beautiful game can be.

Albion Pros, the San Diego based National Premier Soccer League side in their second year of competitive operations, breezed through 2016 with barely a dent notched against them on their way to the national quarterfinals. 2017 has been a little different.

Through six league matches, Albion Pros had won just two and lost four, this after not losing a single regular season contest in 2016. Their record saw them in 7th place in the nine team Southwestern Conference, just above perennial doormats Corinthians USA and City of Angels FC.

But it wasn’t just the wins and losses that were troubling. Albion had scored just seven goals in those six matches, finding the back of the net proving to be a mighty struggle for a team loaded with attacking talent. Four of those goals came in a season opening win against Oxnard Guerreros! In the subsequent five NPSL matches, Albion won just once and scored a measly three goals.

These numbers were drawing quite a bit of attention, and certainly had to be on the minds of players and coaches anxious to turn the tides and get the club back to meeting expectations.

This past Saturday, it was just what the doctor orderes, as Albion Pros got off the schneid with a hard fought 2-1 victory over SoCal SC in San Bernardino. The win sees the Pros shoot back up to 5th place in the conference on nine points, just one point back of Temecula in the fourth and final playoff spot with 11 matches to go.

Upon the team’s return to San Diego, we caught up with Albion Pros Head Coach Ziggy Korytoski, discussing the much needed win, the early season struggles, and the upcoming US Open Cup match against Chula Vista FC.

Here’s Part 1 of the conversation.

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http://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/04/29/most-watched-soccer-games-on-us-tv-for-april-17-23-2017/

Most-watched soccer games on US TV for April 17-23, 2017

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/tampa-bay-rowdies-major-league-soccer-hopes-rest-with-st-petersburg-voters/2322337

Tampa Bay Rowdies' Major League Soccer hopes rest with St. Petersburg voters

Charlie Frago, Times Staff Writer

Tuesday, May 2, 2017 4:25am

ST. PETERSBURG — Voters on Tuesday will head to their local precincts and vote on a referendum that could bolster the chances that Major League Soccer comes to the city, and the Tampa Bay region.

The special referendum is being held to determine whether city officials should negotiate a 25-year lease with Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards to operate the iconic Al Lang Stadium on the city's waterfront.

Edwards wants the longterm lease so that he and his partners can launch an $80 million upgrade and expansion of the stadium, enlarging it to 18,000 seats, to help bring an MLS team to the city. The lease would be executed if MLS awards a franchise to St. Petersburg. The City Council would have final approval of the deal.

MLS is expected to add two expansion franchises this year and then two more next year. St. Petersburg is one of a dozen cities vying to join the soccer league.

Edwards and former mayor Rick Baker, who has acted as spokesman for the effort, say they wanted an early vote to signal the city's support for the MLS bid before league officials make their decision. Edwards announced Monday that he will take a "brief" medical leave of absence to have a pacemaker installed.

"I'm very sad to miss the election night celebration," said Edwards in a statement released Monday by the Rowdies organization. "But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly — ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort."

No organized opposition has emerged. Downtown residents mostly like the fact that the stadium will keep the same footprint with added seating section no higher than the neighboring Mahaffey Theater. And the fact that Edwards promises to pay tens of millions out of his own pocket for the stadium upgrades has also received a warm welcome.

Others fear a parking crunch and light and noise problems. Baker has said a city study shows ample parking downtown and the team plans to use LED lights to minimize glare.

The MLS bid has received strong support from businesses and Mayor Rick Kriseman, who might well face Baker in a mayoral election this year, has also said an MLS team would be a boost for the city.

To find your precinct, go to votepinellas.com. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. As of Monday evening, voters had turned in 23,902 mail ballots, or 34 percent of all the mail ballots that had gone out, for the special referendum.

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http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-south-pinellas/st-petersburg/st-pete-voters-set-to-decide-on-rowdies-stadium-expansion

St. Pete voters set to decide on Rowdies stadium expansion

First step towards Major League Soccer

Rodney Dunigan

5:46 AM, May 2, 2017

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - One local minor league sports team is hoping to be added to Major League Soccer. The first step however is in the hands of local voters.

The owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Bill Edwards spent nearly 300-thousand dollars of his own money for Tuesday's special referendum vote.

Edwards is pushing for a 25-year lease to expand and upgrade the stadium.

He and investors would spend 80-million dollars to make those improvements, including doubling seating capacity.

It's all being done in the hope that Major League Soccer will award St. Pete an expansion team in the next few years.

If this were to happen it could be a big plus for the city and businesses to have another pro sports team in town, especially considering the future of the Tampa Bay Rays is still up in the air.

There's still a question on the Rays will be moving to Hillsborough county or possibly somewhere else in Pinellas.

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https://stpetedna.org/spdna-letter-major-league-soccer-supporting-mls2stpete/

St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association

SPDNA Letter to Major League Soccer Supporting #MLS2STPETE

By SPDNA - Site Editor March 10, 2017 News & Views

mls2stpete

The St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association Board of Directors, representing one of the largest and fastest growing downtown districts in all of Florida, wishes to express our enthusiastic support for the #MLS2STPETE campaign.

Download the full letter:
DNA Rowdies MLS Letter[278]

About #MLS2STPETE:

http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/mls2stpete

The Tampa Bay Rowdies have applied for a Major League Soccer franchise for St. Petersburg. Their proposal includes an upgrade and expansion of Al Lang Field to be financed with no public money. The Tampa Bay Times story has more details. (http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/kriseman-rowdies-mls-proposal-a-better-fit-for-st-petersburg-waterfront/2308396)

The City Charter requires that any lease/use agreement of waterfront property longer than five years be subject to a referendum. On May 2 the voters of St. Petersburg will be asked to approve the Mayor negotiating such a lease/use agreement with the Rowdies. Please note that this vote is simply to allow the negotiations to begin; it is not a vote on either the Rowdies proposal or the lease/use agreement itself. Mail ballots will be distributed late-March/early-April. We support a YES vote on the referendum.

The SPDNA has made it clear to the Rowdies and the Mayor and Council that any lease/use agreement must recognize the legitimate concerns of the downtown residents regarding potential noise, parking issues, etc. The lease/use agreement will be subject to public comment and will require Council approval.

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http://saintpetersblog.com/new-morean-arts-ceo-says-st-petersburg-hidden-gem-american-arts-world/

New Morean Arts CEO says St. Petersburg ‘hidden gem’ in American arts world

Mitch Perry

Michael Killoren, new CEO of the Morean Arts Center

Michael Killoren can’t wait to begin his gig as new CEO of the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg. The six-year veteran of the National Endowment for the Arts starts at the community-based arts organization June 1.

Killoren’s appointment was announced in March, right around the time President Donald Trump called to eliminate the NEA in his first federal budget plan (as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and 16 other federal agencies).

“It’s a dynamic environment, and administrations come and go and change and have different priorities,” says Killoren, adding that he is still very much employed with the NEA. “More to the point, I think the agency does great work, and has great impact across the country, and we’ll just have to see how this plays out.”

As Killoren notes, different administrations have different priorities when it comes to funding the arts in America.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan hoped to eliminate the NEA, and Newt Gingrich attempted to kill it again in 1995 after the Republicans took over both the U.S. House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. Although neither were successful, on both occasions the NEA’s budget was slashed.

Over its history, the NEA has seen a varying range of annual budgets — from just under $3 million in 1966 to $176 million in 1992. Currently, the Endowment’s annual appropriation is just under $148 million.

In 2017, the Morean Arts Center celebrates its 100th anniversary in St. Petersburg, with yearlong celebrations. The organization offers adult programs, kids’ programs, family programs, early childhood programs, and summer camp programs and outreach programs geared toward youth, many at risk.

“It does amazing work,” says Killoren on how the Morean connects people in the community with arts, printmaking, drawing, photography, glass blowing, writing and ceramics.

“I think organizations like this are more important than ever because I think everyone should have access to an opportunity to engage in an expressive life, and that’s what this organization does,” says Killoren, who says that in a way it’s a return to his roots in “hyper-localism.”

Before his 2010 hire at the NEA, Killoren worked in Seattle as director of the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.  Prior to that, he spent three and a half years as part of the programming staff at the Sheldon Arts Foundation in St. Louis.

He has a B.A. in Media Arts from Webster University in St. Louis, and completed graduate studies in telecommunications at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Killoren loves St. Pete, and considers it a “hidden gem.”

Regarding the city’s seven different art districts, he’s not sure the story is widely known “what a great arts city this is.”

Until a few years ago Killoren didn’t know much about the city, he says, when he visited St. Petersburg with his husband: “We were just blown away by what we saw.”