The story of Kearny, New Jersey and its soccer legacy | MLS Insider

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/08/30/story-kearny-new-jersey-and-its-soccer-legacy-mls-insider?autoplay=true

The story of Kearny, New Jersey and its soccer legacy | MLS Insider

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https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2017/08/29/county-leaders-reluctant-on-mls-pitch-even-before.html

Mecklenburg County leaders reluctant on MLS pitch even before reversal

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http://www.citypages.com/news/crazy-as-loons-how-die-hard-mn-united-fans-keep-soccer-alive-in-minnesota/442170623

Crazy as Loons: How die-hard MN United fans keep soccer alive in Minnesota

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/08/29/houston-astros-to-call-tropicana-field-home-for.html

Houston Astros to call Tropicana Field home for three-game series

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/hav-a-tampa-closes-its-factory-ending-an-era-for-the-local-cigar-industry/1012864

Hav-A-Tampa closes its factory, ending an era for the local cigar industry and the city it made synonymous with stogies

By Ileana Morales and Janet Zink, Times Staff Writers

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 9:35pm

TAMPA — They made their first cigar in Tampa in 1902.

In July, they will make their last.

A piece of Tampa history was extinguished Tuesday when the parent company of Hav-A-Tampa cigars announced it will close its local production plant, near E Broadway Avenue, leaving almost 500 employees jobless.

"It's not just us. It's everybody in the business," said Rick Mc­Kenzie, senior vice president of human resources for Altadis U.S.A. "Is there an easy answer? I don't know of one."

The company will continue to make the Hav-A-Tampa brand in Puerto Rico, McKenzie said.

McKenzie blamed the closure on government policies that group cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars under the label of tobacco and increasingly regulate them all.

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/corporate/times-10-bios-of-the-ten-largest-public-companies-in-tampa-bay/2129435

Times 10: Bios of the ten largest public companies in Tampa Bay

TECH DATA CORP.

JABIL CIRCUIT INC.

WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS

BLOOMIN' BRANDS

RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL

HSN INC.

TECO ENERGY INC.

COTT CORP.

BROWN & BROWN

SYKES ENTERPRISES

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/corporate/manitowoc-foodservice-one-of-tampa-bays-largest-public-companies-changes/2312212

Manitowoc Foodservice, one of Tampa Bay's largest public companies, changes name to Welbilt

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http://www.pced.org/?page=Pinellas_Employers

Largest Target Industry Employers 

How MLS makes money for its owners

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https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2017/8/29/16088402/mls-money-owners-sum-major-league-soccer-marketing-usa-mexico-canada

How MLS makes money for its owners

MLS losing money? When you SUM it all up, the league owners actually take home more cake than you may realize.

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https://twitter.com/EvanReam/status/902617234282909696

Evan Ream‏

@EvanReam

Evan Ream Retweeted Evan Ream

Update: since I sent out this, I've heard from two sources who think that the Republic to MLS is a done deal

Evan Ream added,

Evan Ream

@EvanReam

No official confirmation, but I've heard much buzz in the past weeks that would make me surprised if Sac wasn't granted an MLS team in Dec

12:41 PM - 29 Aug 2017

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6wtws0/evan_ream_report_ive_heard_from_two_sources_who/

[Evan Ream] Report: I've heard from two sources who think that the (Sacramento) Republic to MLS is a done deal (twitter.com)

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https://www.soccernation.com/phoenix-rising-stadium-proposal-nearing-turn-key-completion/

Phoenix Rising Stadium Proposal Nearing “Turn-key” Completion

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http://www.lasvegaslightsfc.com/news_article/show/827947

The Fans Choice: Las Vegas Lights FC

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https://patch.com/florida/brandon/dave-buster-s-hiring-brandon-location

Dave & Buster’s Hiring For Brandon Location

The sports and entertainment restaurant is looking to fill more than 230 positions.

BRANDON, FL – Job seekers who love to surround themselves with sports and games are in luck. Dave & Buster’s is slated to open its 103rd location in Brandon this October.

The restaurant chain is looking to hire more than 230 people for the restaurant in The Estuary, located at the intersection of Interstate 75 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. Positions are available in both front- and back-of-house capacity, including hosts, bartenders, servers, line cooks, game techs and more.

The 40,000-square-foot Dave & Buster’s will help anchor the new shopping and entertainment mixed-use area. The restaurant also will feature a D&B Sports Bar which will feature the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Rowdies on large HD TVs and “better than the stadium” seating.

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https://www.verdict.co.uk/notorious-irish-whiskey-celebrity-drinks/

Conor McGregor’s Notorious Irish Whiskey is the latest in a long list of celebrity tipples

Millions of people around the globe tuned in to watch Floyd Mayweather stop Conor McGregor in the 10th round of their record-breaking mega fight.

Despite suffering defeat, McGregor has pocketed a minimum purse of $30m.

That figure will be bumped up greatly by PPV cuts and sponsorship deals.

For 30 minutes work, the UFC champion didn’t do half bad.

However, unwilling to waste an opportunity to boost his bank balance, McGregor used his post-fight press conference to show off his new own brand alcohol, Notorious Irish Whiskey.

Swapping shots to the face for shots from a glass, it’s easy to see why McGregor is keen to try his hand in the alcohol industry.

George Clooney’s Casamigos Tequila recently sold for approximately $1bn, while rappers such as DJ Khaled and P Diddy earn huge sums by endorsing drinks brands such as Ciroc and Belaire.

Star owned drinks that came before Notorious Irish Whiskey

Notorious Irish Whiskey is nothing out of the ordinary.

Actors and actresses, sports stars, musicians and reality stars are all in the industry. Just about anybody with a famous name has already jumped on this celebrity craze.

Danny DeVito released a Limoncello and UB40 released an actual Red Red Wine. Cee Lo Green champions Ty Ku Sake and Fergie owns a part of Voli Vodka.

In fact, it seems that just about anybody with a little bit of star power now owns their own brand of alcohol. These are just a few of the best.

Haig Club Scotch – David Beckham

Since hanging up his boots, David Beckham has set about using his status as one of English football’s most well-known names to diversify his revenue streams.

To create the high-class Scotch, Beckham teamed up with Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller to launch Haig Club with drinks manufacturer Diageo.

Bottled in a distinctive blue square, which looks more like yet another David Beckham aftershave, the single grain Scotch retails at £45 a pop.

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/827955

Lashbrook Unveils Las Vegas Lights FC

Official announcement made at Fremont Street Experience after 10,000 ballots cast

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https://knpr.org/headline/2017-08/las-vegas-usl-team-name-announced

Las Vegas USL Team Name Announced

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http://creativity-online.com/work/usl-birmingham-soccer/52547

This Rousing Ad for a New Soccer Team Might Get Even Diehard Football Fans Excited About Futbol

Video Out of Birmingham Agency Big Hypes the Coming of Pro Soccer in March 2019

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https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/aug/29/new-pro-soccer-team-announce-name-las-vegas-lights/

New pro soccer team announces name: Las Vegas Lights FC

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https://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/08/29/espn3-stream-league-one-matches-viewers-united-states-weekend/

ESPN3 to stream League One matches to viewers in United States this weekend

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https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/new-united-soccer-league-team-will-be-called-las-vegas-lights-fc/

New United Soccer League team will be called Las Vegas Lights FC

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http://www.espnfc.com/new-york-city-fc/story/3191254/nycfc-boss-patrick-vieira-mls-completely-changed-in-10-years

NYCFC boss Patrick Vieira: MLS completely changed in 10 years

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https://www.charlotteagenda.com/101997/charlottes-major-league-soccer-bid-isnt-dead-reset/

Charlotte’s Major League Soccer bid isn’t dead, it’s “reset”

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/08/28/mls-week-25-rivalry-sebastian-giovinco-chris-wondolowski-cascadia-cup

The MLS XI, Week 25: Giovinco Shines, Rivalries Renewed and Goal Line Scrambles Galore

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/08/28/how-mls-fans-can-help-those-affected-hurricane-harvey

How MLS fans can help those affected by Hurricane Harvey

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http://www.wbtv.com/story/36236503/dc-united-team-may-offer-example-for-charlotte-mls-bid

DC United team may offer example for Charlotte MLS bid

Open Letter: August 29, 2017

Open Letter: August 29, 2017

August 29, 2017

Hello all. This is another in my series of open letters campaigning to get the Tampa Bay Rowdies into Major League Soccer (MLS). Unlike the previous letters, due to the nature of this letter, I am restricting the distribution of this letter to the current Rowdies ownership, executives, and a few others. As I mentioned in my previous letters I am documenting this letter writing campaign in my blog:

http://supportyourlocalfootballclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/updated-letter-writing-campaign-so-far.html

 

Back in January, Rowdies owner Bill Edwards mentioned that he was talking with potential investors located in the Tampa Bay Area who were interested in partnering with him to take the Tampa Bay Rowdies to MLS. 

Tampa Bay Rowdies fans recently have been a bit worried as we have not yet heard any news as to who else might be investing in a Rowdies MLS team. Given that there are 11 other cities trying to get the 4 remaining spots for MLS, word of any additional Rowdies investors, to make the strongest Tampa Bay Rowdies MLS bid possible, would do a lot to relieve the current anxiety felt by Rowdies fans. 

In my previous open letters, I included Tom Cruise in the distribution, as there had been news stories indicating that Tom Cruise might have been interested in investing in David Beckham’s Miami MLS team. Given Tom Cruise’s connection to Scientology and Scientology’s connection to Clearwater, the city next door to St. Petersburg, where the Tampa Bay Rowdies play, I thought it might be productive to include Mr. Cruise in the open letters distribution. 

So then I noticed this news story:   

  

Top 5 at noon: Obama backs Kriseman for mayor; is John Travolta moving to Clearwater?; and more

http://www.tampabay.com/news/top-5-at-noon-obama-backs-kriseman-for-mayor-is-john-travolta-moving-to/2335144

 

IS JOHN TRAVOLTA MOVING TO CLEARWATER? PROPERTY RECORDS OFFER HINTS

Is John Travolta, one of Scientology's most celebrated members, inching closer to his religion's international base in Clearwater? On July 10, a waterfront home in the Old Clearwater Bay neighborhood sold for $3 million to an investment trust held by Ellen Bannon, the actor's sister. Bannon's investment trust is also listed as the owner of Travolta's eight-bedroom mansion in Ocala with two airplane hangars, a tennis court and horse barn, according to property records. The 6,162-square-foot pad overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway sits directly next door to two houses owned by actor and Scientologist Kirstie Alley.

So as a result of the above, I am including John Travolta in the distribution of these open letters, on the off chance that he might like to invest in the Tampa Bay Rowdies MLS team, especially if he is moving to Clearwater. Check out a Rowdies home game at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Pete, Mr. Travolta! 

I am of course including Bill Edwards and the other Rowdies owners and key Rowdies executives, and the mayor of Clearwater, in this particular open letter. I am sure Mr. Edwards does not need me to give him any ideas about potential Rowdies MLS co-investors, but I thought that the above story was interesting enough to draw his attention to it. 

Rowdies fans are getting anxious as we get nearer and nearer to the end of the year when MLS is expected to announce the next two expansion franchises, and the Rowdies have not had any good news about their MLS bid since the successful St. Petersburg referendum about Al Lang Stadium back in May which passed with an 87% “yes” vote.  Quite a few other cities bidding for MLS are having lots of good news and are being talked up as having an inside track for MLS expansion, while we hear nothing about the Tampa Bay Rowdies MLS bid. So it is concerning. 

To summarize for anyone reading this why he or she should invest in a Tampa Bay Rowdies MLS team:

The Tampa Bay Area is the largest TV market (#11) that does not have a team in MLS. The Tampa Bay Area is the fastest growing market of the 12 markets currently applying for an MLS team. 

The Tampa Bay Rowdies have a very hot and intense rivalry with Orlando City Soccer Club, 107 miles away on I-4. Orlando City Soccer Club plays in MLS. The Tampa Bay Rowdies are currently playing in the United Soccer League (USL), where the Orlando City B team also play. 

The Tampa Bay Rowdies have one of the oldest (since 1975) and best known (second only to the New York Cosmos) brand names in USA soccer. 

The Tampa Bay Rowdies drew huge crowds at the old Tampa Stadium back in the late 1970s and early 1980s (averaging over 28,000 a game by 1980 with occasional crowds of over 40,000 and one crowd of over 56,000), in the original North American Soccer League (NASL).

The Tampa Bay Area has been a soccer hotbed since at least 1975 and has a very large population of very knowledgeable soccer fans and a very large and very active youth soccer system. 

The Tampa Bay Area in general, as well as St. Petersburg in particular, is attracting a large population of millennials and young working professionals and educated people and “hipsters”; precisely the kind of people who are attracted to MLS and to soccer and who MLS is very much interested in attracting and marketing to.  

Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg, where the Rowdies currently play, is on the Tampa Bay waterfront, within easy walking distance of all kinds of restaurants, bars, theaters, music venues, night clubs, shops, hotels, and other things to do, and is the ideal kind of urban location that MLS is looking for in its Soccer Specific Stadia (SSS). 

Professional soccer is growing fast in the USA, and Major League Soccer is growing at a rapid rate and attracting more and more fans from the younger demographics. For this reason, the Tampa Bay Rowdies in MLS is an attractive investment to look into.  

So on the off chance that Tom Cruise, John Travolta, or anyone else is interested in partnering with Bill Edwards and investing in the Tampa Bay Rowdies MLS team, I send this letter. Come on you Rowdies! Soccer is a kick in the grass! #COYR #MLS2StPete #MLS2TampaBay #Rowdies2MLS

What Market is FC Cincinnati’s Biggest Threat for MLS Expansion Bid

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http://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2017/08/28/market-fc-cincinnatis-biggest-threat-mls-expansion-bid

What Market is FC Cincinnati’s Biggest Threat for MLS Expansion Bid

Tampa Bay / St. Petersburg: The Rowdies jumped ship from the NASL to the USL just as their owner, Bill Edwards, put into motion their plans to join MLS. The Rowdies have everything in place: a massive media market, a stadium that is all set to be expanded having passed their public vote test, and they have a dedicated and passionate following in Tampa. Really, on the face of it, there is nothing holding the Rowdies back. Nothing except history that is. Bill Edwards is a notoriously difficult person to get along with, just ask the NASL. After loaning money to the league to keep another Florida team afloat, Edwards and the NASL ended up in a legal battle that saw Edwards taking ownership of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and then failing to auction them off. Then there is the problem of the short lived MLS team, the Tampa Bay Mutiny. Now, there were a number of factors that played a role in the Mutiny failing to stay in operation, but it is still something to say that “MLS has already failed in Tampa Bay.” With David Beckham heading up a new team in Miami, maybe Tampa could join in, expelling MLS of its old contraction-demons. It could make the southeast crowded from an MLS perspective, with Orlando, Miami, and Atlanta already set and several other quality expansion markets eyeing that region.

So with the cities mentioned, that leaves Raleigh, Nashville, and Tampa Bay as the only real competitors to FC Cincinnati’s bid. There are pluses and minuses to each bid. MLS could really take any of these four teams and it would make good business sense. But astute readers will notice there is one eastern team that was not mentioned. There is a specter haunting the east, the specter of Detroit.

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/skyway-marina-land-for-sale-but-is-70-million-project-in-peril/2335214

Skyway Marina land for sale, but is $70 million project in peril?

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http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/toronto-fc-worst-team-world-model-mls-franchise/

Toronto FC: From ‘worst team in the world’ to model MLS franchise

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http://saintpetersblog.com/tropicana-field-new-temporary-home-houston-astros/

Tropicana Field new temporary home for Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are going to be spending a long time away from home.

The Astros will play their next two series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg because of flooding from Hurricane Harvey, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.

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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-city-lions/on-the-pitch/os-sp-orlando-city-supporter-groups-banned-from-atlanta-united-20170823-story.html

Orlando City supporter groups suspended next 4 Atlanta United road games

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http://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/arrested-atlanta-united-soccer-game/YPQQId02xUF9RtJt3CfBgM/

3 arrested at Atlanta United soccer game

It is not the first time one of the suspects has been accused of raucous behavior at a professional soccer game...

In the latest incident, Ambrose and two other men allegedly destroyed metal bleachers at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Jared Ambrose was arrested at a 2014 Tampa Bay Rowdies game.

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https://thefloridasqueeze.com/2017/08/28/sources-fort-lauderdale-nasl-team-owners-likely-to-file-for-bankruptcy-to-avoid-paying-players-and-other-debts/

Sources: Fort Lauderdale NASL team owners likely to file for bankruptcy to avoid paying players and other debts

Earlier today on Twitter I reported that the Brazilian-based owners of Miami FC LLC, the NASL club in Fort Lauderdale plan to file for US bankruptcy later this week and have notified players that they will not be receiving their back pay or current pay. Here are the tweets and we will of course be following up on this story during the course of the week.

A big question that will need to be answered are what if any plans do US Soccer or NASL have to remedy this situation and what has happened to the $750,000 guarantee that Miami FC LLC (at the time dba Fort Lauderdale Strikers – a name that the owners can no longer use as it was awarded to Tampa Bay Rowdies owner and Downtown St Petersburg magnate Bill Edwards, who was a creditor, in a court auction) should have put in escrow for US Soccer and NASL to tap in a rainy day emergency such as this.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6wk8dg/kartik_krishnaiyer_multiple_sources_confirm_that/

[Kartik Krishnaiyer] - Multiple sources confirm that the owners of the Fort Lauderdale NASL club will declare US bankruptcy this week. (twitter.com)

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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/827724

Rowdies to Feature #GoldTogether Initiative at September Matches for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

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http://www.espnfc.us/new-york-city-fc/story/3191254/nycfc-boss-patrick-vieira-mls-completely-changed-in-10-years

NYCFC boss Patrick Vieira: MLS completely changed in 10 years

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/filipbondy/2017/08/28/u-s-soccer-chooses-modest-red-bull-arena-and-pre-selected-fan-groups-for-qualifier-vs-costa-rica/#42276a16bdef

Why U.S. Soccer Is Forfeiting Revenue To Face Costa Rica At Red Bull Arena

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFJha61nQ-s

Rowdies' 2nd Annual Spelling Bee: Final Round

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on Aug 28, 2017

The Rowdies Spelling Bee Final we've all been waiting for is here!

Check out the finale between Nanchoff and Paterson!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQmPL8_6FpM

Rowdies' 2nd Annual Spelling Bee: Second Round

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on Aug 25, 2017

We've all seen Part 1 of the Rowdies Spelling Bee... Now it's time to see how Leo Fernandes, Michael Nanchoff and Alex Morrell did in Part 2!

Part 1: https://youtu.be/MYFFHvPvR_U

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

Rowdies' 2nd Annual Spelling Bee: First Round

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on Aug 24, 2017

With school getting started again, we decided to host our second annual Rowdies Spelling Bee. Watch and find out which member of the British contingent made it to the final!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6UFEz1nhA8

Rowdies Front Row - Ottawa Fury FC - August 19, 2017

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on Aug 22, 2017

Check out all the sights and sounds from Saturday's 1-1 draw against Ottawa Fury FC in the later Rowdies Front Row!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuWl2Yep7uE

Rowdies' Favorite Type of Social Media

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on Aug 23, 2017

What type of social media do the Rowdies like best? Find out here!

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https://www.uslaxmagazine.com/fuel/industry/lacrosse-has-untapped-potential-as-tv-sport-espn-producer-says

Lacrosse Has Untapped Potential as TV Sport, ESPN Producer Says

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https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/best-non-mls-soccer-cities-in-the-united-states-list

Coast-to-coast soccer! 8 low-key American soccer hotbeds

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/827651

Weekend Gallery - USL Week 23

Check out some of the best photos from across this weekend's games in the USL

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http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/astros-rangers-series-moved-tropicana-field-due-hurricane-harvey/

Astros-Rangers series moved to Tropicana Field due to Hurricane Harvey

Flying Over Banc of California Stadium

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https://urbanize.la/post/flying-over-banc-california-stadium

Flying Over Banc of California Stadium

Steel canopy takes shape on Figueroa Street.

New aerials images from architectural photographer Hunter Kerhart show off progress at Banc of California, the future home of LAFC.

The soccer-specific venue, located at the former site of the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Exposition Park, will feature 22,000 seats when it opens later this year.

Gensler designed the project, which is budgeted at $350 million.

Crews recently completed work on the steel frame that will support the Figueroa Street side of the stadium.

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/08/26/columbus-brewery-teams-other-companies-make-soccer-themed-beer

Columbus brewery teams up with other companies to make soccer-themed beer

To celebrate the collaborative nature of both soccer and craft beer, a Columbus brewery is teaming up with the opposition for a couple of soccer-themed brews.

Land-Grant Brewery is well-known to Columbus soccer fans thanks to its American wheat ale, Glory, which launched this year in partnership with Columbus Crew SC and supporters.

Now, the brewery has taken its soccer-inspired beer to another level, and is introducing two new beers made in partnership with Texas-based Peticolas Brewing and Kansas City’s Boulevard Brewing Company.

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https://digiday.com/marketing/how-smaller-sports-leagues-are-using-facebook-to-drive-tune-in/

How small sports leagues are using Facebook to drive tune-in

Small sports leagues are using Facebook video to drive tune-in to live games.

To get people to watch Major League Soccer’s second Heineken Rivalry Week of the year on TV, MLS created 12 video ads for Facebook and Instagram, where they’re being targeted to soccer fans, team-specific MLS fans and other likely sports viewers across both social platforms. The event consists of five nationally televised games in the U.S. and Canada through the end of the weekend and the games will air on ESPN, Fox Sports and UniMás in the U.S. and TSN in Canada.

“There’s no area of our business that we haven’t activated on Facebook and Instagram this year,” said David Bruce, vp of brand and integrated marketing for MLS.

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http://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/08/24/most-watched-soccer-games-on-us-tv-for-august-15-20-2017/

Most-watched soccer games on US TV for August 15-20, 2017

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http://ntneighborhoodnews.com/2017/04/wiregrass-ranch-sports-complex-finally-moving-forward-bcc-vote/

Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex Finally Moving Forward After BCC Vote

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved regular business item R5 that green-lit the RADDsports  Wiregrass Sports Complex, as well as agreeing to double the Tourist Development Tax (TDT), or bed tax, in order to help finance it.

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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/825689

Rowdies Add Depth In Backline With Addition of Hunter Gorskie

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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/08/23/episode-128-in-an-uncomfortable-position/3208

Episode 128 – In An Uncomfortable Position

Matt and Dan talk about the Otta-draw, recap the Eastern Conference standings, discuss the signing of Hunter Gorskie and USL’s new attendance mark, and look ahead to a week without a match while teams around us cash in some of their games-in-hand.

Orlando City supporters groups banned from matches in Atlanta

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3187882/orlando-city-supporters-groups-banned-from-attending-next-four-matches-at-atlanta-united

Orlando City supporters groups banned from matches in Atlanta

A pair of Orlando City supporters groups have been suspended from attending the next four away matches against Atlanta United.

The suspension of the two groups, Iron Lion Firm and The Ruckus, is in response to complaints about the behavior of OCSC fans at the July 29 match against Atlanta at Bobby Dodd Stadium, a club spokesperson told the Orlando Sentinel.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, three men were arrested for damaging metal bleachers at the venue.

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http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/nurse-says-hell-ask-state-ethics-commission-to-weigh-in-on-baker-edwards/2335157

Nurse: State should weigh in on Baker's business ties to Edwards

ST. PETERSBURG — City Council member Karl Nurse said Friday that he will ask the Florida Commission on Ethics to weigh in on whether Rick Baker, if elected mayor, should negotiate city business with his current boss, Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards.

Baker has said he doesn’t see any reason to recuse himself from negotiating a long-term lease with the Rowdies to upgrade their home pitch at Al Lang Stadium if Major League Soccer grants the team an expansion franchise. MLS is expected to make a decision on four new teams by next year. Baker led the Rowdies' successful May referendum that granted the team the right to redevelop Al Lang.

Baker, who served as mayor between 2001 and 2010, also said he would negotiate any amendment to the Mahaffey Theater contract. Edwards’ company manages the city-owned theater.

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http://m.startribune.com/rise-of-mls-wasn-t-always-so-certain-with-two-other-leagues-competing/441787753/

Rise of MLS wasn't always so certain, with two other leagues competing

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http://michiganradio.org/post/expert-says-something-about-major-league-soccer-business-model-doesn-t-add

Expert says something about Major League Soccer business model doesn’t add up

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https://growlermag.com/mpls-city-sc-diy-soccer/

The ‘ramshackle,’ DIY soccer club bringing a new sense of fun to the pitch

It’s summertime in Minnesota. The sun’s out, the coolers are full, and do-it-yourself season is officially here. The coolest DIY project in the Twin Cities isn’t a deck, or a fire pit, or a brand new man cave. It’s a soccer team called Minneapolis City SC—a self-proclaimed “ramshackle bunch” on a mission to build a soccer club from the ground up and have more fun than anyone else in sports.

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https://www.portada-online.com/2017/08/24/soccer-continues-to-gain-ground-in-the-us-market/

Soccer Continues to Gain Ground in the U.S. Market

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https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2017/08/24/wanted-mls-stadium-site-in-charlotte-close-to.html

Wanted: MLS stadium site in Charlotte, close to uptown

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https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2017/08/23/marcus-smith-well-be-sorry-if-mls-bid-fails.html

Marcus Smith: 'We'll be sorry' if MLS bid fails

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/826275

USL Reaches 1.5 Million Attendance for 2017

League surpasses 2016 total attendance after record-setting midweek night

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zov4Sdc874

1981-08-04 ESPN WEEKLY (NASL)

NASL 1968-1984 SOCCER HISTORY

Published on Feb 21, 2017

Note below that Tampa Bay was not one of the cities in MLS with bad attendance:

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6vtqul/when_we_talk_about_bad_attendance_numbers/

When we talk about bad attendance numbers (self.MLS)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Soccer_attendance#Season_averages

When we talk about bad attendance numbers we don't tend to say that five cities have been the worse all time. They are Kansas City, Miami, Dallas, Denver, and San Jose. One city lost their team and was promised years later to return but it never generates enough enthusiasm to get moving.

The others have all built SSS (Soccer specific stadiums) and while KC and San Jose seem to be on the right track building smallish stadiums Denver and Dallas have no excuses.

Denver and Dallas are growing massively and demographics suggest their Hispanic population is booming yet attendance for the Rapids and FCD hasn't improved to scale. These two sides finished one and two in the overall standings last season, FC Dallas won both the supporters shield and US Open Cup.

Are these clubs just doomed in their cities?

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http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/soccer/mls-trademarks-possible-names-for-potential-austin-franchise/ebRZrUnOnfwMjpYYywBXZL/

MLS trademarks possible names for potential Austin franchise

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OljFnRkUzr4

"They Think We're Scum" | How MLS is Creating Massive Rivalries

COPA90

Published on Aug 22, 2017

Does football exist in America? Here’s a look at how MLS rivalries are growing, with the New York and Cascadia derbies providing bigger scenes every year.

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http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/08/soccer-progressive-bastion-170822120946532.html

US Soccer: Not a progressive bastion

Football is known as a 'progressive' sport in the US, yet the federation's national anthem protest ban is anything but.

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http://www.kansas.com/news/business/article169006682.html

Manfred says Tampa Bay must pick up pace on new stadium

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred wants Tampa Bay to work a little quicker on getting the Rays a new ballpark.

Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg has been working for nearly a decade to get a new stadium for the club and signed a three-year agreement with the City of St. Petersburg early in 2016 to search for a site in the Tampa Bay area. Manfred wants that search to pick up some steam.

"I think it's fair to say we want the process to take on a better pace moving forward," Manfred said Wednesday night at Tropicana Field, home of the Rays since their first season in 1998.

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http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bhsn/2017/8/23/mlb_commissioner_ray.html

MLB Commissioner: Rays need to pick up pace in stadium search

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/top-5-at-noon-obama-backs-kriseman-for-mayor-is-john-travolta-moving-to/2335144

Top 5 at noon: Obama backs Kriseman for mayor; is John Travolta moving to Clearwater?; and more

IS JOHN TRAVOLTA MOVING TO CLEARWATER? PROPERTY RECORDS OFFER HINTS

Is John Travolta, one of Scientology's most celebrated members, inching closer to his religion's international base in Clearwater? On July 10, a waterfront home in the Old Clearwater Bay neighborhood sold for $3 million to an investment trust held by Ellen Bannon, the actor's sister. Bannon's investment trust is also listed as the owner of Travolta's eight-bedroom mansion in Ocala with two airplane hangars, a tennis court and horse barn, according to property records. The 6,162-square-foot pad overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway sits directly next door to two houses owned by actor and Scientologist Kirstie Alley.

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http://www.cltampa.com/news-views/politics/article/20973727/karl-nurse-raises-ethics-question-re-bakers-unwillingness-to-recuse-himself-from-employer-bill-edwards-if-elected

Karl Nurse raises ethics question re: Baker's unwillingness to recuse himself from dealings with Bill Edwards if elected

Even if there is no impropriety there, he argues, even the perception of shady dealings can erode public trust.

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http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2017/08/24/fast-growing-usl-shatters-league-attendance-record-three-months-go/

Fast growing USL shatters league attendance record with three months to go

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/826398

Thank You, Fans, For Record Achievement

Relentless passion and loyalty has lifted league to new heights

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http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2017/08/23/nashville-soccer-club-usl-first-tennessee-park-sounds-work/591909001/

Renderings show how pro soccer will work at the Nashville Sounds' First Tennessee Park

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http://fox17.com/news/local/nashville-soccer-club-will-call-first-tennessee-park-home-for-inaugural-season

Nashville Soccer Club will call First Tennessee Park home for inaugural season

Rowdies Add Depth In Backline With Addition of Hunter Gorskie

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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/825689

Rowdies Add Depth In Backline With Addition of Hunter Gorskie

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/825720

Rowdies Add Gorskie to Defensive Corps

Veteran brings versatility, experience to back line

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http://sportzedge.com/2017/08/22/new-york-city-fc-to-host-regular-season-game-at-rentschler-field/

New York City FC to host regular season game at Rentschler Field

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https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2017/8/22/16186270/nycfc-dynamo-september-23-mls-rentschler-field

NYCFC has to play a home game at a college football stadium in Hartford, Connecticut

A Yankees makeup game will push NYCFC more than two hours away from its home.

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https://www.nycfc.com/post/2017/08/22/nycfcs-home-game-vs-houston-dynamo-relocated-pratt-whitney-stadium

NYCFC's Home Game vs Houston Dynamo Relocated to Pratt & Whitney Stadium

New York City FC’s MLS regular season home game against the Houston Dynamo on September 23 has been relocated from Yankee Stadium to Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. Kick off time will remain at 3 p.m.

This venue change comes as a result of a New York Yankees game that had to be rescheduled due to rain. To ensure the best available location was chosen, an extensive search took place with Pratt & Whitney Stadium being selected as the top alternative.

Pratt & Whitney Stadium, located in East Hartford, CT, has hosted multiple U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team games with the most recent coming on July 1, 2017, when the Men’s team defeated Ghana 2-1 in front of 28,754 fans.

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https://www.dynamotheory.com/2017/8/22/16180560/texas-derby-ranked-as-third-most-intensive-rivalry-in-mls-by-study

Texas Derby ranked as third-most intensive rivalry in MLS by study

Researchers conducted a survey of MLS fans, and found the Houston-Dallas rivalry to be among the most intensive in the league.

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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3186160/given-time-to-mature-rivalry-week-has-become-appointment-viewing-in-mls

Given time to mature, Rivalry Week has become appointment viewing in MLS

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https://www.themaneland.com/2017/8/22/16162192/video-review-in-mls-successes-failures-and-the-future

Video Review in MLS: Successes, Failures, and the Future

Another look at this whole video review thing.

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http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2017/08/22/five-thirty-eight-unveils-top-426-soccer-clubs-in-the-world/

Five Thirty Eight unveils Top 426 soccer clubs in the world

At its very base level, the rankings will give reason to check back all season. Can Manchester United break into the Top Three? Will an MLS side leap into the Top 100? Can the worst American club avoid the bottom slot?

Brighton is 17 spots below MLS’ top representative: Toronto FC. The same web site ranked MLS as the 28th best league in the world earlier this month, between Denmark and Croatia.

New York City FC shows up next, at 259, then rivals New York Red Bulls at 267. The bulk of MLS clubs fit between 320 and 422, where Minnesota United brings up the rear. The study ranks 426 teams, with three Scottish clubs running 424-426.

— MLS side Chicago Fire suffered the fourth biggest drop in the world this week (40 spots).

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https://www.natlawreview.com/article/major-league-soccer-defiance-fifa

Major League Soccer: In Defiance of FIFA

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http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2017/08/22/exclusive-nashville-soccer-club-play-inaugural-season-first-tennessee-park/587832001/

Exclusive: Nashville Soccer Club to play inaugural season at First Tennessee Park

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http://www.kansan.com/sports/brew-mls-needs-to-adopt-promotion-and-relegation-to-improve/article_ac0e0bde-86e1-11e7-9f96-df49ddb21d8d.html

Brew: MLS needs to adopt promotion and relegation to improve competition

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https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2017/08/22/heineken-rivalry-week-serves-five-nationally-televised-matches

Heineken Rivalry Week serves up five nationally televised matches

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https://www.broadwayworld.com/tampa/article/Creative-Loafing-to-Celebrate-27th-Annual-Best-of-the-Bay-with-Awards-Party-20170821

Creative Loafing to Celebrate 27th Annual Best of the Bay with Awards Party

For the 27th consecutive year, Creative Loafing will celebrate the Tampa Bay area's best local businesses, people, and places during Best of the Bay. Winners will be announced at Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay Awards Party presented by Tampa Bay Rowdies at Mahaffey Theater (400 1st Street South in St. Pete) on Wednesday, September 27th, and in the annual Best Of The Bay issue online and in print on Thursday, September 28th.

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https://www.themaneland.com/2017/8/21/16173132/ownership-or-hybrid-which-usl-route-should-orlando-city-go

Ownership or Hybrid: Which USL Route Should Orlando City Go?

With MLS-owned USL teams possibly being forced into choosing a hybrid structure or moving to the third division, the choice is a difficult one for Orlando City.

If Orlando City was to go the hybrid route, it would likely be more in the situation of the latter. And, to make matters worse, it probably wouldn’t even solve the attendance problem. The four big cities in Florida already have teams: the Jacksonville Armada of the NASL, the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL, and Miami FC of the NASL, in addition to Orlando City. Plus, Miami, and possibly Tampa, is close to getting a team in MLS. Putting a team in any of those markets would be setting it up to fail before it even begins

Other cities include Naples, West Palm Beach, and Tallahassee, but, in the event that residents in those areas don't already support a closer team, those cities are all over 150 miles away which would make using the team as a reserve team much more difficult logistically. OCB played in another city within the market, Melbourne, last year and attendance was similar to its attendance this year, so playing within the market in Melbourne or Daytona wouldn’t solve the problem.

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http://www.the-standard.org/back_to_campus/alumni-where-are-they-now/article_acef17fe-6d97-11e7-9ae6-b7bd16fd0058.html

Alumni: Where are they now?

Matt Pickens

After finishing his soccer career at MSU, Pickens was drafted by the Chicago Fire as the 19th overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. He has also played for the Queens Park Rangers, the Colorado Rapids, the New England Revolution and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 2010, Pickens won an MLS championship with the Rapids.

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https://mlsgb.com/2017/08/22/watch-new-york-derby-cascadia-cup-rivalries-heating-up/

Watch: New York and Cascadia rivalries are heating up in MLS

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http://collinsvillepress.com/2017/08/mls-game-in-ct-new-york-city-moves-home-game-with-houston-to-east-hartford/14866/

MLS game in CT; New York City moves home game with Houston to East Hartford

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http://www.newsrecord.org/sports/fc-cincinnati-continues-to-dominate-cincy-s-summer/article_5f559ec0-879e-11e7-82a9-db43c574d141.html

FC Cincinnati continues to dominate Cincy’s summer

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https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/where-these-10-english-footballers-are-playing-now-may-surprise-you

Where These 10 English Footballers Are Playing Now May Surprise You

Joe Cole (Tampa Bay Rowdies)

Another 35-year-old former Premier League title winner currently playing in the same league as Shaun Wright-Phillips is Joe Cole.

Cole won the Premier League three times with Chelsea and also turned out for the likes of West Ham United, Liverpool and Aston Villa, as well as winning 56 caps for England. The attacking midfielder now finds himself playing for Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Local Man Won't Watch Eclipse Until Sun Institutes Promotion/Relegation

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https://www.thenutmegnews.com/current/2017/8/21/local-man-wont-watch-eclipse-until-sun-institutes-promotionrelegation

Local Man Won't Watch Eclipse Until Sun Institutes Promotion/Relegation

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https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2017/8/19/16121420/promotion-and-relegation-the-ultimate-debate

Promotion and Relegation: the Ultimate Debate

Dirty South Soccer’s John Fuller and Harry Harris look at the Big Issue

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6v57on/local_man_wont_watch_eclipse_until_sun_institutes/

Local Man Won't Watch Eclipse Until Sun Institutes Promotion/Relegation (thenutmegnews.com)

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http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/rowdies-settle-for-draw-at-home/2334469

Rowdies settle for draw at home

ST. PETERSBURG — The good news for the Rowdies is that they still haven't lost a game at Al Lang Stadium since late April. The bad news is they had to settle for a 1-1 tie against Ottawa on Saturday night in front of 6,710 sweaty fans.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/6v2urd/rowdies_home_attendance_thread_game_13_819_vs/

Rowdies Home Attendance Thread - Game 13 [8/19 vs. Ottawa Fury FC] (self.TampaBayRowdies)

Big night (6,710) on Saturday. We're starting to track back to our average for last year. With three games left, we'll need to put up a sellout and a couple of 6k+ nights in order to pull even with 2016.

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http://www.cltampa.com/arts-entertainment/sports/article/20973059/rowdies-play-to-draw-against-ottawa

Night ends with scrappy draw for Rowdies

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https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/aug/21/atlanta-united-mls-soccer-popularity-average-attendance

46,000 fans a game: Atlanta United's strange success far from soccer's heartland

How did the Five Stripes become MLS’s most popular team five months after their first ever game? Shifting attitudes towards football in the US explain a lot

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http://www.twincities.com/2017/08/20/seattles-supporters-culture-is-envy-of-mls-as-minnesotas-buds/

Seattle’s supporters culture is envy of league as Minnesota’s buds

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http://sport360.com/article/football/global/245395/fc-cincinnati-continues-major-league-soccer-expansion-push/

FC Cincinnati continues Major League Soccer expansion push

Groundswell of support behind USL side make them an expansion favourite for the top-tier

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http://www.elkintribune.com/opinion/columns/15753/the-hottest-game-around-in-north-carolina

The hottest game around in North Carolina

Stephen Harris Back In The Hometown

The Panthers are trying to claw out of last place with a sore-shouldered Cam. The Hornets are trying to fly from mediocrity and challenge King James with a new center who used to call himself Superman but now plays like Clark Kent. The Hurricanes are a drizzle with nary a playoff cloud on the horizon.

So with pro sports in North Carolina in a lull right now, the best and most interesting contest is the mighty matchup between the Queen City (i.e. Charlotte) and the Capital City (i.e. Raleigh).

Those two old rivals are at it again, this time trying to one-up the other with Major League Soccer.

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http://vanderbilthustler.com/featured/klein-off-campus-football-stadium-proposal-should-anger-students.html

KLEIN: Off-campus football stadium proposal should anger students

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http://jacksonville.com/sports/armada-fc/2017-08-20/armada-owner-palmer-focused-attendance-woes

Armada owner Palmer focused on attendance woes

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa-officials-focusing-on-channel-district-ybor-for-potential-rays/2334502

Tampa officials focusing on Channel District-Ybor for potential Rays ballpark

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6v6mga/nycfcfan_113606700_how_much_nycfc_has_spent_on/

@NYCFCfan: $1,136,067.00 - How much NYCFC has spent on lobbying New York City elected officials regarding a stadium since 2013. (twitter.com)

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https://twitter.com/NYCFCfan/status/899677112973443072

Chris P.‏

@NYCFCfan

$1,136,067.00 - How much NYCFC has spent on lobbying New York City elected officials regarding a stadium since 2013.

12:58 PM - 21 Aug 2017

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https://www.oaklandpro.soccer/blog/sportofthefuture

As NFL & NBA Prepare Their Exit, Soccer Takes Shape as Oakland's Sport of the Future

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As NFL & NBA Prepare Their Exit, Soccer Takes Shape as Oakland's Sport of the Future (oaklandpro.soccer)

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http://www.empireofsoccer.com/nycfcs-architects-visited-belmont-site-64411/

NYCFC’s Architects Visited Belmont Site

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6ut5yc/nycfcs_architects_visited_belmont_site_nassau/

NYCFC’s Architects Visited Belmont Site (Nassau County) (empireofsoccer.com)

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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6us39p/the_socer_tour_portland_lived_up_to_my_every/

The Socer Tour - Portland lived up to my every expectation. Images from my first Timbers game Providence Park [OC] (thesoccertour.com)

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http://thesoccertour.com/2017/08/portland-timbers-fc-gallery/

The Soccer Tour

Portland Timbers FC Gallery

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https://ballparkdigest.com/2017/08/21/new-tampa-bay-rays-ballpark-site-emerging-in-channel-district-ybor-city/

New Tampa Bay Rays Ballpark Site Emerging in Channel District-Ybor City?