Miami owner Jorge Mas wants bigger site for MLS stadium

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3402443/miami-owner-jorge-mas-wants-bigger-site-for-mls-stadium

Miami owner Jorge Mas wants bigger site for MLS stadium

Jorge Mas, a major partner in David Beckham's incoming MLS expansion team in Miami, says he would prefer a larger site for a stadium than the planed location in Overtown.

MLS confirmed the addition of Miami as a future expansion team in January, with the ownership group closing in on nine acres of land after years of delays in finding a site.

But Mas, who joined the ownership group after Overtown was selected, told the Miami Herald he's not content to accept the location as is.

"I want to make it the most technologically advanced, futuristic stadium in the country," Mas told the newspaper. "Obviously, you need more than nine acres for that. We've been exploring the surrounding area in terms of: What can we do to put this all together?"

While Mas said adding land near the Overtown site would be "ideal," the Herald reported that the Miami group has looked at sites near Marlins Parks, the Miami River, and even outside the city in Doral, which would require further MLS approval.

"They're looking everywhere," Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez told the Herald. "They're looking at all different options."

The group still has yet to pay the full $9 million on three of the nine acres in Overtown, the sale of which is still subjuct to the appeal of a lawsuit headed by a wealthy landowner nearby.

The Overtown site has also faced opposition from the local community, while approvals for rezoning and construction could also serve as obstacles before a stadium can be built.

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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article202774989.html

A rendering of David Beckham’s proposed Major League Soccer stadium on nine acres in Overtown. New partner Jose Mas says the site isn’t large enough to accommodate his vision of an ideal stadium, and he’s looking at how to acquire more land. Miami Beckham United

The new plan for a David Beckham soccer stadium may not fit on the Overtown site

New David Beckham partner Jorge Mas boasts of a bold, high-tech vision for a Miami soccer stadium. And that could get complicated. Mas also says the nine-acre site in Overtown that the Beckham group secured for the venue two years ago just isn’t large enough to match his ambitions.

“I want to make it the most technologically advanced, futuristic stadium in the country,” Mas said in an interview this week. “Obviously, you need more than nine acres for that. We’ve been exploring the surrounding area in terms of: What can we do to put this all together?”

The comments from the new local face of Beckham’s five-year quest to build a Major League Soccer stadium in Miami are the most concrete evidence yet that the longstanding plan to play in Overtown may be changing. Mas and brother José, leaders of Miami-based infrastructure firm Mastec, joined the Beckham partnership late last year as the soccer star’s first local investors. In private meetings, they’ve been entertaining the possibility of the future MLS franchise playing somewhere other than on the current Overtown site.

“They’re looking everywhere,” said Carlos Gimenez, mayor of Miami-Dade County, whose administration negotiated the pending sale of three acres of county land in Overtown for the current stadium site. “They’re looking at all different options.”

Mas confirmed he has met with developers about other stadium sites, but said the meetings don’t mean the soccer group is leaving Overtown. “We listen to everybody,” he said. “We’re nice.”

Sources who have spoken to the Mas brothers say they’ve discussed a broad range of alternative sites in Miami, including land next to Marlins Park and the old Bertram boat yard off the Miami River. At least one option would take them outside the city. Developer David Martin has met with Jorge Mas about a 24-acre site 10 miles away in Doral, according to two sources familiar with the encounter. The land houses PepsiCo’s local operations, and sits just north of the 36th Street exit of the Palmetto Expressway and currently houses a PepsiCo bottling plant and office complex.

Martin’s real estate entities paid $40 million for the site at 7777 NW 41st St., Doral, in January. The Pepsi site would give the Beckham group a far roomier footprint, but also require new approval from MLS owners. The league granted permission to build a stadium only within Miami’s city limits, MLS spokesman Dan Courtemanche said this week.

Martin declined to comment through a publicist. He was on the short list of people invited to dine with Beckham the night of Jan. 29 at Brickell Avenue’s Komodo restaurant, according to photos from the event.

The dinner — which included Gimenez and Beckham partners Marcelo Claure and Simon Fuller — followed a public celebration that day at the Adrienne Arsht performance hall in downtown Miami where MLS Commissioner Don Garber formally announced league approval of an expansion franchise for the Beckham group. Jorge Mas took the starring role of speaking last, promising to redefine the stadium experience in Miami.

“No longer will the sports experience in this town be where you go to a game, you watch it, and you drive back home,” he said. “Not going to happen.”

No speaker mentioned Overtown during the event, which drew global media coverage to chronicle Beckham’s triumphant return to Miami to formally join the MLS as an owner. He played for the league’s Los Angeles squad 10 years ago, and part of his contract granted him the option to purchase an expansion franchise for a deeply discounted price. The terms of his finalized MLS deal haven’t been disclosed, but Beckham originally was locked into a $25 million expansion fee, and now the league charges new owners roughly $150 million to join.

In interviews, Beckham and Claure described the Mas brothers as the saviors of their Miami venture, following the withdrawal of former controlling partner Todd Boehly. Privately, the Mas brothers have expressed concerns about the Overtown site, which isn’t large enough to accommodate parking garages, much less the entertainment options and other revenue generators being talked about by the new partners.

Jorge Mas said he wanted to create some sort of “tech hub” with ties to the stadium — such as an office complex housing tech companies that could share real estate with the soccer venue. Another new Beckham partner, Japanese mogul Masayoshi Son, presides over the investment firm Softbank, which has stakes in Sprint (where Claure serves as CEO), and is the largest shareholder of Uber.

Mas said Son is ready to pump significant dollars of tech investment into the stadium venture, and that the strategy requires a larger parcel than what the partnership has assembled in Overtown. Mas said that could be solved by acquiring more land nearby in Overtown, preserving the plan announced in late 2015 by Beckham’s group to build the 25,000-seat stadium on land off Northwest Sixth Avenue that’s a few blocks from the Miami River.

“If we could do something adjacent to the stadium — or link it to the stadium — that would be ideal,” he said. “That could bode very, very well for Miami.”

Mas also touted the importance of a soccer “academy” — a youth soccer program operating under the umbrella of the MLS franchise. He said the partnership is shopping for land for that as well, and that it could include a charter school on the complex.

That the Mas plan for a stadium does not fit on the partnership’s current stadium site suggests more drama awaits soccer fans who have fretted over Beckham’s failed bids for past locations in Miami. Beckham first met with Gimenez in the summer of 2013 before formally pursuing a stadium site at the county-owned PortMiami. The cruise industry blocked that plan, and Beckham dropped two other sites — waterfront next to the AmericanAirlines Arena in downtown Miami and land facing Marlins Park in Little Havana — before announcing the Overtown location in December 2015.

Despite the celebration at the Arsht Center in January, Beckham and partners still do not own the entire nine-acre site. The partnership has already paid about $19 million for six acres of privately owned land there, but has only turned over about $500,000 toward a $9 million purchase price for the remaining three acres owned by Miami-Dade County.

The deal approved by county commissioners in 2017 gives the partnership until June to close on the sale, with the possibility of extending the deadline until the end of 2018 if the partners pay an additional $900,000. The sales agreement is the subject of a lawsuit by Bruce Matheson, a wealthy activist who owns property in the nearby Spring Garden neighborhood. He claims Miami-Dade violated the law when it offered a no-bid deal for the land to the Beckham group. A judge has already sided with the county, but Matheson is appealing.

Matheson is part of a neighborhood group opposing the stadium, and the resistance could give Mas and partners a reason to head elsewhere if another site looked easier to approve. Miami commissioners must approve zoning changes and street closures for the stadium in Overtown, and the Beckham group hasn’t started that process yet.

With Mas publicly raising doubts about the Overtown footprint, his comments are sure to heat up an already robust effort by land holders to get on the soccer group’s short list.

Rosario Kennedy, a former Miami commissioner who now runs a real estate and lobbying business, is pitching a cluster of land in Overtown — at the intersection of Northwest 13th Street and 1st Avenue, and about a mile east from the current stadium site. She’s touching on Spring Garden opposition to the current site as a reason for the Beckham group to rethink an area closer to downtown where “residents will not have large crowds walking past or parking in front of their homes.”

As Mas weighs the next steps, he’s pointing to a popular local issue — affordable housing — as one way to reposition the current stadium plan in Overtown.

“In Overtown, how can we assist with workforce housing?” Mas said. “There’s a whole housing component we are potentially looking to there. I’m looking at the housing component as a way to acquire additional land.”

He declined to offer details. Should the Beckham group pivot to a different stadium location, it would be free to propose a housing complex on the six acres it already owns, sell it or use the land for something else. The group’s agreement with Miami-Dade requires it to build a stadium on the three acres, but the county still owns that property.

Mas said he is planning to meet with community leaders in Overtown about his stadium plans. “We’re always going to try and do the right thing,” he said.

“Obviously, if I could [realize] my vision for a tech hub and high-paying jobs, it would be great for Overtown,” he said. “There’s no perfect site. Overtown is ours. I think it has great potential. But, like everything else, it has challenges.”

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https://therealdeal.com/miami/2018/02/28/here-are-the-roadblocks-facing-david-beckhams-mls-stadium/

Here are the roadblocks that are facing David Beckham’s MLS stadium

Latest challenge is an appeal from activist Bruce Matheson

Bruce Matheson’s fight against David Beckham’s Major League Soccer stadium will go on, new court records show.

Attorneys for Matheson, a wealthy activist and landowner, are alleging that Miami-Dade County gave Beckham and his partners “a secret discount from the taxpayers” when it gave them a no-bid, $9 million deal for 3 acres of county-owned land. Matheson is suing the county to block the proposed 25,000-seat stadium in Overtown, and is now appealing a judge’s ruling from October that threw out his lawsuit.

The county based the 2017 price on two appraisals from late 2015, the Miami Herald reported. The $9 million comes out to about $74 per square foot. A year later, land was selling for $142 per square foot. Commissioners approved the deal in 2017, requiring that Beckham and his partners spend at least $175 million on construction of the stadium.

Beckham, partners Marcelo Claure, Jorge and Jose Mas, and Simon Fuller launched the franchise in January, but the group still has a number of challenges to overcome if it does decide to build the stadium in Overtown. Their assemblage includes 6 acres purchased for $19 million in 2016.

In addition to opposition from Matheson, Beckham’s group still needs to close on the county owned land. It also needs to secure land-use changes, rezonings and the contentious permanent closure of Northwest Seventh Street, the Miami Herald reported.

Residents from the nearby Spring Garden neighborhood have vowed to fight it “at every step.” Even the Mas brothers, Beckham’s first local partners, have reservations about the Overtown site, according to the Herald.

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/891641?referrer_id=2349190

Graf Makes Smooth Transition with Rowdies

Camaraderie within squad has helped newcomers acclimate to new surroundings

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https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2018/march/01-march/what-happened-next-hammers-who-defeated-spurs-2003

What Happened Next: The Hammers who defeated Spurs in 2003

Joe Cole

Named captain at 21 by Glenn Roeder, Joe Cole's first spell with his boyhood club came to an end in 2003, with the team's relegation, as the Hammer of the Year signed for Chelsea.

After seven years with the Blues, along with a spell at Liverpool and Lille, Cole returned to the Irons in 2013. The midfielder - who has won three Premier League titles and three FA Cups - is now playing for Tampa Bay Rowdies after short stints with Aston Villa and Coventry City.

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https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/02/27/berding-extended/378847002/

Berding: Delay in MLS expansion decision has nothing to do with FC Cincinnati's bid

Nobody is saying exactly why Major League Soccer has repeatedly delayed its second 2017 expansion announcement for the past two-plus months, but late Tuesday Futbol Club Cincinnati's Jeff Berding told The Enquirer what the problem isn't.

"The extended time period is not a result of any problems with our bid or MLS," Berding, the team's president and general manager, said in a statement exclusively to The Enquirer. "This is a big deal and the parties continue to work cooperatively towards getting the ball over the goal line to score for Greater Cincinnati."

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https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/02/28/mls-league-has-made-most-progress-cincinnati-still-talks-sacramento/381487002/

MLS: League has 'made the most progress in Cincinnati,' still in talks with Sacramento

Major League Soccer is making expansion progress on several fronts, but especially in Cincinnati.

MLS spokesman Dan Courtemanche reiterated the league's position on its Cincinnati progress, along with other points, in a statement issued Wednesday by the league.

“Although we have not finalized any agreements and all of the finalist markets remain under consideration, we have made the most progress in Cincinnati.  Also, we continue to have discussions with Sacramento," Courtemanche said. "We don’t have, and don’t need to have a fixed deadline, and we will wait until all of the necessary elements are in place before selecting the next club. Whether the announcement is in a few weeks or a couple months is dependent on finalizing the details, but we do not anticipate that it will be an extended period of time.”

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https://kxan.com/2018/02/27/finding-an-mls-stadium-site-in-austin-just-got-a-little-harder/

Finding an MLS stadium site in Austin could get a little harder

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Parks and Recreation Department board passed a resolution Tuesday night recommending Austin City Council members remove east Austin’s Roy G. Guerrero Park from the list of possible sites for a Major League Soccer stadium.

The move makes finding a spot for the stadium a little more challenging for Precourt Sports Ventures, which hoped to bring the Columbus, Ohio-based Columbus Crew team to a stadium in the “urban core” of Austin, ideally on the shores of Lady Bird Lake next to downtown.

A neighborhood group has rallied and pushed for the park to remain as it is. About 25 of those neighbors showed up with signs at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

“The reason that we’ve gotten to this point is because the community engagement wasn’t done,” said Susana Almanza, the Montopolis Neighborhood Association president. “The city and the private developer began a discussion, a discussion between councilman Renteria and the sports league, without coming to talk to the most affected community.”

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http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/02/27/nasl-soccer-season-canceled/

NASL Cancels 2018 Season As MLS And USL Prepare To Start Their Own

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https://www.sltrib.com/sports/rsl/2018/02/28/mls-commissioner-don-garber-calls-real-salt-lakes-new-herriman-facility-indicative-of-where-mls-wants-to-be/

MLS commissioner says Real Salt Lake’s new facility enables the league to recruit, develop world’s top talent

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http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/el-paso/2018/02/28/new-united-soccer-league-team-coming-el-paso/379771002/

El Paso gets new expansion USL soccer team, will play at Southwest University Park in 2019

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https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865696443/A-silly-daydream-becomes-a-spectacular-dream-come-true-with-RSLs-soccer-campus.html

A silly daydream becomes a 'spectacular' dream come true with RSL's soccer campus

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https://www.rslsoapbox.com/2018/2/28/17065516/zions-bank-real-academy-grand-opening

Zions Bank Real Academy Grand Opening

MLS commissioner Don Garber joined Dell Loy Hansen for the opening of the academy and training facility

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https://www.mystatesman.com/sports/soccer/strong-guerrero-message-stadium-debate/1tC1wkLD2xObN3EvUhsawO/

Strong ‘no Guerrero’ message to stadium debate

In an overcrowded room at City Hall that was packed with parkland advocates, the Austin Parks and Recreation Board took the first step toward removing Roy Guerrero Metropolitan Park from consideration as a potential home for a Major League Soccer team.

In a non-binding 11-0 vote Tuesday night, board members approved a resolution that calls on City Council to direct the city manager to eliminate the 400-acre park in Southeast Austin from the dwindling list of city-owned sites that have been offered to Precourt Sports Ventures for consideration as a stadium site.

Soccer is not on the agenda for the Council’s meeting on Thursday.

One public speaker after another, many carrying “Save Roy Guerrero Park” signs, told board members Tuesday that parkland shouldn’t be given to corporate entities.

“We do not oppose soccer, but we do oppose it in public parks,” Susana Almanza said. “We feel it’s very shameful this was even looked at.”

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http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_news/breaking-mountainstar-bringing-usl-soccer-to-el-paso/article_4c34d036-1ce0-11e8-b38f-4bc8ab8699b6.html

MountainStar bringing USL soccer to El Paso, has plans for Downtown stadium

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https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/01/as-a-new-team-arrives-in-la-has-the-sun-set-on-mlss-galaxy-era

As a new team arrives in LA, has the sun set on MLS's Galaxy era?

The Galaxy slumped to bottom of the Western Conference last season – and that was before the arrival of a new team in town. How will they respond?

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https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/fc-cincinnati-preseason-games-create-rivalries-with-mls-expansion-foes-nashville-sacramento

FC Cincinnati preseason games create rivalries with MLS expansion foes

Fan: 'I don't remember any excitement like this'

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/los-angeles-fc/lafc-kicks-off-inaugural-season-road-seattle/

Los Angeles FC kicks off inaugural season on the road in Seattle

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/lafc/story/3401619/lafc-sells-out-all-17,500-season-tickets-for-inaugural-season

LAFC sells out all 17,500 season tickets for inaugural season

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http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2018/03/portland_timbers_esports_edgar.html

Portland Timbers get into the eSports game with local gamer and Oregon native Edgar Guerrero

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http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/youtube-tv-adds-seattle-sounders-to-its-mls-offering

YouTube TV adds Seattle Sounders to its MLS offering

Online streaming service acquires exclusive rights to regional broadcasts.

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https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2018/03/01/open-letter-don-garber-mls-supporters

An Open letter from Don Garber to MLS supporters

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https://www.sikids.com/si-kids/2018/02/28/five-storylines-watch-mls-season

Five Storylines to Watch This MLS Season

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http://www.jhunewsletter.com/article/2018/03/newly-elected-u-s-soccer-federation-president-will-not-bring-needed-change

Newly-elected U.S. Soccer Federation president will not bring needed change

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/891979?referrer_id=2349190

El Paso Joins the United Soccer League for 2019 Season

MountainStar Sports Group to lead new club as USL’s expansion continues

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https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/five-things-to-know-going-into-the-2018-mls-season/

Five things to know going into the 2018 MLS Season

The season kicks off this coming Saturday

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https://www.mystatesman.com/sports/soccer/statesman-exclusive-precourt-breaks-silence-austin-mls-move/gjlVasrlGYd8eexFvtJxvO/

Statesman Exclusive: Precourt breaks silence on Austin MLS move

The owner of Columbus Crew SC said this week he’s still determined to move his Major League Soccer club to Austin, but only if an ideal stadium site is found that he said could be the catalyst for economic success for the club.

Anthony Precourt, in his first interview in 4½ months, discussed with the American-Statesman everything from potential stadium sites to what happens if Austin isn’t the answer. Among the highlights of the interview, which included Precourt Sports Ventures President Dave Greeley:

• Precourt said he is seeking local investors. These minority owners would help develop a better community bond and boost cash flow, he said.

• Greeley said 37 Austin-area companies have been identified for possible corporate partnerships, although the team has not begun negotiations with them.

• The Crew owner said a hesitancy to seek city-owned parkland has developed within his group, but Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Park in Southeast Austin is still being considered as a site for a stadium or practice facility.

• McKalla Place, a city-owned, non-parkland tract near the Domain in North Austin, is considered promising, Precourt said, and efforts are underway to scout private properties within the urban core. He would not disclose privately owned potential sites.

• Precourt would not provide a full breakdown of the eyebrow-raising potential $400 million package of community benefits of the team’s relocation that he had touted in a statement Tuesday, saying it was not ready to be publicly evaluated. Precourt, addressing skepticism about the $400 million total, said that the extent of the benefits the team would provide would depend on the quality of the stadium site.

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https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/lafc-galaxy-battle-los-angeles-2018-mls-preview

Room for two: LAFC’s arrival doesn’t erase what Galaxy has built in Los Angeles

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https://www.statesman.com/news/local/statesman-exclusive-precourt-breaks-silence-austin-mls-relocation/tnqncMKuZcmAHBSZfzUWTK/

Statesman Exclusive: Precourt breaks silence on Austin MLS relocation

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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article202997174.html

David Beckham is back in Miami meeting with MLS partners. Here’s what he had to say

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/football-beckhams-new-mls-partner-eyes-new-miami-stadium-sites/articleshow/63132061.cms

Football: Beckham's new MLS partner eyes new Miami stadium sites

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https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2018/03/01/taking-verbal-shots-cosmos-owner-commisso-critical-ussf-mls-sum/

TAKING SOME VERBAL SHOTS: Cosmos owner Commisso critical of USSF, MLS, SUM

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/new-york-cosmos/story/3402562/new-york-cosmos-owner-hits-out-at-us-soccer-amid-nasl-troubles?src=com

New York Cosmos owner hits out at U.S. Soccer amid NASL troubles

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https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/76958/rocco-commisso-has-his-day-with-the-media.html

Cosmos owner Rocco Commisso has his day with the media

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http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2018/02/north_american_soccer_league_c.html

North American Soccer League cancels 2018 season

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https://www.twiceacosmo.com/2018/2/28/17060822/nasl-season-canceled-cosmos-to-npsl

NASL Season Canceled, Cosmos to NPSL

RIP to the NASL

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https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2018/2/28/17059966/nasl-north-american-soccer-league-cancel-season-2018

NASL Cancels 2018-19 Season

This could mean the end of the league.

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https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/2018/02/27/want-play-greenville-fc-they-having-open-tryouts-find-out-how/376780002/

Greenville FC is holding open tryouts for the inaugural 2018 team

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https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2018/03/01/wait-til-next-year-commisso-currently-doesnt-plans-cosmos-play-2019/

WAIT ‘TIL NEXT YEAR?: Commisso currently doesn’t have plans for Cosmos to play in 2019

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/01/putin-nuclear-missiles-tampa-bay-florida

Putin's missiles are pointing at Tampa Bay but local mayors take laidback view

The Russian president presented a video animation suggesting Florida – home of the US military’s central command – is a nuclear target

Despite appearing to be in the crosshairs of Vladimir Putin’s new advanced ballistic weaponry, civic leaders in Florida appeared relaxed on Thursday about the threat of nuclear Armageddon raining from the sky.

A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment 43 seconds into the video animation that Putin presented to an enthusiastic audience in Moscow shows nine nuclear-tipped missiles descending on Tampa, St Petersburg and Clearwater on Florida’s west coast.

The city of Tampa is home to the headquarters of the US military’s central command (USCentcom), situated at the MacDill air force base.

Bob Buckhorn, the mayor of Tampa, watched the video on Thursday at the Guardian’s invitation and declared himself unimpressed.

“I have the utmost confidence in our national security, military and intelligence community to secure our borders and protect our country,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate that Mr Putin chose to include Tampa Bay in his threat but at this point we’ll write it off as overheated rhetoric designed to prop up his failing regime.”

The mayor of neighbouring St Petersburg, Rick Kriseman, sounded equally chill. “We trust the inclusion of our region in that video was simply random,” he said.

Military analysts have long considered Tampa Bay area prime target for any nuclear attack on the US. Last year, the Tampa Bay Times published a lengthy analysis about the potential effects of a nuclear strike on MacDill and USCentcom.

According to Alex Wellerstein, a nuclear weapons analyst at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, USCentcom and US special operations command would be destroyed and everybody in a half-mile radius killed by the detonation of a 20-kiloton device over MacDill.

George Cretekos, the mayor of Clearwater, said: “While Mr Putin may be implying that Florida is a target, MacDill has long been recognised as a critical component of the country’s national defence and I remain confident in our national security capabilities.

“Because the video only shows one of the 50 states, ours, I don’t attach any special threat to the Tampa Bay area.”

Donald Trump’s self-styled “winter White House” in Palm Beach, Mar-a-Lago, is far enough away to escape annihilation but would probably be rendered uninhabitable by nuclear fallout.

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https://www.sounderatheart.com/2018/2/28/17061134/nasl-ussf-lawsuit-analysis

Analysis: In pursuing injunction, NASL was always playing down a man

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http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/02/27/nasl-soccer-season-canceled/

NASL Cancels 2018 Season As MLS And USL Prepare To Start Their Own

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/philadelphia-union/philadelphia-union-full-steam-ahead-youth-movement/

Philadelphia Union full steam ahead with youth movement

After putting together a complete preseason performance in a 5-0 win over the Montreal Impact, the Union lost to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the United Soccer League in their preseason finale.

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https://www.brotherlygame.com/2018/2/28/17061944/borek-dockal-philadelphia-union-transfer-czech-republic-national-team

Bořek Dočkal is officially a member of the Philadelphia Union

Loan deal for Czech Republic international playmaker was made official on Wednesday

Dočkal has been with the team since joining them in Clearwater, Florida. He was on the bench with the team in their final preseason match against Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday and was in training at Power Training Complex on Tuesday.

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https://www.mirror.co.uk/remember-one-time-man-united-12104666

Remember one-time Man United and Real Madrid target Freddy Adu? He's just made history for his new club

The one-time wonderkid is now on trial at the USA's newest club and aiming to earn a contract at his 14th club

But the hype turned out to be misguided - as a career progression of DC United, Real Salt Lake, Benfica, loans at Monaco, Belenenses, Aris and Caykur Rizespor, Philadelphia Union, Bahia, Jagodina, KuPS, another loan at KuFu-98 and the Tampa Bay Rowdies shows.

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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article202332909.html

Is Beckham’s Miami stadium receiving ‘secret discount’ from taxpayers? Lawsuit says yes

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https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/la-galaxy-mls-david-beckham-zlatan-ibrahimovic/

How the LA Galaxy lost its grip on the MLS, the city, and their ‘superstar’ essence

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https://sports.yahoo.com/beckham-mls-stadium-miami-hits-160458686.html

Beckham’s MLS stadium in Miami hits another snag

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https://www.law360.com/florida/articles/1016734/fla-court-told-beckham-s-9m-stadium-land-deal-is-illegal

Fla. Court Told Beckham's $9M Stadium Land Deal Is Illegal

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http://dailytrojan.com/2018/02/28/t-time-lafc-hits-mls-perfect-time/

T-Time: LAFC hits MLS at the perfect time

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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article202496464.html

Beckham finally got his Miami soccer franchise. Now he’ll need to fight for his stadium.

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https://miami.curbed.com/2018/2/28/17061608/david-beckham-miami-soccer-stadium

Neighbors are vowing to fight David Beckham’s proposed MLS stadium in Overtown

The Beckham group doesn’t own its chosen stadium site yet.

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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/28/david-beckham-faces-new-court-appeal-miami-stadium-site/

David Beckham faces new court appeal over Miami stadium site

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http://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/sports/soccer/armada-fc/soccer-league-cancels-2018-season-jacksonville-armada-to-play-in-different-league/77-523741231

Soccer league cancels 2018 season, Jacksonville Armada to play in different league

The Armada's league may not be playing in 2018, but Jacksonville's soccer team will hit the pitch this spring.

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/02/27/nasl-cancels-2018-season

NASL Cancels 2018 Season Days After Court Denies Injunction Appeal

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/3400487/united-states-led-2026-world-cup-bid-in-jeopardy-to-morocco-sources?src=com

United States-led 2026 World Cup bid in jeopardy to Morocco's - sources

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/891006?referrer_id=2349190

11 Preseason Things – Light ‘Em Up, Freddy

Adu’s preseason debut draws buzz; Rowdies, Rising FC get first preseason wins

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/81cdg3/rays_lightning_rowdies_and_bucs_executives_to/

Rays, Lightning, Rowdies and Bucs executives to face off with 'super fans' at TBBJ's Business of Sports this week (bizjournals.com)

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/02/26/rays-lightning-rowdies-and-bucs-executives-to-face.html

Rays, Lightning, Rowdies and Bucs executives to face off with 'super fans' at TBBJ's Business of Sports this week

A panel of top executives from the Buccaneers, Rays, Lightning and Rowdies, along with “super fans” of each team will headline the discussion at the TBBJ’s annual Business of Sports event.

Loyal fans are the lifeblood of any professional sports franchise, but rarely do they get an audience with C-level team executives.

A panel of key decision-makers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Rowdies, along with “super fans” of each team, will headline the discussion at the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s upcoming Business of Sports event.

Confirmed executives for the afternoon event on March 1 at One Buc Place include Lightning CEO Steve Griggs, Rays co-president Matt Silverman, Bucs COO Brian Ford and Rowdies owner Bill Edwards.

Moderator and Editor-in-Chief of Sports Business Journal Abe Madkour will ask the executives how they have addressed the fan experience over the past few years and what will they be doing in the future. Questions include whether they can offer exclusive content to fans who attend the live events.

Questions for the super fans will include whether they pay attention to sponsors and promotions during the game and how they feel about pricing and value when it comes to tickets and food and beverage.

The rest of the lineup for the afternoon features short one-on-one visits with USF Deputy Athletic Director Scott Kull, entrepreneur and former Bucs wide receiver Vincent Jackson, and Minor League Baseball CMO David Wright.

The MiLB league office is based in St. Petersburg; Wright will talk about a transformation of the 117-year-old organization from administrative offices to becoming a proactive sales and media company. Forty-two million people go to Minor League Baseball games for 160 minor league teams; Wright’s goal is to reach 50 million.

Scott Kull came to USF in May 2016 following successful tenures in athletics administration at TCU and Florida State. USF Athletics is active on numerous fronts. USF Athletics has been working closely with Jeff Vinik’s Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties, which has led to $53 million in new apparel contracts. USF also started a campaign to raise $40 million for an on-campus football center.

Jackson played in the NFL for 12 years. As an avid entrepreneur, he now owns several restaurants and focuses the majority of his time on his passion for real estate and development. In 2012, Jackson co-founded CTV Capital. As the CEO, he is involved in acquisitions, operations, marketing and managing its companies for growth and success. I’ll be asking him about the transition from the active roster to active deal-making.

The event will kick off with Madkour’s annual “state of sports business,” where the editor of the national sister news organization will discuss trends in the business of sports.

It’s all happening in the auditorium that Bucs players use at One Buc Place in Tampa, the team's headquarters. Find more information and register .

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https://www.caltimes.org/4334/sports/pennsylvanias-usl-clubs-penn-fc-riverhounds-sc/

Pennsylvania’s USL clubs: Penn FC & Riverhounds SC

As preseason began to don on the new team, Raoul Voss was named as the first head coach of Penn FC.

Voss was formerly working with the Tampa Bay Rowdies as their assistant coach. Before his time with the Rowdies, Voss also served as the assistant coach for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.

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http://www.sportbible.com/football/news-watch-adu-comes-on-as-substitute-makes-history-for-las-vegas-lights-20180227

Watch: Freddy Adu Comes On As Substitute, Makes History For Las Vegas Lights

Freddy Adu isn't officially with Las Vegas Lights but he entered the record books for his new side.

After leaving Florida's Tampa Bay Rowdies - a team which ex-Chelsea star Joe Cole used to play for, Adu joined the Nevada based outfit on trial. But he was snubbed of a place for the opening two pre-season games.

Though he eventually made an appearance for the Lights on Saturday night who rounded off their pre-season against DC United. He entered the fray in the 61st minute, replacing Cristian Torres.

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http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/nasl-announces-cancellation-of-2018-season/s3fi8uubc7mc1b4andcvlghh4

NASL announces cancellation of 2018 season

Four former NASL sides have joined the USL in recent months: the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Indy Eleven, North Carolina FC and Ottawa Fury.

The NASL confirmed that three of its six remaining clubs, Jacksonville Armada FC, Miami FC, and the New York Cosmos, will be fielding teams in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League, beginning in April.

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https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/5685894/freddy-adu-las-vegas-lights-record/

REMEMBER ME? Freddy Adu joins new Las Vegas Lights’ team and gets first assist against team he made name at aged 14

Ex-wonderkid, who was tipped for stardom after making his debut as a 14-year-old, has spent the last few years treading through football's backwaters

Adu, now playing for the 13th side in his career, was last spotted playing alongside ex-Chelsea and Liverpool ace Joe Cole for Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2016.

But he appears to have rediscovered his passion for football judging by a recent tweet.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8151i5/unused_substitutes_ep_150_break_stuff_with_jack/

Unused Substitutes Ep 150 - Break Stuff (with Jack Blake) [OC] (theunsubs.com)

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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2018/02/28/episode-150-break-stuff/3474

Episode 150 – Break Stuff

Matt and Dan are back and fight their way thru hardware and software crashes to talk about the Rowdies preseason win over Philly, more USL expansion news, and Jake interviews midfielder and YouTube sensation Jack Blake!

In this episode:

    Rowdies 2:1 Union
    NASL cancels 2018 season
    USLD3 checks out Fort Myers
    El Paso to play in USL in 2019
    Jack Blake interview

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/80fnr4/jack_blake_launches_his_own_youtube_channel/

Jack Blake launches his own YouTube channel (youtube.com)

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVjxXHtg5T0ZXOYPSF2LZWg

Jack Blake

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/80981a/tfc_2_rowdies_july_4th/

TFC 2 @ Rowdies July 4th (self.TampaBayRowdies)

I was looking at going to the game to watch my boys in red play and had some questions: 1. Seating suggestions? 2. Parking? 3. Where is there good pizza or italian? 4. When should I get there to watch warmups?

Here's my bits! 1) 300-304 are great seats. 303-4 are under the canopy if it rains. You will be welcomed anywhere you sit. 2) park for $5 in the Rowdies Deck or the one on 2nd St. S just before you get to the stadium. Close to everything and easy to get out. If you wanna explore before and after use the Central deck. $2 i think. Right next to Sundial, Beach Dr., the Marina, and Central Ave Restaraunts! The Ralph's Mob sometimes hangs out at Thirsty First on the south side of the deck at street level.
3) Pizza - Can't beat the local shop next to the Old Northeast Tavern on 7th St. N. Bring cash then walk next door to the tavern for a brew! They will bring your pizza to you, and the tavern is happy to oblige! A little far from stadium but worth it! 4) An hour before kickoff (or less) and you'll catch everything! Enjoy the tailgating and outside festivities. Should be great for the 4th! Also recommend walking the Marina and Beach Dr. before of after the match.

Here's my two cents:

Seating? I've never had a bad view at Al Lang. If you sit stadium side (not midfield) I'd be careful to get a seat far back enough with an overhang in July. This is usually the rows furthest back, and to the interior side of Ralph's Mob. We have a nasty habit of having a LOT of rain during the July games.

Parking? I park in the second garage option the other commenter mentioned and never have issue, although on July 4 they will get full, so the earlier you get in, the less you'll have to wait to leave. Be mindful of spots closer to the exit ramp vs an elevator to help this.

Pizza? We really love walking over to Joey Brooklyn's walkup that's built in the side of a venue called Jannus Live. There is a small amount of exterior seating but it's a very basic walkup, get a slice and a Coke (or a whole pie to share) and eat it standing up at the small counter they have. Great for if you're heading to a bar afterwards, don't have to sit down and wait for a check. Italian food, I believe there's a spot within Sundial that has great reviews but please don't quote me on that, I'm not a DTSP native. There's also a restaurant being built at the bottom of one of the garage I mentioned called Datz. It's not Italian or Pizza but they have amazing food in Tampa and if it's open by July I'd highly recommend checking them out too.

Warmups/tailgating: An hour before game (6-6:30) is a great time to get to the field if you want to catch warmups and have a chance to get drinks and snacks without a huge line. There is usually a pretty active tailgating scene in the parking lot a few hours leading up to the game, and I think Thirsty First will be the Mob's pregame spot, while the Rowdies had a promotion deal for fans with Five Bucks Drinkery last season that I'm unsure if it's carrying over into this one. MacDintons is always a nice spot to grab a bite and a drink before the game as well.

WITH THE MTHA FKN MOB! 2. Anywhere downtown with in walking distance of the stadium, the earlier you get downtown the easier it will be to park, other wise pick a garage and pay. 3. Joey B's. 4. Get inside like 30-45 before kick off so around 6:45 probably.

Thanks so much for the info, can't wait to visit Tampa

Tampa BAY :) or st pete specifically.

I guess both, I definitely want to go to the beach beforehand, but don't know where to go and have heard the traffic is too bad to get in some tan time.

You'll be able to get out to St. Pete beach/Treasure Island/Reddington etc etc no problem, sure may be some traffic but no worries there.

And if you don't care about the water/swimming specifically you can go out to the 'beach parks' in downtown like Straub, Northshore, Vinoy etc.

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/02/23/mls-expansion-timetable-cincinnati-sacramento-detroit

Next MLS Expansion Decision Likely to Come After Start of 2018 Season

Time is running out on the MLS offseason and, with it, commissioner Don Garber’s hope (and that of many fans) that the current round of expansion will be finalized before the league’s 23rd campaign kicks off.

The games begin March 3. The race to be named MLS’s 26th team, which actually could wind up being the 24th to take the field, now looks like it’s going to extend beyond that date.

But maybe not too far beyond.

Appearing on SI TV’s Planet Fútbol show in late January, Garber said, “My guess is hopefully before the start of the season,” when asked when the next expansion club would be identified. Nashville was granted a franchise in mid-December and FC Cincinnati, the Sacramento Republic and a Detroit bid fronted by NBA owners Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores were vying for the second and final award of the round (which doesn’t include Miami).

Originally, MLS hoped to name both new teams before the end of 2017. Then, it hoped to have it done by the start of the ‘18 season. And Garber sounded optimistic last month it could happen.

“No issues there. Just dotting the Is and crossing the Ts,” he said.

But opening day approaches, there are no plans for an announcement and with Sacramento still looking for a new investor and Cincinnati involved in a public (and occasionally passionate) dialogue over its preferred West End stadium site, it appears this marathon still has a few miles to go.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/80981a/tfc_2_rowdies_july_4th/

TFC 2 @ Rowdies July 4th (self.TampaBayRowdies)

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/806iv6/rowdies_beat_philadelphia_union_21_in_suncoast/

Rowdies Beat Philadelphia Union 2-1 In Suncoast Invitational Finale (rowdiessoccer.com)

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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/890587

Rowdies Beat Philadelphia Union 2-1 In Suncoast Invitational Finale

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8003mt/great_numbers_for_suncoast_on_youtube/

Great numbers for Suncoast on YouTube! (imgur.com)

https://imgur.com/fD9p4sJ

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https://www.brotherlygame.com/2018/2/24/17047672/how-to-watch-philadelphia-union-tampa-bay-rowdies

How to Watch: Philadelphia Union vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

The Union close out their Suncoast Invitational campaign in Tampa tonight.

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/890333-okc-native-chavez-joins-energy-fc

OKC Native Chavez Joins Energy FC

Penn Signs Portuguese Duo; Switchbacks bring Macias aboard

OKLAHOMA CITY – OKC Energy FC announced on Friday it had signed midfielder Justin Chavez for the 2018 USL season, pending league and federation approval.

A native of Oklahoma City, Chavez spent the past three seasons with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He appeared in 54 matches with the Rowdies, played 3,250 minutes, added one goal and four assists. Prior to his stint with Tampa Bay, he played two seasons with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, where he appeared appeared in 27 matches and played 1,477 minutes.

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http://vancouversun.com/sports/soccer/mls/vancouver-whitecaps/dome-grown-vancouver-whitecaps-battle-history-rivals-in-efforts-to-expand-their-audience

Dome Grown: Vancouver Whitecaps battle history, rivals in efforts to expand their audience

The Whitecaps' game attendance hasn't grown appreciably in their MLS years. What will it take to take it to the next level?

It was 1979, September. The plane, a commercial jet, was subdued and quiet.

The Vancouver Whitecaps were winging their way back from New York, where they had dispatched Franz Beckenbauer and the star-studded Cosmos in an epic NASL semifinal before taking down the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a historic Soccer Bowl performance.

Drinks had flowed as freely as the shaggy hairstyles so popular in 1979, but that was the night before. All that remained was the slight aftertaste of champagne and some mild headaches.

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https://www.brotherlygame.com/2018/2/24/17049482/philadelphia-tampa-bay-rowdies-suncoast-invitational-usl

Union fall in final preseason match to Tampa Bay Rowdies

Haris Medunjanin scored, but Union couldn’t overcome an early two-goal deficit.

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/890619?referrer_id=2349190

Rowdies Take Home Win against Union

First-half goals by Graf, Nanchoff give Tampa Bay first win of preseason

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http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2018/02/25/preseason-match-report-tampa-bay-rowdies-2-1-philadelphia-union/

Preseason match report: Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 Philadelphia Union

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/24/david-villa-haris-medunjanin-tune-mls-season-free-kick-goals

David Villa, Haris Medunjanin tune up for MLS season with free kick goals

Preseason games allow players to get ready for the regular season in all kinds of ways, but on Saturday, two notable MLS players tallied impressive free kick goals.

The first came from New York City FC star David Villa, who notched his free kick in a 2-2 draw against the Montreal Impact in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The goal was Villa's second of the game, after he scored on a nifty chip in the first half.

Meanwhile, perhaps Philadelphia Union midfielder Haris Medunjanin, also in St. Petersburg for the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational tournament, saw Villa's free kick effort earlier in the day and thought, "I can do that, too."

He scored a consolation goal in the Union's 2-1 loss to tournament host Tampa Bay Rowdies.

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http://www.givemesport.com/1263905-steven-gerrards-reaction-when-liverpool-signed-joe-cole-in-2010-was-farcical

Steven Gerrard's reaction when Liverpool signed Joe Cole in 2010 was farcical

I mean, people still rated Cole extremely highly in 2010, but few if any have ever said he was anywhere near Messi's level, especially after he lifted the Ballon d'Or the year he signed.

Cole is still playing professionally over in America for Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he has scored 16 times in 50 appearances.

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http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/dome+grown+vancouver+whitecaps+battle+history+rivals/17105153/story.html

Dome Grown: Vancouver Whitecaps battle history, rivals in efforts to expand their audience

It was 1979, September. The plane, a commercial jet, was subdued and quiet.

The Vancouver Whitecaps were winging their way back from New York, where they had dispatched Franz Beckenbauer and the star-studded Cosmos in an epic NASL semifinal before taking down the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a historic Soccer Bowl performance.

Drinks had flowed as freely as the shaggy hairstyles so popular in 1979, but that was the night before. All that remained was the slight aftertaste of champagne and some mild headaches.

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http://floridapolitics.com/archives/257352-tampa-bay-rowdies-defeat-philadelphia-union-suncoast-invitational-finale

Tampa Bay Rowdies defeat Philadelphia Union in Suncoast Invitational finale

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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/889839?referrer_id=2349190

Preseason Notes – Belief Key to Martinez’s Success

Hunter Gorskie’s prior life; Vaudreuil’s travels; Hometown hero for ATL UTD 2

HUNTER GORSKIE, MODEL: There was delight in St. Petersburg this week after Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Hunter Gorskie revealed his brief modeling career back in 2016. While playing for Polish club Miedz Leginca, Gorskie was on vacation in New York City visiting his older brother Jason, who was beginning to pursue a modeling career.

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http://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/sports/back-to-the-minors-teachers-get-free-hockey-friday-important-games-for-icemen-this-weekend/77-522509954

Back to the Minors: Teachers get free hockey Friday, important games for Icemen this weekend

Back to the Minors is a new weekly feature that looks at the great minor league sports teams that we have in Jacksonville. This week, a ticket deal for teachers and the Icemen's push for the playoffs, along with new fan safety initiatives for Jumbo Shrimp games and the Armada takes on a Major League Soccer squad.

News and Notes:

- The Jacksonville Armada had a strong pre-season showing Wednesday night down in Clearwater. They took on Major League Soccer's D.C. United as part of the Tampa Bay Rowdies Suncoast Invitational. The Armada fell 2-1 in a game that the coach Mark Lowry said the Armada played very well.​

​​​​​ “We are nowhere near close to being match-fit, but the football on show today for 70 minutes was truly inspiring. The understanding of the players in such a short time is incredible. It was a joy to watch and it’s a privilege to work with these guys.” Lowry said

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http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20180223/SPORTS/180229849

Curtin confirms negotiations with midfielder Dockal

Corey Burke, who scored last Saturday against D.C. United, picked up a minor knee injury. Fabinho’s injury is one to watch cautiously in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. But Andre Blake has returned from what Curtin called “personal issues that revolve around the green card,” and will play against Tampa.

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/columbus-crew-sc/183/blog/post/3394094/potential-relocation-has-columbus-crew-rebuilding-but-not-retreating

Potential relocation has Columbus Crew rebuilding -- but not retreating

It is tempting to prematurely mourn the demise of Columbus Crew SC.

Although nothing is yet set in stone, owner Anthony Precourt has been open -- some might say obstinate -- about his desire to move the club to Austin, Texas, starting with the 2019 season. Given the opportunity to push back against the potential franchise relocation at his State of the League address back in December, commissioner Don Garber instead said MLS was "supportive" of Precourt's exploratory efforts within the Texas state capital.