(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/tampabayrowdies/status/1001596852553252864?s=21
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Statement from Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards on today's @FCCincinnati’s @MLS announcement
"On behalf of the Tampa Bay Rowdies organization I would like to congratulate FC Cincinnati on their acceptance into MLS. We wish them the best of luck in this new chapter, as they have been a great competitor both on and off the field. We know they will represent the United Soccer League well.
The Rowdies will continue to be a model sports franchise and elevate soccer in North America. We are extremely excited about the direction USL has been going in since we joined the league in 2017 and are looking forward to the continued growth of the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
COYR!"
3:51 PM - 29 May 2018
We need Promotion/Relegation
No chance of MLS in St Pete. The Rowdies absolutely must partner with the Rays for the Ybor stadium for any chance at the MLS. I love St Pete, but it doesn’t allow the entire Tampa Bay Area to easier commute.
Still sad we didn't get it 😢
Cincinnat!?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3850764&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=15
Booooooooooooooo.
Dead set on making Ohio work despite all evidence to the contrary.
It was the best turnkey option. We all know it.
I am stoked!
WE'RE FULL
Every team should have to start in Ohio, prove they can play for 5 years, then move to a city that actually wants a team.
At least there will be an even number of teams next year.
Unless there is another expansion team I'm forgetting.
Nashville's coming in 2020. That is also the time when Miami is supposed to start playing, so the heat death of the universe is coming WAY sooner than anticipated.
The new Beckham partners (the Mas brothers) want to build their SSS on land currently occupied by a public golf course, instead of Overtown.
They were supposed to be working on a deadline to get a public vote this summer, but nothing has happened so the soonest it could happen is in November.
MLS was talking about Miami in 2020 but at this rate I'd be surprised if it happens before 2021 at the earliest, assuming no more delays.
Or, you know, MLS could let the Tampa Bay Rowdies in, instead, and let Miami be team number 29 or 30, whenever that happens.
Bill Edwards needs to sign up a multi-billionaire or two for #MLS2StPete to happen, apparently.
MLS has no teams with green and yellow hooped kit; just sayin'.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3850764&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=16
interesting answer by Garber about future expansions
tl;dr
Sacramento and Detroit still on table
Las Vegas, San Diego, and San Antonio get a shout out
No mention of Pheonix, which is interesting
Las Vegas didn't even submit a bid.
Vegas needs to actually put a product on the field that's worth watching, before anyone gets the idea the Lights should be in MLS.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3850449&pagenumber=3
Today was fucking dope and I can't believe it happened in my small little city....
(Follow link for full article.)
https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3855616&pagenumber=2
Interesting article on the financial burdens on amateur/small clubs participating in the US Open Cup, mostly due to the travel costs:
I mean, what are you going to do? You're going to have to convince people like my father that non-league games exist and not make their heads spin to get the U.S. Open Cup to anywhere near the stature of an MLS regular season game.
[ Edit: sorry for the effortpost ]
With respect, that's not really true at all (in the long view). Us old geezers aren't going to be around in another 20-30 years (speaking only for myself of course; I'm probably older than most of you); it's the young fans today who you have to convince, and most of them are quite familiar with how soccer is run in Europe and Latin America.
As it stands now the US Open Cup is the red headed stepchild of the USSF and MLS. The rest of USSF has been professionalized over the past 20-30 years, but the US Open Cup itself is still run as though we were still in the 1950s - i.e. an amateur/semi-pro competition (and mindset for same) that is only of interest to a tiny subset of the population. The only thing different today is that the competition is dominated by MLS teams whereas formerly it was dominated by old style ethnic soccer clubs.
USSF/MLS could actually do a lot more to make the US Open Cup mean something: include US Open Cup home games in the MLS Season Ticket packages; have MLS teams play their US Open Cup home games in their regular MLS stadiums and not in some tiny high school field in the middle of nowhere; get some corporate sponsorships to actually put some money into the competition (which could help defray travel costs, and fund prize money); etc.
It wouldn't hurt if they actually brought back the original Dewar Cup (or rather replicas of same, as the original has been retired), either. What's the use of noting how old the competition is (the third oldest trophy in North American team sports, after the Stanley Cup and the Grey Cup) when USFA/USSFA/USSF keeps changing the name of the competition and the trophy (National Challenge Cup, Lamar Hunt US Open Cup) and now even the original trophy (or replicas of same) is no longer in use?
The Stanley Cup and the Grey Cup are two classic examples of iconic original trophies still in use; the World Series and Super Bowl trophies are much more recent in origin, but are still iconic and recognizable. The current US Open Cup (Lamar Hunt) trophy isn't iconic and isn't recognizable, and USSF should go back to the original Dewar Cup, and make its image and its age part of its marketing strategy for the competition.
If the competition was marketed under the name and image of the Dewar Cup, it would also be a lot more marketable and recognizable and unique; when people hear "US Open" Cup, they think golf, not soccer, and this is another example of the complete cluster-f_ck that is USSF marketing/branding/thinking/organizing of the competition.
USSF doesn't appear to have an actual marketing strategy for the US Open Cup, and that's a big part of the problem.
The other part of the problem is that USSF doesn't appear capable of thinking 20-30 years into the future.
I'm not saying the US Open Cup can be suddenly made more popular and relevant today; I am saying it could be made so in another 20-30 years, if USSF and MLS made the effort.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8n3ogz/bill_edwards_statement_on_fc_cincy_mls_and_usl/
Bill Edwards statement on FC Cincy, MLS, and USL (twitter.com)
Read into it what you will...
Not even mentioning their own bid for MLS speaks a lot
At this point I just hope we have a team to go support and get Rowdy for for years to come.
Getting the Rowdies into MLS, or at least getting new additional/larger ownership capable of getting the Rowdies into MLS, would go a long way towards making sure that the Rowdies are around permanently.
https://twitter.com/PBrennanENQ/status/1001590577849303042/photo/1
Latest quote from Garber on next round of expansion: Sacramento and Detroit are of course still at the top of the list, but San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Antonio also get mentions.
Las Vegas, which didn't even submit a bid!
Meanwhile, Beckham's Miami project continues to spin its wheels and can't even get its vote on the public golf course site on the next ballot (they might get on the ballot by November).
There's an opportunity still here for Tampa Bay/St. Pete and the Rowdies, but someone needs to act soon.
I know you guys like having the Rowdies around as is, but large markets aren't great for minor league teams. Being in MLS is the only sure way to not have the Rowdies suddenly disappear due to ownership troubles, as has happened so often before in US lower league soccer.
I posted this to a previous thread but posted it late so I don't know if anyone saw it, but this bears repeating; #MLS2StPete could still happen, but it will take newer, bigger $ ownership:
"A lot could change if we do get in new owners with MLS ambitions, but unless/until that happens, we aren't going to hear anything.
It's clear now that the #MLS2StPete bid was not ambitious enough.
Good enough for MLS 1.0 or MLS 2.0, but not good enough for MLS 3.0.
We need multi-billionaire ownership willing to spend big bucks, and the $80 million upgrade of Al Lang was not ambitious enough.
A complete tear down of Al Lang and rebuild with a new SSS on the Al Lang site, in the $250-$300 million range, would do it.
There's also the possibility of the Tropicana site opening up if the Rays move to Tampa, though I personally would prefer the Al Lang site.
Maybe we could have both: build a new Rowdies SSS on the Al Lang site, and also build a Rowdies training center on part of the Tropicana site, with the ability to rent the site out for commercial space, as would be offered to the Rays if they were to stay in St. Pete.
That's what I'd suggest to St. Pete to offer to any potential billionaire Rowdies MLS ownership group, to get the Rowdies into MLS and to keep St. Pete a "major league" city after the Rays leave.
Time is running out for spots 27 and 28, but it isn't too late yet."
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/PBrennanENQ/status/1001590577849303042/photo/1
Pat Brennan
@PBrennanENQ
I asked the Soccer Don about the next round of MLS expansion. Very detailed response. This is an @Enquirer exclusive:
3:26 PM - 29 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/major-league-soccer-announces-fc-cincinnati-will-join-the-league-as-newest-expansion-club/
Major League Soccer announces FC Cincinnati will join the league as newest expansion club
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.goal.com/en/news/fc-cincinnati-announced-as-the-next-expansion-club-in-mls/1d9e1lhwfpysg1lx9myykr40pj
FC Cincinnati announced as the next expansion club in MLS
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.eurosport.de/fussball/expansion-fc-cincinnati-wird-26.-mls-team_sto6780498/story.shtml
Expansion: FC Cincinnati wird 26. MLS-Team
Der FC Cincinnati wird zur kommenden Saison als 26.
Team in die Major League Soccer (MLS) aufgenommen. Das gab die nordamerikanische Fußball-Profiliga am Dienstag (Ortszeit) bekannt. Derzeit spielt die Franchise noch in der zweitklassigen United Soccer League (USL).
(Follow link for full article.)
https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-usa-cincinnati-expansion/cincinnati-lands-mls-expansion-franchise-idUKFLM6hbHTx
Cincinnati lands MLS expansion franchise
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.wcpo.com/sports/fc-cincinnati/mls-commissioner-don-garber-tells-wcpo-what-held-up-fc-cincinnati-franchise-for-so-long
MLS Commissioner Don Garber tells WCPO what held up FC Cincinnati franchise for so long
Garber shows little hope for Columbus keeping Crew
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.concordmonitor.com/Cincinnati-latest-team-added-in-MLS-expansion-17838111
Cincinnati latest team added in MLS expansion
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/photos-cincinnati-joins-major-league-soccer/GjZoUBmCbeyZ4DhqCueBgK/
Photos: FC Cincinnati joins Major League Soccer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.wcpo.com/sports/fc-cincinnati/fc-cincinnati-announces-season-ticket-plan-for-2019-major-league-soccer-debut-season
FC Cincinnati announces season ticket plan for 2019 Major League Soccer debut
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/29/mls-commissioner-credits-lindner-as-fc-cincinnati.html
MLS commissioner credits Lindner as FC Cincinnati celebrates bid: PHOTOS
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/major-league-soccer-invite-is-fc-cincinnati-s-happily-ever-after-but-there-s-more-to-the-story
Major League Soccer invite is FC Cincinnati's 'happily ever after' -- but there's more to the story
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics-extra/2018/05/29/fc-cincinnati-winners-losers-cincys-journey-major-league-soccer/652602002/
PX column: The winners and losers in Cincinnati's Major League Soccer announcement
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/videos/sports/2018/05/29/mls-welcomes-fc-cincinnati/35485153/
MLS welcomes FC Cincinnati
(Follow link for full article.)
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/05/29/mls-skips-sacramento-again/
MLS Officially Skips Sacramento Again, This Time For Cincinnati
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/29/fc-cincinnati-named-26th-mls-team-starting-play-2019
Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/29/crew-sc-legend-schelotto-i-would-love-coach-mls-future
Crew SC legend Schelotto: I would love to coach in MLS in the future
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/football/2018/may/30/fc-cincinnati-confirmed-as-major-league-soccer-side-for-2019-1821426.html
FC Cincinnati confirmed as Major League Soccer side for 2019
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said the team who currently play in the second tier United Soccer League would join the league from 2019.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.oregonlive.com/mls/index.ssf/2018/05/major_league_soccer_grants_cin.html
Major League Soccer grants Cincinnati expansion team
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1001520953673871362
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Last 11 days have been a 🎢 ride for @neillycollins3. Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards & our new head coach were finally able to make it official. Congrats Neill!
10:49 AM - 29 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1001524175109066752
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
👏👏 @Flemmo_77 has been named to the @USL Team of the Week after scoring a brace over the weekend! Bravo, Junior!
Read more: http://uslsc.cr/2kyDj6T
11:02 AM - 29 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1001542733058756608
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
We're back at home this Saturday, when we host @atlutd2. It will also be Military Appreciation Night, so all active and retired members of the military will receive $12 discounted tickets.
🎟️: http://bit.ly/TBRvATLTIX
12:16 PM - 29 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1001520953673871362
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Last 11 days have been a 🎢 ride for @neillycollins3. Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards & our new head coach were finally able to make it official. Congrats Neill!
10:49 AM - 29 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1001524175109066752
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
👏👏 @Flemmo_77 has been named to the @USL Team of the Week after scoring a brace over the weekend! Bravo, Junior!
Read more: http://uslsc.cr/2kyDj6T
11:02 AM - 29 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1001542733058756608
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
We're back at home this Saturday, when we host @atlutd2. It will also be Military Appreciation Night, so all active and retired members of the military will receive $12 discounted tickets.
🎟️: http://bit.ly/TBRvATLTIX
12:16 PM - 29 May 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Monday, May 28, 2018
Rowdie Takeaways Week 11 - TOR2 v TBR (self.TampaBayRowdies)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8md52w/rowdie_takeaways_week_11_tor2_v_tbr/
Rowdie Takeaways Week 11 - TOR2 v TBR (self.TampaBayRowdies)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8mcxhr/highlights_rowdies_at_toronto_fc_ii_may_26_2018/
HIGHLIGHTS - Rowdies at Toronto FC II - May 26, 2018 (What's Better Than One? Getting Two Things Done On The Road!) (youtube.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOXPbmrXRBs
HIGHLIGHTS - Rowdies at Toronto FC II - May 26, 2018
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on May 26, 2018
HIGHLIGHTS pres. by @FlyTPA
Rowdies earn a 4-2 win over Toronto FC II on Saturday. #TORvTBR
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/what-does-a-cincinnati-expansion-team-mean-for-the-columbus-crew-/1205354362
What does a Cincinnati expansion team mean for the Columbus Crew
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.fox19.com/story/38293647/1000-days-later-a-quick-look-back-at-fc-cincinnatis-rapid-rise
1,000 days later: A quick look back at FC Cincinnati's rapid rise
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tbo.com/news/business/realestate/St-Petersburg-needs---and-wants---to-offer-more-office-space_168647740
St. Petersburg needs - and wants - to offer more office space
ST. PETERSBURG — Talk to any public official in the bay area, and you’ll probably hear them repeat the latest catch phrase:
Live, work, play.
Yet as St. Petersburg grows and reshapes its identity as a cultural and entertainment destination, city leaders are concerned that this side of the bay is missing one critical aspect of that mantra.
"We joked the other day in a meeting that sometimes we feel like developers don’t think we do work here," said the mayor’s chief of staff, Kevin King.
"They think it’s only the live and play," Mayor Rick Kriseman said. "But we do work here."
The problem is that not enough people work in downtown St. Petersburg. Community and business leaders hope to change that by adding more high-end office space.
• • •
St. Petersburg has just 3.4 million square feet of office space, the thinnest of the six submarkets in the region.
By comparison, the Westshore Business District, the workspace center of the bay area, has 14.4 million square feet.
St. Petersburg also lags behind the Interstate 75 corridor, downtown Tampa, north Pinellas County and even the nearby Gateway area, according to the most recent figures from Colliers International.
Comparisons for high-end locations are even more stark: St. Petersburg has just 1.7 million square feet of coveted Class A office space.
Class A is real estate parlance for the best working space on the market. It’s well-located and professionally managed, attracting top tenants and the highest rents.
Class B are older properties that are just a step down. Class C are in less desirable areas that need work.
The Westshore Business District has 7.5 million square feet of Class A space. Even the I-75 corridor has more than twice as much Class A space as downtown St. Petersburg.
City leaders fear that if they don’t find a way to add office space, and thus attract more companies, St. Petersburg could cement itself as a commuter suburb for Tampa.
Even worse, if another economic downturn hits, the city might not be able to sustain tax revenue if tourism and arts dollars start to dry up. Office space would provide a steadier source of revenue.
As usual in St. Petersburg, there is some resistance to adding another element to an increasingly crowded downtown.
"People want to see development, but they don’t want to see it in their neighborhood," developer Larry Feldman said. "Some of those folks feel you can’t have arts and culture in addition to big buildings."
It’s different across the bay. Tampa, which saw significant investment in high-end office space in the 1990s, continues to grow as the area’s leader in office space. Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment’s $3 billion redevelopment project Water Street Tampa will only deepen that market.
"We’re kind of polar opposites in some ways, Tampa and St. Pete," Kriseman said. "We have a very vibrant, residential downtown. Tampa has a very business downtown, without the residential component.
"The irony is that each of us is trying to get what the other has."
• • •
St. Petersburg hasn’t built any new Class A space in almost 30 years.
Only one building downtown — 200 Central Ave., the 28-story tower formerly known as Pritatek Plaza now looking for a new name — qualifies as Class A, said Kevin Yeager, senior associate for office and retail services with Colliers International.
Without any new office construction on the horizon, developers are instead finding creative ways to renovate and modernize existing properties, hoping to entice companies, especially those out of state.
Feldman’s company has remodeled multiple buildings downtown, including the City Center/Northern Trust building at 100 2nd Ave. S, the Morgan Stanley Tower at 150 Second Ave. N, and First Central Tower at 360 Central Ave.
Some of the changes might seem simple: renovated bathrooms, more windows, quicker elevators and amenities like a gym or coffee bar. But little changes can have a big effect on employees. They also allow developers to re-envision a space and imbue it with character.
"Use of light is really our major branding thing when we reinvent these office buildings," Feldman said. "But all of this collectively is how we differentiate."
Because of changes in how companies use space — think desk sharing and allowing employees to work at home a day or two a week — some employers need less space. But the space they do want must be open, modern and engaging.
Take what Steve Gianfilipo, founder of Gianco Companies and the multi-use downtown work space Station House, is doing with a nearly 100-year-old building at 689 Central Ave.
He is converting the Green-Richman Arcade into a co-work space. A 2,616-square-foot layout that formerly could accommodate six to seven people will soon be a work space for 15-20, Yeager said.
• • •
Ultimately, nothing except new construction will substantially change the calculus for St. Petersburg, Yeager said.
That’s where the 86-acre elephant in the city comes in: Tropicana Field.
Regardless of whether the Tampa Bay Rays stay in St. Petersburg or move to Tampa, the Trop will come down.
City and county officials are salivating at the chance to redevelop the dome’s prime urban footprint.
Many in the city — from developers to Kriseman to J.P. DuBuque, president of the city’s Economic Development Corp. — point to the property as a potential salve for St. Petersburg’s real estate challenges.
It represents a great opportunity, DuBuque said, and the decisions made regarding the site will shape the city for decades.
"Between what Jeff (Vinik) is doing in Channelside and what the opportunities are with the Trop site," DuBuque said, "we’ll be on everybody’s list."
(Follow link for full article.)
https://patch.com/florida/stpete/st-petersburg-ranked-best-city-florida-bicyclists
St. Petersburg Ranked Best City In Florida For Bicyclists
As a part of the PlacesForBikes new city ratings effort, the City of St. Petersburg was recognized as the highest-rated city for bicyclists.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – If you're considering taking up bicycling for exercise and fun, you're in luck. You live in the best place in Florida for bicyclists, according to the national foundation for bicycling, PeopleForBikes.
As a part of the PlacesForBikes new city ratings effort, the City of St. Petersburg was recognized as the highest-rated city for bicyclists in the state of Florida.
Of the 485 cities evaluated, St. Petersburg was rated 22nd in the nation overall and 11th in the United States for the pace at which conditions are improving for bicyclists.
"As we have been focused on making the City of St. Petersburg a friendlier place for cyclists and pedestrians, this is great news," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. "I want to thank PeopleForBikes, and most important of all, everyone in the Sunshine City who rides a bike or helps to make life easier for those on a bike."
PlacesForBikes is a PeopleForBikes program to develop, connect and celebrate great places to ride. It offers a data-driven approach to identifying the best U.S. towns for bicycling.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000768591669571584
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
It was far from a perfect performance, but the Rowdies finally put an end to their road losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 win over @TorontoFCII at BMO Field.
3️⃣ Things: http://bit.ly/3Things526
9:00 AM - 27 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/RowdiesPete/status/1001105192937558016
Pete the Pelican
@RowdiesPete
Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to the brave men + women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
7:17 AM - 28 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000468617358729222
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
.@neillycollins3 has earned his first win as a head coach. Congrats Neill!
#ROWDIESWIN
1:08 PM - 26 May 2018
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8md52w/rowdie_takeaways_week_11_tor2_v_tbr/
Rowdie Takeaways Week 11 - TOR2 v TBR (self.TampaBayRowdies)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8mcxhr/highlights_rowdies_at_toronto_fc_ii_may_26_2018/
HIGHLIGHTS - Rowdies at Toronto FC II - May 26, 2018 (What's Better Than One? Getting Two Things Done On The Road!) (youtube.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOXPbmrXRBs
HIGHLIGHTS - Rowdies at Toronto FC II - May 26, 2018
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on May 26, 2018
HIGHLIGHTS pres. by @FlyTPA
Rowdies earn a 4-2 win over Toronto FC II on Saturday. #TORvTBR
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/what-does-a-cincinnati-expansion-team-mean-for-the-columbus-crew-/1205354362
What does a Cincinnati expansion team mean for the Columbus Crew
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.fox19.com/story/38293647/1000-days-later-a-quick-look-back-at-fc-cincinnatis-rapid-rise
1,000 days later: A quick look back at FC Cincinnati's rapid rise
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tbo.com/news/business/realestate/St-Petersburg-needs---and-wants---to-offer-more-office-space_168647740
St. Petersburg needs - and wants - to offer more office space
ST. PETERSBURG — Talk to any public official in the bay area, and you’ll probably hear them repeat the latest catch phrase:
Live, work, play.
Yet as St. Petersburg grows and reshapes its identity as a cultural and entertainment destination, city leaders are concerned that this side of the bay is missing one critical aspect of that mantra.
"We joked the other day in a meeting that sometimes we feel like developers don’t think we do work here," said the mayor’s chief of staff, Kevin King.
"They think it’s only the live and play," Mayor Rick Kriseman said. "But we do work here."
The problem is that not enough people work in downtown St. Petersburg. Community and business leaders hope to change that by adding more high-end office space.
• • •
St. Petersburg has just 3.4 million square feet of office space, the thinnest of the six submarkets in the region.
By comparison, the Westshore Business District, the workspace center of the bay area, has 14.4 million square feet.
St. Petersburg also lags behind the Interstate 75 corridor, downtown Tampa, north Pinellas County and even the nearby Gateway area, according to the most recent figures from Colliers International.
Comparisons for high-end locations are even more stark: St. Petersburg has just 1.7 million square feet of coveted Class A office space.
Class A is real estate parlance for the best working space on the market. It’s well-located and professionally managed, attracting top tenants and the highest rents.
Class B are older properties that are just a step down. Class C are in less desirable areas that need work.
The Westshore Business District has 7.5 million square feet of Class A space. Even the I-75 corridor has more than twice as much Class A space as downtown St. Petersburg.
City leaders fear that if they don’t find a way to add office space, and thus attract more companies, St. Petersburg could cement itself as a commuter suburb for Tampa.
Even worse, if another economic downturn hits, the city might not be able to sustain tax revenue if tourism and arts dollars start to dry up. Office space would provide a steadier source of revenue.
As usual in St. Petersburg, there is some resistance to adding another element to an increasingly crowded downtown.
"People want to see development, but they don’t want to see it in their neighborhood," developer Larry Feldman said. "Some of those folks feel you can’t have arts and culture in addition to big buildings."
It’s different across the bay. Tampa, which saw significant investment in high-end office space in the 1990s, continues to grow as the area’s leader in office space. Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment’s $3 billion redevelopment project Water Street Tampa will only deepen that market.
"We’re kind of polar opposites in some ways, Tampa and St. Pete," Kriseman said. "We have a very vibrant, residential downtown. Tampa has a very business downtown, without the residential component.
"The irony is that each of us is trying to get what the other has."
• • •
St. Petersburg hasn’t built any new Class A space in almost 30 years.
Only one building downtown — 200 Central Ave., the 28-story tower formerly known as Pritatek Plaza now looking for a new name — qualifies as Class A, said Kevin Yeager, senior associate for office and retail services with Colliers International.
Without any new office construction on the horizon, developers are instead finding creative ways to renovate and modernize existing properties, hoping to entice companies, especially those out of state.
Feldman’s company has remodeled multiple buildings downtown, including the City Center/Northern Trust building at 100 2nd Ave. S, the Morgan Stanley Tower at 150 Second Ave. N, and First Central Tower at 360 Central Ave.
Some of the changes might seem simple: renovated bathrooms, more windows, quicker elevators and amenities like a gym or coffee bar. But little changes can have a big effect on employees. They also allow developers to re-envision a space and imbue it with character.
"Use of light is really our major branding thing when we reinvent these office buildings," Feldman said. "But all of this collectively is how we differentiate."
Because of changes in how companies use space — think desk sharing and allowing employees to work at home a day or two a week — some employers need less space. But the space they do want must be open, modern and engaging.
Take what Steve Gianfilipo, founder of Gianco Companies and the multi-use downtown work space Station House, is doing with a nearly 100-year-old building at 689 Central Ave.
He is converting the Green-Richman Arcade into a co-work space. A 2,616-square-foot layout that formerly could accommodate six to seven people will soon be a work space for 15-20, Yeager said.
• • •
Ultimately, nothing except new construction will substantially change the calculus for St. Petersburg, Yeager said.
That’s where the 86-acre elephant in the city comes in: Tropicana Field.
Regardless of whether the Tampa Bay Rays stay in St. Petersburg or move to Tampa, the Trop will come down.
City and county officials are salivating at the chance to redevelop the dome’s prime urban footprint.
Many in the city — from developers to Kriseman to J.P. DuBuque, president of the city’s Economic Development Corp. — point to the property as a potential salve for St. Petersburg’s real estate challenges.
It represents a great opportunity, DuBuque said, and the decisions made regarding the site will shape the city for decades.
"Between what Jeff (Vinik) is doing in Channelside and what the opportunities are with the Trop site," DuBuque said, "we’ll be on everybody’s list."
(Follow link for full article.)
https://patch.com/florida/stpete/st-petersburg-ranked-best-city-florida-bicyclists
St. Petersburg Ranked Best City In Florida For Bicyclists
As a part of the PlacesForBikes new city ratings effort, the City of St. Petersburg was recognized as the highest-rated city for bicyclists.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – If you're considering taking up bicycling for exercise and fun, you're in luck. You live in the best place in Florida for bicyclists, according to the national foundation for bicycling, PeopleForBikes.
As a part of the PlacesForBikes new city ratings effort, the City of St. Petersburg was recognized as the highest-rated city for bicyclists in the state of Florida.
Of the 485 cities evaluated, St. Petersburg was rated 22nd in the nation overall and 11th in the United States for the pace at which conditions are improving for bicyclists.
"As we have been focused on making the City of St. Petersburg a friendlier place for cyclists and pedestrians, this is great news," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. "I want to thank PeopleForBikes, and most important of all, everyone in the Sunshine City who rides a bike or helps to make life easier for those on a bike."
PlacesForBikes is a PeopleForBikes program to develop, connect and celebrate great places to ride. It offers a data-driven approach to identifying the best U.S. towns for bicycling.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000768591669571584
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
It was far from a perfect performance, but the Rowdies finally put an end to their road losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 win over @TorontoFCII at BMO Field.
3️⃣ Things: http://bit.ly/3Things526
9:00 AM - 27 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/RowdiesPete/status/1001105192937558016
Pete the Pelican
@RowdiesPete
Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to the brave men + women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
7:17 AM - 28 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000468617358729222
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
.@neillycollins3 has earned his first win as a head coach. Congrats Neill!
#ROWDIESWIN
1:08 PM - 26 May 2018
Friday, May 25, 2018
Match Preview: #TORvTBR - BE AWARE! EARLY KICKOFF! 2:00PM! (rowdiessoccer.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8m2j7n/match_preview_torvtbr_be_aware_early_kickoff_200pm/
Match Preview: #TORvTBR - BE AWARE! EARLY KICKOFF! 2:00PM! (rowdiessoccer.com)
Where is the watch party again? I'm gonna be in St Pete on a non-rowdies home date for the first time in forever... I got some email about a watch party from the Mob but can't find it now.
Caddy's on Central, 217 Central Ave
Mob main watch party is at Caddy's on Central. Official team watch party is at Big Storm Brewery (both locations). Skyway Casual's watch party is down in Sarasota at Shamrock Pub.
Thanks. Gonna do Caddy’s since I can see that from my hotel room right now.
See ya there!
We beat them on the road last year......we fkn better do the same tomorrow!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/920802
Match Preview: #TORvTBR
The Basics
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Toronto FC II
Saturday, May 26, 2:00 p.m. ET
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Follow us for live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast online on ESPN+ (subscription required), the official streaming partner of the USL, here. International viewers in regions where ESPN+ is not offered can watch the match here.
Records
Tampa Bay: 4-5-1 (W-T-L); 1-5-0 on road; 9th place
Toronto FC II: 0-8-2; 0-4-2 at home; 16th place
From the Head Coach
Neill Collins on preparing for the match:
“Having traveled on the road, I know we need to make several changes to try to get a positive result on the road. We’ve worked hard in training this week, and it was nice to have the opportunity to implement some of my ideas.”
Rowdies Notes
After taking a point out of last Saturday's match against Pittsburgh, the Rowdies have begun to regain confidence after dropping four of the prior five league matches by a combined margin of 10-0. The challenge for Tampa Bay to overcome, however, is finding a way to take a point, if not a victory, on the road.
Despite being unbeaten in four home matches this season, the Rowdies have lost five-straight road matches without scoring a goal.
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: OUT: D David Najem (torn ACL, April 14)
D Kyle Curinga (sprained ankle, May 12)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.facebook.com/events/377705902714490
MAY 26
Watch Party! TBR vs Torontwo
Public · Hosted by Ralph's Mob
Today at 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Starts in about 12 hours · 75° Clear
Caddy's on Central
217 Central Ave, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701
Details
Your Tampa Bay Rowdies travel up to O Canada to take on Toronto FC II in what will be new head coach Neil Collins' first road challenge since taking over just last week. Kick off is set for 2:00pm!
Join fellow Mobsters at Caddy's on Central to catch all the action, wear your Mob gear and enjoy 15% off your final bill. For our friends south of the Skyway, head on over to Shamrock Pub!
Any other locations hosting watch parties? Feel free to post in here to let others know!
The Rowdies will be back home the following weekend, June 2nd, to take on Atlanta Twonited.
#COYR
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.wlwt.com/article/fc-cincinnati-announcement-will-mean-something-different-to-many/20919418
FC Cincinnati announcement will mean something different to many
With announcement in the works, FC Cincinnati fans are getting excited
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.themaneland.com/2018/5/25/17392356/lion-links-5-25-18
Lion Links: 5/25/18
Young Lions loaned out, Orlando Pride hope to rebound, MLS All-Star voting opens, and much more
Free Kicks
MLS Commissioner Don Garber is heading to Cincinnati, OH this Tuesday for a “special announcement” which will likely result in the welcoming of a new expansion team to MLS.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/cincinnati-is-getting-its-mls-team-is-there-no-hope-for-sacramento/103-558250627
Cincinnati is getting its MLS team. Is there no hope for Sacramento?
Sources confirmed to a Cincinnati newspaper that a major club announcement is coming Tuesday and MLS commissioner Don Garber will be in attendance.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-reportedly-loses-its-bid-for-an-mls-team
Detroit reportedly loses its bid for an MLS team
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/104146705/andrew-durantes-eyes-opened-by-aleague-on-steroids-mls
US bright lights wow Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante
While in the United States on a trip that partially funded by the Phoenix, Durante visited various Major League Soccer franchises, particularly ones where he had New Zealand connections including Colorado Rapids, to learn more about how they operate. He came back to Wellington singing the praises of a competition he described as "the A-League on steroids" because although there were many similarities including a salary cap and no promotion-relegation, he discovered that MLS is booming in comparison.
The most obvious difference between the two leagues, he said, was the level of investment, with billionaire owners pumping big money into the franchises in order to lure high-profile players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa, Ashley Cole and Sebastian Giovinco and emerging stars like Ezequiel Barco, who cost Atlanta United US$15million ($21.6million).
"They know they're a big business now, it's all about money, selling tickets and entertainment, where we still consider ourselves as a development league for the youth and young Australian and Kiwi players, which is good in a way, but if you want to grow to where they are then it needs to change and it's down to investment.
"They have state of the art training facilities with cafeterias and three or four chefs working for them. When I told them the amount of office staff we have they said they'd have that just on the social media side. The investment in terms of what they put into the clubs, you simply can't compare it. Colorado were seen as one of the smaller clubs in the league but they had 50-60 staff working for them.
"The A-League has a long way to go but if it does go to an ownership consortium type running of the league then maybe there will be more investment and maybe they can change things a little bit."
But while MLS continues to attract big name signings, it has also become an increasingly popular destination for New Zealand players, with nine currently plying their trade there. In the past those players may have signed for the Phoenix but as much as he would like a Michael Boxall alongside him in defence Durante said it will be difficult to prise any All White away from the bright lights of America where the salaries and facilities dwarf the A-League.
"We have decent facilities but what they have on offer is huge. I guess fringe players who aren't playing over there we could attract by offering game time and a stepping stone to going back, but it's difficult. MLS is an attractive place to go, they're well paid, there's good facilities and good crowds and it is hard to attract any player, especially Kiwis, to come back here.
"Potentially the club and ownership need to ask 'what are we?' Do we become a development club for young Kiwis and maybe sell them off to A-League clubs or help their progress into bigger and better clubs? But we definitely can't compete with MLS clubs. What we can offer is game time. Someone like Bill Tuiloma, who I saw over in Portland and is now starting to get a bit of game time, the thing we could offer him is game time, playing 27 games, and then maybe he could try his luck back in Europe or MLS.
"But it's definitely not a place you come for the financial side of it or to set up a life if you have a career to grow or want to make big money."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/535533/Sports/Rooney-visits-DC-United-for-talks-about-MLS-transfer
Rooney visits DC United for talks about MLS transfer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/05/25/nashville-soccer-mls-stadium-questions-settled-david-briley-win/644705002/
Questions surrounded future of Nashville's MLS stadium, David Briley's win settles them
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2018/5/25/17393866/fc-cincinnati-set-to-announce-2019-mls-start
Major Link Soccer: FC Cincinnati set to announce 2019 MLS start
That escalated quickly!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://the18.com/soccer-news/fc-cincinnati-mls-expansion-announcement
FC Cincinnati To Join MLS And Begin Play In 2019
FC Cincinnati is poised to become the 26th club in MLS, and the team could begin play in 2019 at Nippert Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2018/05/25/icymi-fc-cincinnatis-surprise-bengals-line-changes-reds-slam/642507002/
ICYMI: FC Cincinnati's surprise, Bengals line changes, the Reds SLAM! and much more
FC Cincinnati is getting its MLS announcement ... for real this time
(Follow link for full article.)
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/05/24/hopeful-commisso-extends-deadline-for-500m-nasl-restoration/
“Hopeful” Commisso extends deadline for $500m NASL restoration
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.firstpost.com/sports/wayne-rooney-reaches-washington-to-discuss-potential-move-to-major-league-soccer-side-dc-united-4482393.html
Wayne Rooney reaches Washington to discuss potential move to Major League Soccer side DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/05/25/fc-cincinnati-fans-invited-fountain-square-celebrate-mls-announcement/646632002/
FC Cincinnati fans invited to Fountain Square to celebrate MLS announcement
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/west-end/major-league-soccer-talk-raises-stakes-on-property-in-west-end
Major League Soccer talk raises stakes on property in West End
CINCINNATI - Every city has hot neighborhoods, and one that's heating up here, according to some local real estate agents, is the West End.
Its proximity to Over-the-Rhine and Downtown already makes a good selling point, and now the buzz about FC Cincinnati joining Major League Soccer and building its stadium there is making the West End a must-see location.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/transfer-talk/79/post/3509620/transfer-talk-wayne-rooney-wants-to-join-major-league-soccers-dc-united
Transfer Talk: Wayne Rooney wants to join Major League Soccer's D.C. United
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sports360az.com/2018/05/three-dots-phoenix-and-mls-look-at-what-cincinnati-is-doing/
Phoenix and MLS. Look at What Cincinnati is Doing…
Interesting to see what cities will do to get an Major League Soccer franchise. Take what’s going on in Cincinnati as a prime example. FC Cincinnati is in its third year of USL Play and are averaging over 23-thousand fans per game. The County is reportedly giving the franchise land and cash to build their parking structure, while the City is given them land and cash to help construct a new downtown stadium. Next week the MLS will have “A significant announcement about the future of soccer in Cincinnati”. I am hoping for the MLS to give an update on all possible expansion franchises during Tuesdays announcement of adding FC Cincy to their league…
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000019928358051842
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Join us for the official Watch Party at @BigStormBrewing at both Pinellas & Pasco locations! Kickoff on Saturday vs @TorontoFCII is at 2 pm.
Get $1 off all pints & for every Rowdies goal, anyone in Rowdies gear will score a FREE pint.
10:25 AM - 25 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000043984390045696
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Head Coach @neillycollins3 on this week's training🎙️:
"The attitude has been fantastic."
Coach Neill Collins' First Full Training Session
Powered by SnappyTV
12:00 PM - 25 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000094863788998661
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Hello, Toronto!
3:22 PM - 25 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/SpecSports360/status/1000190075341328384
Spectrum Sports 360
Verified account @SpecSports360
The @TampaBayRowdies prep for their first road game of the Neill Collins regime. The Rowdies are 1-5 on the road this season. #COYR
@mnanchoff 🎙🎙
9:41 PM - 25 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/25/fc-cincinnatis-mls-timeline-could-already-be-set.html
FC Cincinnati's MLS timeline could already be set
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mystatesman.com/sports/pro-sports/despite-possible-relocation-crew-players-keep-focus-our-season/LQncEzs3IninGJAvtbMIoL/
Despite possible relocation, Crew SC players keep focus on ‘our season’
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
The second half is underway at MAPFRE Stadium as darkness sets in, and Columbus Crew SC is leading the Chicago Fire 1-0. The announced attendance for the May 12 match, 11,108, is just above the season average.
A mix of somber and defiant, the fans in attendance can’t help but be reminded that this could be the Crew’s last season in Ohio. A possible move to Austin looms large.
“It’s like you’re visiting a sick family member in the hospital,” said Alex Stanek, a longtime Crew fan who watched from the Nordecke supporters section. “You do it out of love, but the joy and relaxation aspects aren’t there, at least for me, because there’s all this mental baggage that you have to take with you to the stadium.”
And yet, there are moments of release.
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8m2j7n/match_preview_torvtbr_be_aware_early_kickoff_200pm/
Match Preview: #TORvTBR - BE AWARE! EARLY KICKOFF! 2:00PM! (rowdiessoccer.com)
Where is the watch party again? I'm gonna be in St Pete on a non-rowdies home date for the first time in forever... I got some email about a watch party from the Mob but can't find it now.
Caddy's on Central, 217 Central Ave
Mob main watch party is at Caddy's on Central. Official team watch party is at Big Storm Brewery (both locations). Skyway Casual's watch party is down in Sarasota at Shamrock Pub.
Thanks. Gonna do Caddy’s since I can see that from my hotel room right now.
See ya there!
We beat them on the road last year......we fkn better do the same tomorrow!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/920802
Match Preview: #TORvTBR
The Basics
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Toronto FC II
Saturday, May 26, 2:00 p.m. ET
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Follow us for live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast online on ESPN+ (subscription required), the official streaming partner of the USL, here. International viewers in regions where ESPN+ is not offered can watch the match here.
Records
Tampa Bay: 4-5-1 (W-T-L); 1-5-0 on road; 9th place
Toronto FC II: 0-8-2; 0-4-2 at home; 16th place
From the Head Coach
Neill Collins on preparing for the match:
“Having traveled on the road, I know we need to make several changes to try to get a positive result on the road. We’ve worked hard in training this week, and it was nice to have the opportunity to implement some of my ideas.”
Rowdies Notes
After taking a point out of last Saturday's match against Pittsburgh, the Rowdies have begun to regain confidence after dropping four of the prior five league matches by a combined margin of 10-0. The challenge for Tampa Bay to overcome, however, is finding a way to take a point, if not a victory, on the road.
Despite being unbeaten in four home matches this season, the Rowdies have lost five-straight road matches without scoring a goal.
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: OUT: D David Najem (torn ACL, April 14)
D Kyle Curinga (sprained ankle, May 12)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.facebook.com/events/377705902714490
MAY 26
Watch Party! TBR vs Torontwo
Public · Hosted by Ralph's Mob
Today at 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Starts in about 12 hours · 75° Clear
Caddy's on Central
217 Central Ave, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701
Details
Your Tampa Bay Rowdies travel up to O Canada to take on Toronto FC II in what will be new head coach Neil Collins' first road challenge since taking over just last week. Kick off is set for 2:00pm!
Join fellow Mobsters at Caddy's on Central to catch all the action, wear your Mob gear and enjoy 15% off your final bill. For our friends south of the Skyway, head on over to Shamrock Pub!
Any other locations hosting watch parties? Feel free to post in here to let others know!
The Rowdies will be back home the following weekend, June 2nd, to take on Atlanta Twonited.
#COYR
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.wlwt.com/article/fc-cincinnati-announcement-will-mean-something-different-to-many/20919418
FC Cincinnati announcement will mean something different to many
With announcement in the works, FC Cincinnati fans are getting excited
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.themaneland.com/2018/5/25/17392356/lion-links-5-25-18
Lion Links: 5/25/18
Young Lions loaned out, Orlando Pride hope to rebound, MLS All-Star voting opens, and much more
Free Kicks
MLS Commissioner Don Garber is heading to Cincinnati, OH this Tuesday for a “special announcement” which will likely result in the welcoming of a new expansion team to MLS.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/cincinnati-is-getting-its-mls-team-is-there-no-hope-for-sacramento/103-558250627
Cincinnati is getting its MLS team. Is there no hope for Sacramento?
Sources confirmed to a Cincinnati newspaper that a major club announcement is coming Tuesday and MLS commissioner Don Garber will be in attendance.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-reportedly-loses-its-bid-for-an-mls-team
Detroit reportedly loses its bid for an MLS team
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/104146705/andrew-durantes-eyes-opened-by-aleague-on-steroids-mls
US bright lights wow Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante
While in the United States on a trip that partially funded by the Phoenix, Durante visited various Major League Soccer franchises, particularly ones where he had New Zealand connections including Colorado Rapids, to learn more about how they operate. He came back to Wellington singing the praises of a competition he described as "the A-League on steroids" because although there were many similarities including a salary cap and no promotion-relegation, he discovered that MLS is booming in comparison.
The most obvious difference between the two leagues, he said, was the level of investment, with billionaire owners pumping big money into the franchises in order to lure high-profile players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa, Ashley Cole and Sebastian Giovinco and emerging stars like Ezequiel Barco, who cost Atlanta United US$15million ($21.6million).
"They know they're a big business now, it's all about money, selling tickets and entertainment, where we still consider ourselves as a development league for the youth and young Australian and Kiwi players, which is good in a way, but if you want to grow to where they are then it needs to change and it's down to investment.
"They have state of the art training facilities with cafeterias and three or four chefs working for them. When I told them the amount of office staff we have they said they'd have that just on the social media side. The investment in terms of what they put into the clubs, you simply can't compare it. Colorado were seen as one of the smaller clubs in the league but they had 50-60 staff working for them.
"The A-League has a long way to go but if it does go to an ownership consortium type running of the league then maybe there will be more investment and maybe they can change things a little bit."
But while MLS continues to attract big name signings, it has also become an increasingly popular destination for New Zealand players, with nine currently plying their trade there. In the past those players may have signed for the Phoenix but as much as he would like a Michael Boxall alongside him in defence Durante said it will be difficult to prise any All White away from the bright lights of America where the salaries and facilities dwarf the A-League.
"We have decent facilities but what they have on offer is huge. I guess fringe players who aren't playing over there we could attract by offering game time and a stepping stone to going back, but it's difficult. MLS is an attractive place to go, they're well paid, there's good facilities and good crowds and it is hard to attract any player, especially Kiwis, to come back here.
"Potentially the club and ownership need to ask 'what are we?' Do we become a development club for young Kiwis and maybe sell them off to A-League clubs or help their progress into bigger and better clubs? But we definitely can't compete with MLS clubs. What we can offer is game time. Someone like Bill Tuiloma, who I saw over in Portland and is now starting to get a bit of game time, the thing we could offer him is game time, playing 27 games, and then maybe he could try his luck back in Europe or MLS.
"But it's definitely not a place you come for the financial side of it or to set up a life if you have a career to grow or want to make big money."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/535533/Sports/Rooney-visits-DC-United-for-talks-about-MLS-transfer
Rooney visits DC United for talks about MLS transfer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/05/25/nashville-soccer-mls-stadium-questions-settled-david-briley-win/644705002/
Questions surrounded future of Nashville's MLS stadium, David Briley's win settles them
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2018/5/25/17393866/fc-cincinnati-set-to-announce-2019-mls-start
Major Link Soccer: FC Cincinnati set to announce 2019 MLS start
That escalated quickly!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://the18.com/soccer-news/fc-cincinnati-mls-expansion-announcement
FC Cincinnati To Join MLS And Begin Play In 2019
FC Cincinnati is poised to become the 26th club in MLS, and the team could begin play in 2019 at Nippert Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2018/05/25/icymi-fc-cincinnatis-surprise-bengals-line-changes-reds-slam/642507002/
ICYMI: FC Cincinnati's surprise, Bengals line changes, the Reds SLAM! and much more
FC Cincinnati is getting its MLS announcement ... for real this time
(Follow link for full article.)
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/05/24/hopeful-commisso-extends-deadline-for-500m-nasl-restoration/
“Hopeful” Commisso extends deadline for $500m NASL restoration
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.firstpost.com/sports/wayne-rooney-reaches-washington-to-discuss-potential-move-to-major-league-soccer-side-dc-united-4482393.html
Wayne Rooney reaches Washington to discuss potential move to Major League Soccer side DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/05/25/fc-cincinnati-fans-invited-fountain-square-celebrate-mls-announcement/646632002/
FC Cincinnati fans invited to Fountain Square to celebrate MLS announcement
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/west-end/major-league-soccer-talk-raises-stakes-on-property-in-west-end
Major League Soccer talk raises stakes on property in West End
CINCINNATI - Every city has hot neighborhoods, and one that's heating up here, according to some local real estate agents, is the West End.
Its proximity to Over-the-Rhine and Downtown already makes a good selling point, and now the buzz about FC Cincinnati joining Major League Soccer and building its stadium there is making the West End a must-see location.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/transfer-talk/79/post/3509620/transfer-talk-wayne-rooney-wants-to-join-major-league-soccers-dc-united
Transfer Talk: Wayne Rooney wants to join Major League Soccer's D.C. United
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sports360az.com/2018/05/three-dots-phoenix-and-mls-look-at-what-cincinnati-is-doing/
Phoenix and MLS. Look at What Cincinnati is Doing…
Interesting to see what cities will do to get an Major League Soccer franchise. Take what’s going on in Cincinnati as a prime example. FC Cincinnati is in its third year of USL Play and are averaging over 23-thousand fans per game. The County is reportedly giving the franchise land and cash to build their parking structure, while the City is given them land and cash to help construct a new downtown stadium. Next week the MLS will have “A significant announcement about the future of soccer in Cincinnati”. I am hoping for the MLS to give an update on all possible expansion franchises during Tuesdays announcement of adding FC Cincy to their league…
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000019928358051842
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Join us for the official Watch Party at @BigStormBrewing at both Pinellas & Pasco locations! Kickoff on Saturday vs @TorontoFCII is at 2 pm.
Get $1 off all pints & for every Rowdies goal, anyone in Rowdies gear will score a FREE pint.
10:25 AM - 25 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000043984390045696
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Head Coach @neillycollins3 on this week's training🎙️:
"The attitude has been fantastic."
Coach Neill Collins' First Full Training Session
Powered by SnappyTV
12:00 PM - 25 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1000094863788998661
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Hello, Toronto!
3:22 PM - 25 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/SpecSports360/status/1000190075341328384
Spectrum Sports 360
Verified account @SpecSports360
The @TampaBayRowdies prep for their first road game of the Neill Collins regime. The Rowdies are 1-5 on the road this season. #COYR
@mnanchoff 🎙🎙
9:41 PM - 25 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/25/fc-cincinnatis-mls-timeline-could-already-be-set.html
FC Cincinnati's MLS timeline could already be set
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mystatesman.com/sports/pro-sports/despite-possible-relocation-crew-players-keep-focus-our-season/LQncEzs3IninGJAvtbMIoL/
Despite possible relocation, Crew SC players keep focus on ‘our season’
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
The second half is underway at MAPFRE Stadium as darkness sets in, and Columbus Crew SC is leading the Chicago Fire 1-0. The announced attendance for the May 12 match, 11,108, is just above the season average.
A mix of somber and defiant, the fans in attendance can’t help but be reminded that this could be the Crew’s last season in Ohio. A possible move to Austin looms large.
“It’s like you’re visiting a sick family member in the hospital,” said Alex Stanek, a longtime Crew fan who watched from the Nordecke supporters section. “You do it out of love, but the joy and relaxation aspects aren’t there, at least for me, because there’s all this mental baggage that you have to take with you to the stadium.”
And yet, there are moments of release.
Here Comes the Money: The State of the Present and Future Tampa Bay Rowdies
(Follow link for full article.)
https://medium.com/j-king-s-labratory-project/here-comes-the-money-the-state-of-the-present-and-future-tampa-bay-rowdies-89093796a762
Here Comes the Money: The State of the Present and Future Tampa Bay Rowdies
A State of the Rowdies address including the MLS bid, recent managerial changes, and player personnel updates
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8lnkad/state_of_the_rowdies_address_including_mls/
State of the Rowdies Address including MLS Bid/Coaching Change/Player Analysis (medium.com)
Great work! As much as I enjoy the Rowdies controlling the ball, they settle too quickly into the same old routine which permits the defense's to set up. We need to play in the middle and we need the occasional quick strike to keep teams honest. I'm surprised Morell and especially Flemmings aren't more frustrated. With the latter, we did the same thing to Heinenman. We grabbed the hottest quick strike player in the league, and then sat on ball.
Good effort by the team, wet fields and balls notwithstanding we looked good against a well coached club. I still say switch it up for away games. Play a lot of reserves! Give em the fire!
In regards to MLS I wish the team would just announce their intentions. This "round" seems to be over as Cincy is getting the spot. The next two are coming up we've made no progress? Seems like they've given up. Do they still sell MLS2STPETE merch at games? Haven't been in the team store I'm a while.
A lot could change if we do get in new owners with MLS ambitions, but unless/until that happens, we aren't going to hear anything.
It's clear now that the #MLS2StPete bid was not ambitious enough.
Good enough for MLS 1.0 or MLS 2.0, but not good enough for MLS 3.0.
We need multi-billionaire ownership willing to spend big bucks, and the $80 million upgrade of Al Lang was not ambitious enough.
A complete tear down of Al Lang and rebuild with a new SSS on the Al Lang site, in the $250-$300 million range, would do it.
There's also the possibility of the Tropicana site opening up if the Rays move to Tampa, though I personally would prefer the Al Lang site.
Maybe we could have both: build a new Rowdies SSS on the Al Lang site, and also build a Rowdies training center on part of the Tropicana site, with the ability to rent the site out for commercial space, as would be offered to the Rays if they were to stay in St. Pete.
That's what I'd suggest to St. Pete to offer to any potential billionaire Rowdies MLS ownership group, to get the Rowdies into MLS and to keep St. Pete a "major league" city after the Rays leave.
Time is running out for spots 27 and 28, but it isn't too late yet.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/columnists/paul-daugherty/2018/05/24/doc-fc-cincinnati-mls-not-business-usual-and-thats-good-thing/638958002/
Paul Daugherty: FC Cincinnati to MLS not business as usual, and that's a good thing
(Follow link for full article.)
http://fox40.com/2018/05/24/fc-cincinnati-confirms-announcement-casting-doubt-on-sacramentos-mls-future/
FC Cincinnati Confirms Announcement, Casting Doubt on Sacramento’s MLS Future
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/detroit-appears-to-be-out-of-running-for-mls-expansion-team
Detroit appears to be out of running for MLS expansion team
Announcement expected in Cincinnati
(Follow link for full article.)
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/05/24/mls-sacramento-future/
MLS Disappoints Sacramento Again With Cincinnati Selection
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.fox19.com/story/38274353/will-fc-cincinnati-be-playing-mls-games-as-early-as-2019
Will FC Cincinnati begin MLS play as early as 2019?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180524/mls--fc-cincinnati-gm-credits-crew-sc-for-paving-way-to-success
MLS | FC Cincinnati GM credits Crew SC for paving the way to success
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2018/05/24/sac-republic-says-its-not-deterred-by-pending.html
Sac Republic says it's not deterred by pending Cincinnati MLS announcement
Despite news of a pending announcement about professional soccer in Cincinnati, officials with Sacramento Republic FC said they believe their effort to join Major League Soccer is still moving forward.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/24/james-riley-mls-conifa-world-football-cup-cascadia
James Riley: From MLS to the CONIFA World Football Cup with Cascadia
(Follow link for full article.)
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/05/24/hopeful-commisso-extends-deadline-for-500m-nasl-restoration/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
“Hopeful” Commisso extends deadline for $500m NASL restoration
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/fc-cincinnati-to-hold-mls-announcement-tuesday/1i0p71owznvoj1bz3hsvfrgb7o
FC Cincinnati to hold MLS announcement Tuesday
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/05/24/fc-cincinnati-mls-expansion-don-garber-announcement-nashville-sacramento-detroit-miami/635835002/
Cincinnati's MLS expansion bid: FC Cincinnati announcement imminent
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3508873/fc-cincinnati-to-make-announcement-next-week-amid-mls-expansion-race
FC Cincinnati to make announcement next week amid MLS expansion race
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mydaytondailynews.com/sports/mls-expected-announce-cincinnati-expansion-bid-tuesday/NYx3akhr8jBSz8LIKJs94O/
MLS expected to announce Cincinnati expansion bid Tuesday
Press conference ‘regarding Cincinnati’s soccer future’ to include FC Cincinnati, MLS officials
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/fc-cincinnati-to-hold-mls-announcement-tuesday/1i0p71owznvoj1bz3hsvfrgb7o
FC Cincinnati to hold MLS announcement Tuesday
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.wlwt.com/article/it-s-official-fc-cincinnati-announces-details-of-tuesday-mls-announcement/20894770
MLS to make big announcement in Cincinnati
Announcement expected 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Rhinegeist Brewery
https://medium.com/j-king-s-labratory-project/here-comes-the-money-the-state-of-the-present-and-future-tampa-bay-rowdies-89093796a762
Here Comes the Money: The State of the Present and Future Tampa Bay Rowdies
A State of the Rowdies address including the MLS bid, recent managerial changes, and player personnel updates
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8lnkad/state_of_the_rowdies_address_including_mls/
State of the Rowdies Address including MLS Bid/Coaching Change/Player Analysis (medium.com)
Great work! As much as I enjoy the Rowdies controlling the ball, they settle too quickly into the same old routine which permits the defense's to set up. We need to play in the middle and we need the occasional quick strike to keep teams honest. I'm surprised Morell and especially Flemmings aren't more frustrated. With the latter, we did the same thing to Heinenman. We grabbed the hottest quick strike player in the league, and then sat on ball.
Good effort by the team, wet fields and balls notwithstanding we looked good against a well coached club. I still say switch it up for away games. Play a lot of reserves! Give em the fire!
In regards to MLS I wish the team would just announce their intentions. This "round" seems to be over as Cincy is getting the spot. The next two are coming up we've made no progress? Seems like they've given up. Do they still sell MLS2STPETE merch at games? Haven't been in the team store I'm a while.
A lot could change if we do get in new owners with MLS ambitions, but unless/until that happens, we aren't going to hear anything.
It's clear now that the #MLS2StPete bid was not ambitious enough.
Good enough for MLS 1.0 or MLS 2.0, but not good enough for MLS 3.0.
We need multi-billionaire ownership willing to spend big bucks, and the $80 million upgrade of Al Lang was not ambitious enough.
A complete tear down of Al Lang and rebuild with a new SSS on the Al Lang site, in the $250-$300 million range, would do it.
There's also the possibility of the Tropicana site opening up if the Rays move to Tampa, though I personally would prefer the Al Lang site.
Maybe we could have both: build a new Rowdies SSS on the Al Lang site, and also build a Rowdies training center on part of the Tropicana site, with the ability to rent the site out for commercial space, as would be offered to the Rays if they were to stay in St. Pete.
That's what I'd suggest to St. Pete to offer to any potential billionaire Rowdies MLS ownership group, to get the Rowdies into MLS and to keep St. Pete a "major league" city after the Rays leave.
Time is running out for spots 27 and 28, but it isn't too late yet.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/columnists/paul-daugherty/2018/05/24/doc-fc-cincinnati-mls-not-business-usual-and-thats-good-thing/638958002/
Paul Daugherty: FC Cincinnati to MLS not business as usual, and that's a good thing
(Follow link for full article.)
http://fox40.com/2018/05/24/fc-cincinnati-confirms-announcement-casting-doubt-on-sacramentos-mls-future/
FC Cincinnati Confirms Announcement, Casting Doubt on Sacramento’s MLS Future
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/detroit-appears-to-be-out-of-running-for-mls-expansion-team
Detroit appears to be out of running for MLS expansion team
Announcement expected in Cincinnati
(Follow link for full article.)
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/05/24/mls-sacramento-future/
MLS Disappoints Sacramento Again With Cincinnati Selection
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.fox19.com/story/38274353/will-fc-cincinnati-be-playing-mls-games-as-early-as-2019
Will FC Cincinnati begin MLS play as early as 2019?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180524/mls--fc-cincinnati-gm-credits-crew-sc-for-paving-way-to-success
MLS | FC Cincinnati GM credits Crew SC for paving the way to success
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2018/05/24/sac-republic-says-its-not-deterred-by-pending.html
Sac Republic says it's not deterred by pending Cincinnati MLS announcement
Despite news of a pending announcement about professional soccer in Cincinnati, officials with Sacramento Republic FC said they believe their effort to join Major League Soccer is still moving forward.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/24/james-riley-mls-conifa-world-football-cup-cascadia
James Riley: From MLS to the CONIFA World Football Cup with Cascadia
(Follow link for full article.)
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/05/24/hopeful-commisso-extends-deadline-for-500m-nasl-restoration/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
“Hopeful” Commisso extends deadline for $500m NASL restoration
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/fc-cincinnati-to-hold-mls-announcement-tuesday/1i0p71owznvoj1bz3hsvfrgb7o
FC Cincinnati to hold MLS announcement Tuesday
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/05/24/fc-cincinnati-mls-expansion-don-garber-announcement-nashville-sacramento-detroit-miami/635835002/
Cincinnati's MLS expansion bid: FC Cincinnati announcement imminent
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3508873/fc-cincinnati-to-make-announcement-next-week-amid-mls-expansion-race
FC Cincinnati to make announcement next week amid MLS expansion race
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mydaytondailynews.com/sports/mls-expected-announce-cincinnati-expansion-bid-tuesday/NYx3akhr8jBSz8LIKJs94O/
MLS expected to announce Cincinnati expansion bid Tuesday
Press conference ‘regarding Cincinnati’s soccer future’ to include FC Cincinnati, MLS officials
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/fc-cincinnati-to-hold-mls-announcement-tuesday/1i0p71owznvoj1bz3hsvfrgb7o
FC Cincinnati to hold MLS announcement Tuesday
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.wlwt.com/article/it-s-official-fc-cincinnati-announces-details-of-tuesday-mls-announcement/20894770
MLS to make big announcement in Cincinnati
Announcement expected 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Rhinegeist Brewery
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
State of the Rowdies Address including MLS Bid/Coaching Change/Player Analysis (medium.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8lnkad/state_of_the_rowdies_address_including_mls/
State of the Rowdies Address including MLS Bid/Coaching Change/Player Analysis (medium.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://medium.com/j-king-s-labratory-project/here-comes-the-money-the-state-of-the-present-and-future-tampa-bay-rowdies-89093796a762
Here Comes the Money: The State of the Present and Future Tampa Bay Rowdies
A State of the Rowdies address including the MLS bid, recent managerial changes, and player personnel updates
The Next Stage of the Rowdies MLS bid
Does anyone in St. Petersburg, Florida have a spare $230 million dollars lying around? Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards would like to enlist you to join in his ownership group to propel the Rowdies into the forefront of the upcoming MLS expansion.
The MLS plans to expand to 28 teams with Los Angeles FC becoming the 23rd club and Beckham’s upcoming Miami club expected to be the 25th. Recent USL addition, Nashville SC, is the 24th team. The Rowdies will face off against Nashville twice this season with the first bout on June 9th in Al Lang.
The Rowdies are in a race against time and other major US cities in a battle to secure a coveted MLS slot. $150 million dollars gets you in the door as an entrance fee. Topple on the need for a suitable stadium that will cost the Rowdies $80 million to expand seating in the historic Al Lang Stadium. The expansion plan would add an extra 10,000 seats to around 18,000 in total.
So there are a lot of moving parts in place and a race against time. FC Cincinnati appears to be in prime position to take an MLS slot as long as they have the money in place. The team has been successful, and they have an approved plan to build a 21,000 seat stadium while they already attract a crowd of over 20,000 per game. Detroit and Sacramento are other names that have garnered a lot of national attention ahead of Tampa Bay’s bid.
The race is to build up stadiums and ownership groups with deep pockets that will invest in a growing soccer fandom sweeping across America. The emergence of clubs like Atlanta United and Orlando City have proven that America wants more professional soccer, but there is a danger forthcoming.
As far as the MLS coming to St. Petersburg is concerned, there hasn’t been any relevant news in several months. The big news to look for on the Rowdies end is if Bill Edwards is able to find some investors to create an ownership group. A couple outlying factors still remain:
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8lmr99/world_cup_in_22_days_where_will_you_be_watching/
World Cup in 22 Days... Where will you be watching? (self.TampaBayRowdies)
I know we're all keeping an eye on what's developing at the Rowdies. Personally I have high hopes with Collins taking the reins. Hopefully we can break this streak we've been having. And yeah, I know Lightning 7 is tonight.
But if you're anything like me, you have your eye just over the horizon towards the World Cup.
So Football Fanatics, where's your go-to place to watch a world cup game? Be sure to give the nation the pub supports!
Where will the Italian, American, Dutch, Colombian, Brazillian, English, Senegal, Iceland and Moroccan supporters go to watch a game?
For instance, where's the French team supporter's bar (Go Les Bleus!)?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.local10.com/sports/soccer/has-david-beckham-settled-on-name-for-major-league-soccer-franchise
Has David Beckham settled on name for Miami's Major League Soccer franchise?
4 applications for 'Miami Freedom' filed with US Patent and Trademark Office
(Follow link for full article.)
https://borneobulletin.com.bn/former-liverpool-ceo-ayre-hired-by-mls-nashville-team/
Former Liverpool CEO Ayre hired by MLS’ Nashville team
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.eurosport.com/football/wayne-rooney-set-to-meet-dc-united-ahead-of-possible-mls-move_sto6768100/story.shtml
Wayne Rooney set to meet DC United ahead of possible MLS move
Wayne Rooney is set to meet DC United on Thursday ahead of his potential move to Major League Soccer in the US.
Rooney finished the season as Everton's leading scorer with 11 goals, but is apparently on the verge of signing a contract worth £3.7m a season to move to the American capital.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/05/23/reports-rooney-flying-to-dc-to-finalize-mls-move/
Reports: Rooney flying to DC to finalize MLS move
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/rooney-to-meet-dc-united-bosses-to-discuss-mls-move-reports-10263010
Rooney to meet DC United bosses to discuss MLS move: Reports
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/everton-s-wayne-rooney-to-join-mls-side-dc-united-84865
Everton's Wayne Rooney to join MLS side DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.teamtalk.com/news/club-chief-confirms-wayne-rooney-set-for-talks-over-mls-move
Club chief confirms Wayne Rooney set for talks over MLS move
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-rooney-to-meet-dc-united-bosses-over-potential-mls-move
Football: Rooney to meet DC United bosses over potential MLS move
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/23/zlatan-ibrahimovics-red-card-la-galaxy-mls
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's stunning MLS debut is starting to look like an exception
The Swede’s LA Galaxy career is still in its infancy but his red card this week came as his new team continues to struggle
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/england-wayne-rooney-dc-united-mls-transfer-a8365836.html
Former England captain Wayne Rooney in talks with DC United over MLS transfer
The Everton forward broke off from a holiday in Barbados for transfer talks
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.cityam.com/286333/former-england-captain-wayne-rooney-jets-america-talks-dc
Former England captain Wayne Rooney jets in to America for talks with DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/23/cole-excited-prospect-playing-former-england-teammate-rooney-mls
Cole excited by prospect of playing former England teammate Rooney in MLS
CARSON, Calif. – Count Ashley Cole among those hoping to see Wayne Rooney playing in Major League Soccer.
The LA Galaxy captain, for a decade a teammate of Rooney's on England's national team for a decade and a rival even longer in the English Premier League, said he'd like to match wits again with the 32-year-old forward.
Rooney arrived Wednesday in the US for talks later this week with D.C. United as the club's bid to acquire the goalscorer from Everton takes a step forward.
“I think it's good,” Cole said following the Galaxy training session Wednesday morning at StubHub Center. “I think it shows the improvement of the league. Yeah, he's a little bit older, but to attract these kind of players is great for the league. ... I'm excited if he does come to play against him again.”
Rooney had “agreed in principle” to an MLS deal two weeks ago, according to reports in England, and the BBC reported that the trip was “understood to be a fact-finding mission.” He has another year on his contract with Everton.
Cole, 37, is in his third season as the Galaxy's left back. If Rooney makes the move, he'll be the fifth player from England's 2006 World Cup team to play in MLS. David Beckham and Steven Gerrard preceded Cole with LA, and Frank Lampard played for New York City FC.
Cole heard the forward was likely bound for D.C. United and said he'd “love him here” with the Galaxy and thinks Rooney would be a valuable pickup for any side.
“It's always different to the Premier League,” said Cole, who played in the EPL with Arsenal and Chelsea. “We're getting older when we leave [England for MLS], so he's not going to be the 18-year-old Wayne Rooney. But I think he's still got enough quality for this league.”
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/wayne-rooney-lands-in-washington-dc-to-meet-with-d-c-united-officials/
Wayne Rooney lands in Washington D.C. to meet with D.C. United officials
(Follow link for full article.)
http://thenationonlineng.net/rooney-set-for-medical-with-dc-united/
Rooney set for medical with DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://patch.com/florida/stpete/5th-tampa-bay-burger-21-open-st-pete-june-4
5th Tampa Bay Burger 21 To Open In St. Pete June 4
Burger 21, a fast-casual, "better burger" chain, will open its fifth Tampa Bay restaurant June 4 at 3201 4th St. N., St. Petersburg.
ST. PETERBURG, FL -- Burger 21, a fast-casual, "better burger" chain, will open its fifth Tampa Bay restaurant June 4 at 3201 4th St. N., St. Petersburg.
Fans of Tampa-based Burger 21 can expect to see many of the classic Burger 21 burgers and shakes, and some new items that will only be available at the St. Petersburg location.
Chef Mike Remes has developed a menu that sets itself apart from the competition with it's unique, chef-crafted 100 percent-certified Angus beef, seafood, chicken and gluten-friendly gourmet burger creations; along with hand-crafted signature shakes, hand-breaded buttermilk chicken tenders and fresh salads.
Highlights on the St. Petersburg menu include the all-new Chili Cheese Crunch burger, the Spicy Tuna burger and the vegan plant-based Impossible Burger.
The St. Petersburg Burger 21 will also offer a full sauce bar with Burger 21's original, house-made signature sauces.
The restaurant's beverage options will include freshly squeezed lemonade, Kahwa cold-brew coffee, Kombucha tea, hand-crafted flavored teas, fountain and non-carbonated drinks, plus a selection of craft beer and wine.
"We are excited to be in St. Petersburg, and its amazing food scene," said Mark Johnston, founder and owner of Burger 21. "The Northeast neighborhood is a great community and we are looking forward to being a part of it. Everyone has been very helpful and positive during our construction phase, and we are looking forward to paying that back with some great hospitality, burgers and shakes."
Everyone in the neighborhood is invited to the official grand opening of Burger 21 on Monday, June 4. The doors will open at 11 a.m. with a ribbon cutting by the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, and the first 50 guests to eat lunch with Burger 21 will receive Burger 21 giveaways. Burger 21 will also celebrate its opening on social media where Facebook fans will have the chance to win $21 gift cards.
The location will be run by General Manager Jonniene Moritz, who has been with the brand for three years and believes the St. Petersburg location will allow Burger 21 to further immerse itself in the Tampa Bay area as a local favorite.
Highlights of Burger 21® St. Petersburg include:
Recognition for Burger 21 includes being named one of the 10 best franchises to buy in 2017, winning the "Better Burger" category of the Franchise Times Zor Awards. The brand has also been named Entrepreneur Magazine's Top New Franchises and Restaurant Business' 50 Fastest-Growing Small Restaurant Chains of 2016.
Additionally, the company has been ranked on Fast Casual's Top 100 "Movers and Shakers" for the last five consecutive years, while Burger 21 founder Johnston was acknowledged as one of Fast Casual's "Top 25 People" of 2014 for his strategic leadership in the brand's growth and development. Burger 21 also was named one of QSR's "Best Franchise Deals" of 2014.
For more information, visit Burger 21's website.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/05/prweb15491020.htm
Burger 21® Opens 5th Bay Area Location in St. Petersburg
The 5th Burger 21® Bay Area restaurant location opens in Saint Petersburg, Florida on Monday June 4th, 2018.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.813area.com/tampa/downtown-tampa/events/295577/burger-21-st.pete-grand-opening.htm
Burger 21 St.pete Grand Opening
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/prnewswire/press_releases/Florida/2018/05/16/UN97158
Burger 21® Opens 5th Bay Area Location in St. Petersburg
The 5th Burger 21® Bay Area restaurant location opens in Saint Petersburg, Florida on Monday June 4th, 2018.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.news18.com/news/football/david-beckhams-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-report-1758233.html
David Beckham's Miami MLS Club Could Have Name Soon: Report
David Beckham's Major League Soccer expansion club isn't expected to debut until at least 2020, but it could soon have a name, the Miami Herald reported Wednesday.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/beckham-s-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-report
Beckham's Miami MLS club could have name soon: report
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/football/2018/may/24/david-beckhams-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-report-1818885.html
David Beckham's Miami MLS club could have name soon: Report
The Beckham group has now secured land on which to build a privately developed 25,000-seat stadium in the heart of Miami.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/23/cole-excited-prospect-playing-former-england-teammate-rooney-mls
Cole excited by prospect of playing former England teammate Rooney in MLS
CARSON, Calif. – Count Ashley Cole among those hoping to see Wayne Rooney playing in Major League Soccer.
The LA Galaxy captain, for a decade a teammate of Rooney's on England's national team for a decade and a rival even longer in the English Premier League, said he'd like to match wits again with the 32-year-old forwar
(Follow link for full article.)
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/05/23/report-earnie-stewart-in-negotiations-for-u-s-soccer-gm-job/
Report: Earnie Stewart in negotiations for U.S. Soccer GM job
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/soccer-team-atlanta-united-fc-beats-yankees-in-average-game-attendance
Soccer team Atlanta United FC beats Yankees in average game attendance
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.beinsports.com/th-en/major-league-soccer/news/cole-hoping-to-see-rooney-in-mls-amid-dc-un-5/882454
Cole hoping to see Rooney in MLS amid DC United links
LA Galaxy captain Ashley Cole is excited by the prospect of playing against former England team-mate Wayne Rooney in MLS.
Everton veteran Rooney, 32, is believed to be closing in on a move to DC United after being pictured in Washington on Wednesday.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/beckhams-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-20180524
Beckham's Miami MLS club could have name soon
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/24/10000-flights-and-personal-credit-how-the-us-open-cup-cripples-smaller-clubs
$10,000 flights and personal credit: How the US Open Cup cripples smaller clubs
Smaller teams dream of taking on an MLS club in the US Open Cup. But that dream can come at a steep cost
For the US Open Cup, 2017 was the year of the underdog. The hype started early when Christos FC – an amateur club out of Maryland named after a local liquor store – upset two fourth-division sides and a USL team before going out to MLS’s DC United. Upsets continued to prevail, as the USL’s FC Cincinnati beat the Columbus Crew and Bastian Schweinsteiger’s Chicago Fire en route to a quarter-final showdown with then-NASL side Miami FC. Cincinnati won, serving as the tournament’s first non-MLS semi-finalist since 2009.
“For these lower-division clubs, the Open Cup is a one-off opportunity to prove themselves,” according to Peter Wilt, who launched Chicago Fire, NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars, and NASL/USL’s Indy Eleven. “That dream of beating the bigger clubs is very fleeting. It’s the one opportunity that you have whenever you qualify, and it’s usually gone after two or three matches.”
But that dream can cripple smaller clubs. While the US Open Cup is often compared to England’s famous FA Cup, America’s vast spaces make it a much different proposition. A non-league English club’s away trip may involve a coach trip of a few hours. Teams in the US Open Cup, however, may have to pay for flights across a continent.
Meet Minneapolis City SC, known colloquially as the Crows. The team operates on a very small budget (the club spent $46,000 in 2017) and relies entirely on sponsorships and memberships all over the globe at $50 a share. Most of its players are college kids back home for the summer, able to retain amateur status in the offseason. During qualification for the 2018 tournament they played under their club operations name of Stegman’s Soccer Club. In qualification, the team was drawn to Kansas’ Santa Fe Wanderers, a $6,000 trip for Minneapolis. When Santa Fe forfeited, the draw pitted Minneapolis against Aurora Borealis Soccer Club in Illinois, another $4,000 trip via flights to Chicago. When the team won that round, they were in for an even longer trip.
“It was a surprise when we were drawn to Rochester, New York” Minneapolis City chairman Dan Hoedeman told the Guardian. “It required a multi-leg flight [it would take 16 hours to drive between from Minneapolis to Rochester non-stop] and they had an awful middle school stadium with limited availability. A lot of our players work 9-5 jobs on weekdays, and Rochester only offered to play on that Sunday afternoon. We were at the point where if our game in Rochester had made it to penalties, we would’ve had to leave to catch our flight.”
Stegman’s ended up losing 2-1, conceding deep into the second half. It was a tough result to swallow, and was only made more difficult by the logistics.
“If we hadn’t gotten $12,000 in donations, we would’ve had nothing,” club business director Sarah Schreier remarked. “The Rochester flights alone were $10,000 for 20 players. We could barely make it happen, and we both put club expenses on our personal credit cards. We still spent $3,000 on top of the donations.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's stunning MLS debut is starting to look like an exception
Read more
It’s a regular plight for amateur teams in the States. For those looking to get a crack at the national spotlight – Hoedeman referenced Harpos FC and Christos FC’s magical runs – it requires funding beyond the usual operating budget. Minneapolis City nearly had to stop streaming its games this year to cut costs, but a recent sponsorship allowed those funds to resurface.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-david-beckhams-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-says-report
Football: David Beckham's Miami MLS club could have name soon, says report
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.ibtimes.com/mls-wayne-rooney-washington-discuss-dc-united-move-2684090
MLS: Wayne Rooney In Washington To Discuss DC United Move
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/05/24/fc-cincinnati-mls-expansion-don-garber-announcement-nashville-sacramento-detroit-miami/635835002/
Cincinnati's MLS expansion bid: FC Cincinnati announcement imminent
(Follow link for full article.)
https://talksport.com/football/wayne-rooney-mls-latest-confirmed-everton-star-hold-talks-dc-united
Wayne Rooney to MLS latest: Spokesperson confirms Everton star is in Washington to hold talks with DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-cosmos/soccer-cosmos-shooting-for-stars-with-500-million-plan-idUSKCN1IP009
Soccer: Cosmos shooting for stars with $500 million plan
(Reuters) - Once one of the most glamorous names in North American sport, the New York Cosmos are today living on soccer’s Skid Row, a fourth division club playing on school grounds left behind, largely unwanted and forgotten.
On April 29, the team that lured soccer royalty like Pele and Franz Beckenbauer opened their National Premier Soccer League season with a 4-0 win over Boston City FC in front of a handful of spectators at Malden Catholic High School.
It marked a low ebb for a team that routinely played in front of roaring crowds of 70,000 in the 1970s and brought global attention to the original North American Soccer League in its heyday.
Yet cable television billionaire Rocco Commisso saw enough residual value in the Cosmos to buy a majority stake in 2017 and has ambitions of not only resurrecting a dead league and its flagship franchise but also rattling the establishment with the introduction of promotion and relegation.
“There’s no team in North America that’s got the historical reputation the New York Cosmos has,” Commisso told Reuters.
“We’ve won more than anyone else, we’ve been in more countries than anybody else.
“There is no name in Europe or anywhere else that is as recognized on the American landscape as the Cosmos and that’s what they wanted to destroy.”
Commisso was referring to the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the sport’s national governing body, which stripped the second division sanctioning of the modern North American Soccer League (NASL) last year.
The NASL have in turn launched lawsuits against USSF, casting doubt on whether the parties can come together for the common good of North American soccer.
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8lnkad/state_of_the_rowdies_address_including_mls/
State of the Rowdies Address including MLS Bid/Coaching Change/Player Analysis (medium.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://medium.com/j-king-s-labratory-project/here-comes-the-money-the-state-of-the-present-and-future-tampa-bay-rowdies-89093796a762
Here Comes the Money: The State of the Present and Future Tampa Bay Rowdies
A State of the Rowdies address including the MLS bid, recent managerial changes, and player personnel updates
The Next Stage of the Rowdies MLS bid
Does anyone in St. Petersburg, Florida have a spare $230 million dollars lying around? Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards would like to enlist you to join in his ownership group to propel the Rowdies into the forefront of the upcoming MLS expansion.
The MLS plans to expand to 28 teams with Los Angeles FC becoming the 23rd club and Beckham’s upcoming Miami club expected to be the 25th. Recent USL addition, Nashville SC, is the 24th team. The Rowdies will face off against Nashville twice this season with the first bout on June 9th in Al Lang.
The Rowdies are in a race against time and other major US cities in a battle to secure a coveted MLS slot. $150 million dollars gets you in the door as an entrance fee. Topple on the need for a suitable stadium that will cost the Rowdies $80 million to expand seating in the historic Al Lang Stadium. The expansion plan would add an extra 10,000 seats to around 18,000 in total.
So there are a lot of moving parts in place and a race against time. FC Cincinnati appears to be in prime position to take an MLS slot as long as they have the money in place. The team has been successful, and they have an approved plan to build a 21,000 seat stadium while they already attract a crowd of over 20,000 per game. Detroit and Sacramento are other names that have garnered a lot of national attention ahead of Tampa Bay’s bid.
The race is to build up stadiums and ownership groups with deep pockets that will invest in a growing soccer fandom sweeping across America. The emergence of clubs like Atlanta United and Orlando City have proven that America wants more professional soccer, but there is a danger forthcoming.
As far as the MLS coming to St. Petersburg is concerned, there hasn’t been any relevant news in several months. The big news to look for on the Rowdies end is if Bill Edwards is able to find some investors to create an ownership group. A couple outlying factors still remain:
- Bill Edwards health post a double bypass heart surgery
- Investors who have eyes on the long-term and will accept the risk of building up a club not guaranteed an MLS slot that’s Edwards’ passion project
- How quickly is the privately funded Al Lang stadium expansion built?
- Could the Tampa Bay Rays leaving town positively or negatively affect the Rowdies’ future?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8lmr99/world_cup_in_22_days_where_will_you_be_watching/
World Cup in 22 Days... Where will you be watching? (self.TampaBayRowdies)
I know we're all keeping an eye on what's developing at the Rowdies. Personally I have high hopes with Collins taking the reins. Hopefully we can break this streak we've been having. And yeah, I know Lightning 7 is tonight.
But if you're anything like me, you have your eye just over the horizon towards the World Cup.
So Football Fanatics, where's your go-to place to watch a world cup game? Be sure to give the nation the pub supports!
Where will the Italian, American, Dutch, Colombian, Brazillian, English, Senegal, Iceland and Moroccan supporters go to watch a game?
For instance, where's the French team supporter's bar (Go Les Bleus!)?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.local10.com/sports/soccer/has-david-beckham-settled-on-name-for-major-league-soccer-franchise
Has David Beckham settled on name for Miami's Major League Soccer franchise?
4 applications for 'Miami Freedom' filed with US Patent and Trademark Office
(Follow link for full article.)
https://borneobulletin.com.bn/former-liverpool-ceo-ayre-hired-by-mls-nashville-team/
Former Liverpool CEO Ayre hired by MLS’ Nashville team
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.eurosport.com/football/wayne-rooney-set-to-meet-dc-united-ahead-of-possible-mls-move_sto6768100/story.shtml
Wayne Rooney set to meet DC United ahead of possible MLS move
Wayne Rooney is set to meet DC United on Thursday ahead of his potential move to Major League Soccer in the US.
Rooney finished the season as Everton's leading scorer with 11 goals, but is apparently on the verge of signing a contract worth £3.7m a season to move to the American capital.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/05/23/reports-rooney-flying-to-dc-to-finalize-mls-move/
Reports: Rooney flying to DC to finalize MLS move
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/rooney-to-meet-dc-united-bosses-to-discuss-mls-move-reports-10263010
Rooney to meet DC United bosses to discuss MLS move: Reports
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/everton-s-wayne-rooney-to-join-mls-side-dc-united-84865
Everton's Wayne Rooney to join MLS side DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.teamtalk.com/news/club-chief-confirms-wayne-rooney-set-for-talks-over-mls-move
Club chief confirms Wayne Rooney set for talks over MLS move
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-rooney-to-meet-dc-united-bosses-over-potential-mls-move
Football: Rooney to meet DC United bosses over potential MLS move
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/23/zlatan-ibrahimovics-red-card-la-galaxy-mls
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's stunning MLS debut is starting to look like an exception
The Swede’s LA Galaxy career is still in its infancy but his red card this week came as his new team continues to struggle
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/england-wayne-rooney-dc-united-mls-transfer-a8365836.html
Former England captain Wayne Rooney in talks with DC United over MLS transfer
The Everton forward broke off from a holiday in Barbados for transfer talks
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.cityam.com/286333/former-england-captain-wayne-rooney-jets-america-talks-dc
Former England captain Wayne Rooney jets in to America for talks with DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/23/cole-excited-prospect-playing-former-england-teammate-rooney-mls
Cole excited by prospect of playing former England teammate Rooney in MLS
CARSON, Calif. – Count Ashley Cole among those hoping to see Wayne Rooney playing in Major League Soccer.
The LA Galaxy captain, for a decade a teammate of Rooney's on England's national team for a decade and a rival even longer in the English Premier League, said he'd like to match wits again with the 32-year-old forward.
Rooney arrived Wednesday in the US for talks later this week with D.C. United as the club's bid to acquire the goalscorer from Everton takes a step forward.
“I think it's good,” Cole said following the Galaxy training session Wednesday morning at StubHub Center. “I think it shows the improvement of the league. Yeah, he's a little bit older, but to attract these kind of players is great for the league. ... I'm excited if he does come to play against him again.”
Rooney had “agreed in principle” to an MLS deal two weeks ago, according to reports in England, and the BBC reported that the trip was “understood to be a fact-finding mission.” He has another year on his contract with Everton.
Cole, 37, is in his third season as the Galaxy's left back. If Rooney makes the move, he'll be the fifth player from England's 2006 World Cup team to play in MLS. David Beckham and Steven Gerrard preceded Cole with LA, and Frank Lampard played for New York City FC.
Cole heard the forward was likely bound for D.C. United and said he'd “love him here” with the Galaxy and thinks Rooney would be a valuable pickup for any side.
“It's always different to the Premier League,” said Cole, who played in the EPL with Arsenal and Chelsea. “We're getting older when we leave [England for MLS], so he's not going to be the 18-year-old Wayne Rooney. But I think he's still got enough quality for this league.”
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/wayne-rooney-lands-in-washington-dc-to-meet-with-d-c-united-officials/
Wayne Rooney lands in Washington D.C. to meet with D.C. United officials
(Follow link for full article.)
http://thenationonlineng.net/rooney-set-for-medical-with-dc-united/
Rooney set for medical with DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://patch.com/florida/stpete/5th-tampa-bay-burger-21-open-st-pete-june-4
5th Tampa Bay Burger 21 To Open In St. Pete June 4
Burger 21, a fast-casual, "better burger" chain, will open its fifth Tampa Bay restaurant June 4 at 3201 4th St. N., St. Petersburg.
ST. PETERBURG, FL -- Burger 21, a fast-casual, "better burger" chain, will open its fifth Tampa Bay restaurant June 4 at 3201 4th St. N., St. Petersburg.
Fans of Tampa-based Burger 21 can expect to see many of the classic Burger 21 burgers and shakes, and some new items that will only be available at the St. Petersburg location.
Chef Mike Remes has developed a menu that sets itself apart from the competition with it's unique, chef-crafted 100 percent-certified Angus beef, seafood, chicken and gluten-friendly gourmet burger creations; along with hand-crafted signature shakes, hand-breaded buttermilk chicken tenders and fresh salads.
Highlights on the St. Petersburg menu include the all-new Chili Cheese Crunch burger, the Spicy Tuna burger and the vegan plant-based Impossible Burger.
The St. Petersburg Burger 21 will also offer a full sauce bar with Burger 21's original, house-made signature sauces.
The restaurant's beverage options will include freshly squeezed lemonade, Kahwa cold-brew coffee, Kombucha tea, hand-crafted flavored teas, fountain and non-carbonated drinks, plus a selection of craft beer and wine.
"We are excited to be in St. Petersburg, and its amazing food scene," said Mark Johnston, founder and owner of Burger 21. "The Northeast neighborhood is a great community and we are looking forward to being a part of it. Everyone has been very helpful and positive during our construction phase, and we are looking forward to paying that back with some great hospitality, burgers and shakes."
Everyone in the neighborhood is invited to the official grand opening of Burger 21 on Monday, June 4. The doors will open at 11 a.m. with a ribbon cutting by the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, and the first 50 guests to eat lunch with Burger 21 will receive Burger 21 giveaways. Burger 21 will also celebrate its opening on social media where Facebook fans will have the chance to win $21 gift cards.
The location will be run by General Manager Jonniene Moritz, who has been with the brand for three years and believes the St. Petersburg location will allow Burger 21 to further immerse itself in the Tampa Bay area as a local favorite.
Highlights of Burger 21® St. Petersburg include:
- 50 new team members hired in St. Petersburg
- Approximately 1,950 square feet
- Seating for 48 customers inside the restaurant
- Patio with seating for 35 customers
- Exclusive Burger 21® menu items
Recognition for Burger 21 includes being named one of the 10 best franchises to buy in 2017, winning the "Better Burger" category of the Franchise Times Zor Awards. The brand has also been named Entrepreneur Magazine's Top New Franchises and Restaurant Business' 50 Fastest-Growing Small Restaurant Chains of 2016.
Additionally, the company has been ranked on Fast Casual's Top 100 "Movers and Shakers" for the last five consecutive years, while Burger 21 founder Johnston was acknowledged as one of Fast Casual's "Top 25 People" of 2014 for his strategic leadership in the brand's growth and development. Burger 21 also was named one of QSR's "Best Franchise Deals" of 2014.
For more information, visit Burger 21's website.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/05/prweb15491020.htm
Burger 21® Opens 5th Bay Area Location in St. Petersburg
The 5th Burger 21® Bay Area restaurant location opens in Saint Petersburg, Florida on Monday June 4th, 2018.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.813area.com/tampa/downtown-tampa/events/295577/burger-21-st.pete-grand-opening.htm
Burger 21 St.pete Grand Opening
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/prnewswire/press_releases/Florida/2018/05/16/UN97158
Burger 21® Opens 5th Bay Area Location in St. Petersburg
The 5th Burger 21® Bay Area restaurant location opens in Saint Petersburg, Florida on Monday June 4th, 2018.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.news18.com/news/football/david-beckhams-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-report-1758233.html
David Beckham's Miami MLS Club Could Have Name Soon: Report
David Beckham's Major League Soccer expansion club isn't expected to debut until at least 2020, but it could soon have a name, the Miami Herald reported Wednesday.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/beckham-s-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-report
Beckham's Miami MLS club could have name soon: report
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/football/2018/may/24/david-beckhams-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-report-1818885.html
David Beckham's Miami MLS club could have name soon: Report
The Beckham group has now secured land on which to build a privately developed 25,000-seat stadium in the heart of Miami.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/23/cole-excited-prospect-playing-former-england-teammate-rooney-mls
Cole excited by prospect of playing former England teammate Rooney in MLS
CARSON, Calif. – Count Ashley Cole among those hoping to see Wayne Rooney playing in Major League Soccer.
The LA Galaxy captain, for a decade a teammate of Rooney's on England's national team for a decade and a rival even longer in the English Premier League, said he'd like to match wits again with the 32-year-old forwar
(Follow link for full article.)
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/05/23/report-earnie-stewart-in-negotiations-for-u-s-soccer-gm-job/
Report: Earnie Stewart in negotiations for U.S. Soccer GM job
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/soccer-team-atlanta-united-fc-beats-yankees-in-average-game-attendance
Soccer team Atlanta United FC beats Yankees in average game attendance
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.beinsports.com/th-en/major-league-soccer/news/cole-hoping-to-see-rooney-in-mls-amid-dc-un-5/882454
Cole hoping to see Rooney in MLS amid DC United links
LA Galaxy captain Ashley Cole is excited by the prospect of playing against former England team-mate Wayne Rooney in MLS.
Everton veteran Rooney, 32, is believed to be closing in on a move to DC United after being pictured in Washington on Wednesday.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/beckhams-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-20180524
Beckham's Miami MLS club could have name soon
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/24/10000-flights-and-personal-credit-how-the-us-open-cup-cripples-smaller-clubs
$10,000 flights and personal credit: How the US Open Cup cripples smaller clubs
Smaller teams dream of taking on an MLS club in the US Open Cup. But that dream can come at a steep cost
For the US Open Cup, 2017 was the year of the underdog. The hype started early when Christos FC – an amateur club out of Maryland named after a local liquor store – upset two fourth-division sides and a USL team before going out to MLS’s DC United. Upsets continued to prevail, as the USL’s FC Cincinnati beat the Columbus Crew and Bastian Schweinsteiger’s Chicago Fire en route to a quarter-final showdown with then-NASL side Miami FC. Cincinnati won, serving as the tournament’s first non-MLS semi-finalist since 2009.
“For these lower-division clubs, the Open Cup is a one-off opportunity to prove themselves,” according to Peter Wilt, who launched Chicago Fire, NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars, and NASL/USL’s Indy Eleven. “That dream of beating the bigger clubs is very fleeting. It’s the one opportunity that you have whenever you qualify, and it’s usually gone after two or three matches.”
But that dream can cripple smaller clubs. While the US Open Cup is often compared to England’s famous FA Cup, America’s vast spaces make it a much different proposition. A non-league English club’s away trip may involve a coach trip of a few hours. Teams in the US Open Cup, however, may have to pay for flights across a continent.
Meet Minneapolis City SC, known colloquially as the Crows. The team operates on a very small budget (the club spent $46,000 in 2017) and relies entirely on sponsorships and memberships all over the globe at $50 a share. Most of its players are college kids back home for the summer, able to retain amateur status in the offseason. During qualification for the 2018 tournament they played under their club operations name of Stegman’s Soccer Club. In qualification, the team was drawn to Kansas’ Santa Fe Wanderers, a $6,000 trip for Minneapolis. When Santa Fe forfeited, the draw pitted Minneapolis against Aurora Borealis Soccer Club in Illinois, another $4,000 trip via flights to Chicago. When the team won that round, they were in for an even longer trip.
“It was a surprise when we were drawn to Rochester, New York” Minneapolis City chairman Dan Hoedeman told the Guardian. “It required a multi-leg flight [it would take 16 hours to drive between from Minneapolis to Rochester non-stop] and they had an awful middle school stadium with limited availability. A lot of our players work 9-5 jobs on weekdays, and Rochester only offered to play on that Sunday afternoon. We were at the point where if our game in Rochester had made it to penalties, we would’ve had to leave to catch our flight.”
Stegman’s ended up losing 2-1, conceding deep into the second half. It was a tough result to swallow, and was only made more difficult by the logistics.
“If we hadn’t gotten $12,000 in donations, we would’ve had nothing,” club business director Sarah Schreier remarked. “The Rochester flights alone were $10,000 for 20 players. We could barely make it happen, and we both put club expenses on our personal credit cards. We still spent $3,000 on top of the donations.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's stunning MLS debut is starting to look like an exception
Read more
It’s a regular plight for amateur teams in the States. For those looking to get a crack at the national spotlight – Hoedeman referenced Harpos FC and Christos FC’s magical runs – it requires funding beyond the usual operating budget. Minneapolis City nearly had to stop streaming its games this year to cut costs, but a recent sponsorship allowed those funds to resurface.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-david-beckhams-miami-mls-club-could-have-name-soon-says-report
Football: David Beckham's Miami MLS club could have name soon, says report
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.ibtimes.com/mls-wayne-rooney-washington-discuss-dc-united-move-2684090
MLS: Wayne Rooney In Washington To Discuss DC United Move
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/05/24/fc-cincinnati-mls-expansion-don-garber-announcement-nashville-sacramento-detroit-miami/635835002/
Cincinnati's MLS expansion bid: FC Cincinnati announcement imminent
(Follow link for full article.)
https://talksport.com/football/wayne-rooney-mls-latest-confirmed-everton-star-hold-talks-dc-united
Wayne Rooney to MLS latest: Spokesperson confirms Everton star is in Washington to hold talks with DC United
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-cosmos/soccer-cosmos-shooting-for-stars-with-500-million-plan-idUSKCN1IP009
Soccer: Cosmos shooting for stars with $500 million plan
(Reuters) - Once one of the most glamorous names in North American sport, the New York Cosmos are today living on soccer’s Skid Row, a fourth division club playing on school grounds left behind, largely unwanted and forgotten.
On April 29, the team that lured soccer royalty like Pele and Franz Beckenbauer opened their National Premier Soccer League season with a 4-0 win over Boston City FC in front of a handful of spectators at Malden Catholic High School.
It marked a low ebb for a team that routinely played in front of roaring crowds of 70,000 in the 1970s and brought global attention to the original North American Soccer League in its heyday.
Yet cable television billionaire Rocco Commisso saw enough residual value in the Cosmos to buy a majority stake in 2017 and has ambitions of not only resurrecting a dead league and its flagship franchise but also rattling the establishment with the introduction of promotion and relegation.
“There’s no team in North America that’s got the historical reputation the New York Cosmos has,” Commisso told Reuters.
“We’ve won more than anyone else, we’ve been in more countries than anybody else.
“There is no name in Europe or anywhere else that is as recognized on the American landscape as the Cosmos and that’s what they wanted to destroy.”
Commisso was referring to the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the sport’s national governing body, which stripped the second division sanctioning of the modern North American Soccer League (NASL) last year.
The NASL have in turn launched lawsuits against USSF, casting doubt on whether the parties can come together for the common good of North American soccer.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Is this the Beckham MLS team's long-awaited name?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article211712754.html
Is this the Beckham MLS team's long-awaited name?
Could David Beckham’s Major League Soccer team finally have a name?
Nobody is saying yet, but according to an online search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a company calling itself Miami Freedom LLC applied on May 17, 2018 to trademark the following four names: Miami Freedom Football Club, Miami Freedom United, Miami Freedom FC and Miami Freedom.
Among the goods and services the trademark application lists: posters, decals, trading cards, stickers, media guides relating to a “professional soccer team”, souvenir programs, admission tickets, calendars, pencils, t-shirts, fleece tops, jerseys, hats, caps, shorts, sweat suits, jackets, scarves, headbands, infant and toddler clothing, soccer balls, soccer ball bags, toy figurines, golf accessories, Christmas tree ornaments, “soccer exhibitions live in a stadium, ”plastic films for electronic devices, computer and video game software, magnets, sunglasses, DVD’s, and downloadable artwork.
The attorney listed on the application is Thomas W. Brooke, a Washington, D.C.-based trademark attorney with Holland & Knight.
It has been nearly four months since Beckham and his partners – who include MasTec executives Jorge and Jose Mas and Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure – were awarded an MLS expansion team in a glitzy ceremony at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The plan is for the team to begin play in a temporary site in 2020 and move into its own stadium in 2021.
The group has been in discussions to not build the 25,000-seat stadium at the Overtown site where Beckham bought land, and instead to place the stadium at the much larger city-owned Melreese Golf Course next to the Miami Airport. Voter approval would be needed, and the delays could mean it would have to wait until the November ballot.
Jorge Mas said recently that a team name, logo and colors were in the works with firms in New York and London but was not ready to reveal any other details.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/05/22/st-petes-cycling-scene-is-the-best-in-the-state.html
St. Pete's cycling scene is the best in the state, study says
The city ranks top in the state and 22nd in the nation for its biking atmosphere.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/22/fc-cincinnati-owner-lindner-on-mls-bid-i-think-we.html
FC Cincinnati owner Lindner on MLS bid: ‘I think we’re going to get over the finish line'
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16239476.Ian_Ayre_to_take_over_Nashville_s_MLS_club_-_that_s_a_bombshell__baby/
Ian Ayre to take over Nashville's MLS club - that's a bombshell, baby
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/78020/bobby-moffat-on-life-in-american-pro-soccer-in-the.html
Bobby Moffat on life in American pro soccer in the 1970s, the charm of Pele, and the NASL's legacy
In 1975, during Bobby Moffat's fifth season with the Dallas Tornado, he played against Pele in the Brazilian great's debut game for the New York Cosmos. It was something Moffat couldn't have imagined during his early years in the old NASL after leaving England at age 24 for the Tornado's 1970 season. Moffat, whose jobs to supplement his Tornado income had included door-to-door encyclopedia and vacuum cleaner sales, is in the midst of helping organize the 50th Anniversary Reunion in Frisco, Texas, Oct. 19-21, for the old NASL, which kicked off in 1968 and folded in 1984 -- after sparking the American soccer boom.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/05/22/ian-ayre-nashville-mls-expansion-team-ceo-liverpool
Ian Ayre Sets Out to Build Nashville's MLS Expansion Team From the Bottom Up
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/article211597834.html
Former Liverpool CEO Ayre hired by MLS' Nashville team
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2018/5/22/17381306/whats-wrong-with-our-football-club
What’s Wrong With Our Football Club?
Attempting to unravel Impact’s decline...
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/05/22/potential-soccer-stadium-site-at-mckalla-place-had.html
Potential soccer stadium site at McKalla Place had also been identified as ripe for affordable housing
A former industrial site in North Austin could be the future home of a professional soccer team. But last year before the soccer proposal went public, the property was identified as a leading candidate for affordable housing, according to an internal city analysis obtained by ABJ. City Council never got the memo, but they may soon as they decide the fate of the public-owned site.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/ex-liverpool-boss-ayre-named-nashville-mls-chief-exec-20180522
Ex-Liverpool boss Ayre named Nashville MLS chief exec
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8la69i/tbrvpgh_match_ratings_unused_substitutes_my_site/
#TBRvPGH Match Ratings – Unused Substitutes (My site) (theunsubs.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2018/05/22/tbrvpgh-match-ratings-2/3868
#TBRvPGH Match Ratings
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8ld0tz/tbu_rowdies_u17s_win_state_cup_back_to_back/
TBU Rowdies U17s Win State Cup – Back to Back Champions! (rowdiessoccer.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/920144
TBU Rowdies Win State Cup – Back to Back Champions!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe24Q2NiwNg
Meet the Rowdies 2018 Fan of the Year
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on May 22, 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xXPUNeLuWI
Rowdies Rundown - Rowdies Host The Hounds
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on May 22, 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/998682387704942597
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
ICYMI: The @tbusoccer Rowdies U17B team claimed its second-straight Florida State Champion 🏆 this weekend! Congrats, boys!
Read more: http://bit.ly/2IB0Zlb
2:50 PM - 21 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/RowdiesPete/status/998918710512451584
Pete the Pelican @RowdiesPete
Campbell Park Elementary Field Day to kick off my Tuesday morning!
6:29 AM - 22 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/998944674667794432
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Back to work💪
Rowdies are on the road this Saturday, when they face @TorontoFCII.
8:12 AM - 22 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/998946097660915713
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
You may have won $3,000 in the #RowdiesRiches Sweepstakes! Grab your match program this past Saturday & head to http://RowdiesRiches.com .
8:18 AM - 22 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/martin_vingaard/status/999057966857904128
Martin Vingaard @martin_vingaard
Martin Vingaard Retweeted Tampa Bay Rowdies
💚💛 COYR
Martin Vingaard added,
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Back to work💪
Rowdies are on the road this Saturday, when they face @TorontoFCII.
3:42 PM - 22 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/miami-freedom-mls-fans-react-to-potential-name-of-david-beckhams-club/
Miami Freedom? MLS fans react to potential name of David Beckham’s club
What is the first thing you think of when you hear, “Miami.” Is it famed South Beach? A diverse population with heavy Cuban influences? A top business and cultural hub? Fashion? Tourism? Art Deco? Nightclubs? Pit Bull? Glitz and glamour?
One thing you probably didn’t think of is “freedom” — until now.
Miami Freedom FC or some variation of it could be the name of David Beckham’s long-awaited Major League Soccer franchise, according to a Miami Herald report late Tuesday.
MLS fans and analysts quickly took to social media to offer opinions — mostly critical — of the name, which was found by the Herald during an online search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
“A company calling itself Miami Freedom LLC applied on May 17, 2018 to trademark the following four names: Miami Freedom Football Club, Miami Freedom United, Miami Freedom FC and Miami Freedom,” the article reads.
Some think the name sounds like an MLS club of old (see: Tampa Bay Mutiny, Dallas Burn and Kansas City Wiz). Others said it does not sound like a professional, major-league name, like the Uniteds, Citys, FCs and SCs of the world. Some praised it for that same reason. And still others just don’t see a strong connection between Miami and freedom. (I’m in this camp as a native of New England — where reminders of the history of freedom in this country can literally be found on nearly every corner — and a 10-year resident of Florida).
Then there are those who don’t care what the name is and just want the future club to get its stadium situation together and start playing.
Where do you stand? Take a look at some initial reactions on social media and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.vindy.com/news/2018/may/23/soccer-fans-rise-up-on-twitter/
Soccer fans rise up on Twitter
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is a mere three weeks away.
Wait, why aren’t you celebrating the start of the only sporting event larger than the Super Bowl?
If you’re uninterested in the massive soccer (or football or futbol) spectacle, it’s easy to understand why.
The U.S. men’s soccer team failed to qualify, leaving many fans to turn to Twitter to revolt and rage, feeling a deep sting to our national pride.
We know this because, according to Jay Bavishi, partner manager for FIFA at Twitter, the United States is still the second most tweeted-about team (@ussoccer), right behind Japan (@JFA).
Chile (@LaRoja) didn’t qualify either. Yet like the United States, they also made the “most tweeted about teams” list.
“As you can see, despite the United States and Chile not qualifying for the tournament, excitement for this summer’s event has not waned as both teams are still among the most discussed on Twitter,” Bavishi said.
So, even after the United States was ousted from Cup contention months ago, we’re still talking about @ussoccer on Twitter. Why?
When you look back at those tweets about @ussoccer, they’re not pretty. I tend to shy away from the negative, but there was something very telling about our growing interest in soccer among those posts.
It’s no secret that the United States lags behind other countries in soccer appeal. But over the last decade, there has been a groundswell of interest based in cultural shifts – oh, and social media.
The shifts are clear: the introduction of youth soccer leagues; an influx of immigrants who brought with them a love for soccer; the introduction of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996.
Sure, the MLS can’t touch the other major sports in ratings and revenues, but the fan base is just as fervent. MLS fans let their passion shine social media, in particular on Twitter, where they rally support for teams, communities and causes.
I noticed this first-hand while attending the International Association for Communication and Sport’s Summit at Indiana University a few weeks ago.
During one presentation, researcher Stephen Andon (Nova Southeastern University) discussed fan reaction to the Columbus Crew owner’s plan to move the team from Ohio.
Using the hashtag #SaveTheCrew, the rallying cry for Crew fans on Twitter and around the world set on keeping the team in Columbus, I tweeted a message of support for Andon’s research and for Ohio’s lone MLS team.
Within minutes, Crew fans were sharing that post, and interacting with Andon and other fans.
One fan even invited me to a tailgate party in Columbus.
It’s clear that soccer in the United States doesn’t have the power of other major league sports. But what it lacks in money and media exposure it more than makes up for in a passionate fan base on social media.
Adam Earnheardt is chair of the department of communication at Youngstown State University. Follow him on Twitter at @adamearn and on his blog at www.adamearn.com.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://stpetecatalyst.com/study-st-pete-is-floridas-best-for-bikes-city/
National study: St. Pete is Florida’s ‘best for bikes’ city
Over a two-year period, the advocacy group People For Bikes created and maintained a massive database of American cities and their relationships with bicyclists.
Each city – and just under 500 were monitored – was rated on five criteria: Ridership, Safety, Network, Acceleration and Reach. Feedback from everyday bike riders, city staffers, open-source maps and publicly available data was used.
Number One in Florida: St. Petersburg (the Sunshine City was also ranked 22nd overall in the United States).
In the “Acceleration” category – indicating speedy progress towards a better biking infrastructure – St. Petersburg came in at No. 11.
People For Bikes describes the category thusly: “We measure this category separately from other factors that assess past achievements of a city (like Ridership, Safety, and Network) to showcase a city’s efforts to continuously improve and expand bicycling. We can recognize cities that are growing their bike network quickly, but maybe haven’t achieved long-term success – yet.”
“Acceleration,” the company’s research director Jennifer Boldry told bicycling.com, “is a measure of potential. Collecting data year over year, we’ll account for whether cities are actually achieving those goals.”
That was good enough for Mayor Rick Kriseman, himself a biking enthusiast, who issued a statement. “As we have been focused on making the City of St. Petersburg a friendlier place for cyclists and pedestrians,” he said, “this is great news. I want to thank People for Bikes, and most important of all, everyone in the Sunshine City who rides a bike or helps to make life easier for those on a bike.”
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article211712754.html
Is this the Beckham MLS team's long-awaited name?
Could David Beckham’s Major League Soccer team finally have a name?
Nobody is saying yet, but according to an online search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a company calling itself Miami Freedom LLC applied on May 17, 2018 to trademark the following four names: Miami Freedom Football Club, Miami Freedom United, Miami Freedom FC and Miami Freedom.
Among the goods and services the trademark application lists: posters, decals, trading cards, stickers, media guides relating to a “professional soccer team”, souvenir programs, admission tickets, calendars, pencils, t-shirts, fleece tops, jerseys, hats, caps, shorts, sweat suits, jackets, scarves, headbands, infant and toddler clothing, soccer balls, soccer ball bags, toy figurines, golf accessories, Christmas tree ornaments, “soccer exhibitions live in a stadium, ”plastic films for electronic devices, computer and video game software, magnets, sunglasses, DVD’s, and downloadable artwork.
The attorney listed on the application is Thomas W. Brooke, a Washington, D.C.-based trademark attorney with Holland & Knight.
It has been nearly four months since Beckham and his partners – who include MasTec executives Jorge and Jose Mas and Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure – were awarded an MLS expansion team in a glitzy ceremony at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The plan is for the team to begin play in a temporary site in 2020 and move into its own stadium in 2021.
The group has been in discussions to not build the 25,000-seat stadium at the Overtown site where Beckham bought land, and instead to place the stadium at the much larger city-owned Melreese Golf Course next to the Miami Airport. Voter approval would be needed, and the delays could mean it would have to wait until the November ballot.
Jorge Mas said recently that a team name, logo and colors were in the works with firms in New York and London but was not ready to reveal any other details.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/05/22/st-petes-cycling-scene-is-the-best-in-the-state.html
St. Pete's cycling scene is the best in the state, study says
The city ranks top in the state and 22nd in the nation for its biking atmosphere.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/22/fc-cincinnati-owner-lindner-on-mls-bid-i-think-we.html
FC Cincinnati owner Lindner on MLS bid: ‘I think we’re going to get over the finish line'
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16239476.Ian_Ayre_to_take_over_Nashville_s_MLS_club_-_that_s_a_bombshell__baby/
Ian Ayre to take over Nashville's MLS club - that's a bombshell, baby
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/78020/bobby-moffat-on-life-in-american-pro-soccer-in-the.html
Bobby Moffat on life in American pro soccer in the 1970s, the charm of Pele, and the NASL's legacy
In 1975, during Bobby Moffat's fifth season with the Dallas Tornado, he played against Pele in the Brazilian great's debut game for the New York Cosmos. It was something Moffat couldn't have imagined during his early years in the old NASL after leaving England at age 24 for the Tornado's 1970 season. Moffat, whose jobs to supplement his Tornado income had included door-to-door encyclopedia and vacuum cleaner sales, is in the midst of helping organize the 50th Anniversary Reunion in Frisco, Texas, Oct. 19-21, for the old NASL, which kicked off in 1968 and folded in 1984 -- after sparking the American soccer boom.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/05/22/ian-ayre-nashville-mls-expansion-team-ceo-liverpool
Ian Ayre Sets Out to Build Nashville's MLS Expansion Team From the Bottom Up
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/article211597834.html
Former Liverpool CEO Ayre hired by MLS' Nashville team
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2018/5/22/17381306/whats-wrong-with-our-football-club
What’s Wrong With Our Football Club?
Attempting to unravel Impact’s decline...
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/05/22/potential-soccer-stadium-site-at-mckalla-place-had.html
Potential soccer stadium site at McKalla Place had also been identified as ripe for affordable housing
A former industrial site in North Austin could be the future home of a professional soccer team. But last year before the soccer proposal went public, the property was identified as a leading candidate for affordable housing, according to an internal city analysis obtained by ABJ. City Council never got the memo, but they may soon as they decide the fate of the public-owned site.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/ex-liverpool-boss-ayre-named-nashville-mls-chief-exec-20180522
Ex-Liverpool boss Ayre named Nashville MLS chief exec
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8la69i/tbrvpgh_match_ratings_unused_substitutes_my_site/
#TBRvPGH Match Ratings – Unused Substitutes (My site) (theunsubs.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2018/05/22/tbrvpgh-match-ratings-2/3868
#TBRvPGH Match Ratings
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8ld0tz/tbu_rowdies_u17s_win_state_cup_back_to_back/
TBU Rowdies U17s Win State Cup – Back to Back Champions! (rowdiessoccer.com)
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/920144
TBU Rowdies Win State Cup – Back to Back Champions!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe24Q2NiwNg
Meet the Rowdies 2018 Fan of the Year
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on May 22, 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xXPUNeLuWI
Rowdies Rundown - Rowdies Host The Hounds
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on May 22, 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/998682387704942597
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
ICYMI: The @tbusoccer Rowdies U17B team claimed its second-straight Florida State Champion 🏆 this weekend! Congrats, boys!
Read more: http://bit.ly/2IB0Zlb
2:50 PM - 21 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/RowdiesPete/status/998918710512451584
Pete the Pelican @RowdiesPete
Campbell Park Elementary Field Day to kick off my Tuesday morning!
6:29 AM - 22 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/998944674667794432
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Back to work💪
Rowdies are on the road this Saturday, when they face @TorontoFCII.
8:12 AM - 22 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/998946097660915713
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
You may have won $3,000 in the #RowdiesRiches Sweepstakes! Grab your match program this past Saturday & head to http://RowdiesRiches.com .
8:18 AM - 22 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/martin_vingaard/status/999057966857904128
Martin Vingaard @martin_vingaard
Martin Vingaard Retweeted Tampa Bay Rowdies
💚💛 COYR
Martin Vingaard added,
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Verified account @TampaBayRowdies
Back to work💪
Rowdies are on the road this Saturday, when they face @TorontoFCII.
3:42 PM - 22 May 2018
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/miami-freedom-mls-fans-react-to-potential-name-of-david-beckhams-club/
Miami Freedom? MLS fans react to potential name of David Beckham’s club
What is the first thing you think of when you hear, “Miami.” Is it famed South Beach? A diverse population with heavy Cuban influences? A top business and cultural hub? Fashion? Tourism? Art Deco? Nightclubs? Pit Bull? Glitz and glamour?
One thing you probably didn’t think of is “freedom” — until now.
Miami Freedom FC or some variation of it could be the name of David Beckham’s long-awaited Major League Soccer franchise, according to a Miami Herald report late Tuesday.
MLS fans and analysts quickly took to social media to offer opinions — mostly critical — of the name, which was found by the Herald during an online search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
“A company calling itself Miami Freedom LLC applied on May 17, 2018 to trademark the following four names: Miami Freedom Football Club, Miami Freedom United, Miami Freedom FC and Miami Freedom,” the article reads.
Some think the name sounds like an MLS club of old (see: Tampa Bay Mutiny, Dallas Burn and Kansas City Wiz). Others said it does not sound like a professional, major-league name, like the Uniteds, Citys, FCs and SCs of the world. Some praised it for that same reason. And still others just don’t see a strong connection between Miami and freedom. (I’m in this camp as a native of New England — where reminders of the history of freedom in this country can literally be found on nearly every corner — and a 10-year resident of Florida).
Then there are those who don’t care what the name is and just want the future club to get its stadium situation together and start playing.
Where do you stand? Take a look at some initial reactions on social media and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.vindy.com/news/2018/may/23/soccer-fans-rise-up-on-twitter/
Soccer fans rise up on Twitter
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is a mere three weeks away.
Wait, why aren’t you celebrating the start of the only sporting event larger than the Super Bowl?
If you’re uninterested in the massive soccer (or football or futbol) spectacle, it’s easy to understand why.
The U.S. men’s soccer team failed to qualify, leaving many fans to turn to Twitter to revolt and rage, feeling a deep sting to our national pride.
We know this because, according to Jay Bavishi, partner manager for FIFA at Twitter, the United States is still the second most tweeted-about team (@ussoccer), right behind Japan (@JFA).
Chile (@LaRoja) didn’t qualify either. Yet like the United States, they also made the “most tweeted about teams” list.
“As you can see, despite the United States and Chile not qualifying for the tournament, excitement for this summer’s event has not waned as both teams are still among the most discussed on Twitter,” Bavishi said.
So, even after the United States was ousted from Cup contention months ago, we’re still talking about @ussoccer on Twitter. Why?
When you look back at those tweets about @ussoccer, they’re not pretty. I tend to shy away from the negative, but there was something very telling about our growing interest in soccer among those posts.
It’s no secret that the United States lags behind other countries in soccer appeal. But over the last decade, there has been a groundswell of interest based in cultural shifts – oh, and social media.
The shifts are clear: the introduction of youth soccer leagues; an influx of immigrants who brought with them a love for soccer; the introduction of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996.
Sure, the MLS can’t touch the other major sports in ratings and revenues, but the fan base is just as fervent. MLS fans let their passion shine social media, in particular on Twitter, where they rally support for teams, communities and causes.
I noticed this first-hand while attending the International Association for Communication and Sport’s Summit at Indiana University a few weeks ago.
During one presentation, researcher Stephen Andon (Nova Southeastern University) discussed fan reaction to the Columbus Crew owner’s plan to move the team from Ohio.
Using the hashtag #SaveTheCrew, the rallying cry for Crew fans on Twitter and around the world set on keeping the team in Columbus, I tweeted a message of support for Andon’s research and for Ohio’s lone MLS team.
Within minutes, Crew fans were sharing that post, and interacting with Andon and other fans.
One fan even invited me to a tailgate party in Columbus.
It’s clear that soccer in the United States doesn’t have the power of other major league sports. But what it lacks in money and media exposure it more than makes up for in a passionate fan base on social media.
Adam Earnheardt is chair of the department of communication at Youngstown State University. Follow him on Twitter at @adamearn and on his blog at www.adamearn.com.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://stpetecatalyst.com/study-st-pete-is-floridas-best-for-bikes-city/
National study: St. Pete is Florida’s ‘best for bikes’ city
Over a two-year period, the advocacy group People For Bikes created and maintained a massive database of American cities and their relationships with bicyclists.
Each city – and just under 500 were monitored – was rated on five criteria: Ridership, Safety, Network, Acceleration and Reach. Feedback from everyday bike riders, city staffers, open-source maps and publicly available data was used.
Number One in Florida: St. Petersburg (the Sunshine City was also ranked 22nd overall in the United States).
In the “Acceleration” category – indicating speedy progress towards a better biking infrastructure – St. Petersburg came in at No. 11.
People For Bikes describes the category thusly: “We measure this category separately from other factors that assess past achievements of a city (like Ridership, Safety, and Network) to showcase a city’s efforts to continuously improve and expand bicycling. We can recognize cities that are growing their bike network quickly, but maybe haven’t achieved long-term success – yet.”
“Acceleration,” the company’s research director Jennifer Boldry told bicycling.com, “is a measure of potential. Collecting data year over year, we’ll account for whether cities are actually achieving those goals.”
That was good enough for Mayor Rick Kriseman, himself a biking enthusiast, who issued a statement. “As we have been focused on making the City of St. Petersburg a friendlier place for cyclists and pedestrians,” he said, “this is great news. I want to thank People for Bikes, and most important of all, everyone in the Sunshine City who rides a bike or helps to make life easier for those on a bike.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)