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.