Statement from Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards on today's @FCCincinnati’s @MLS announcement

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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!?

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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'.

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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.

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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....

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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.

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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."

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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

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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

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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

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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).

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https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-usa-cincinnati-expansion/cincinnati-lands-mls-expansion-franchise-idUKFLM6hbHTx

Cincinnati lands MLS expansion franchise

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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

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http://www.concordmonitor.com/Cincinnati-latest-team-added-in-MLS-expansion-17838111

Cincinnati latest team added in MLS expansion

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https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/photos-cincinnati-joins-major-league-soccer/GjZoUBmCbeyZ4DhqCueBgK/

Photos: FC Cincinnati joins Major League Soccer

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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

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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

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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

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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

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https://www.cincinnati.com/videos/sports/2018/05/29/mls-welcomes-fc-cincinnati/35485153/

MLS welcomes FC Cincinnati

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http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/05/29/mls-skips-sacramento-again/

MLS Officially Skips Sacramento Again, This Time For Cincinnati

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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

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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

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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.

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http://www.oregonlive.com/mls/index.ssf/2018/05/major_league_soccer_grants_cin.html

Major League Soccer grants Cincinnati expansion team

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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