Bill Edwards: Rowdies will stay in St. Petersburg ‘for at least five years’ under deal with Rays

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https://www.tampabay.com/article/20181002/ARTICLE/310029752/1120

Bill Edwards: Rowdies will stay in St. Petersburg ‘for at least five years’ under deal with Rays

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https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/2018/10/02/bill-edwards-rowdies-will-stay-in-st-petersburg-for-at-least-five-years-under-deal-with-rays/

Bill Edwards: Rowdies will stay in St. Petersburg ‘for at least five years’ under deal with Rays

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https://www.wtsp.com/video/news/rowdies-ceo-confirms-rays-will-buy-the-team/67-8269075

Rowdies CEO confirms Rays will buy the team

Tampa Bay Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards publicly confirmed 10Investigates' story Tuesday that he would sell the St. Petersburg-based professional soccer team to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball franchise.

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https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/10/02/tampa-bay-rowdies-stadium-contract-sold-to-mlbs-tampa-bay-rays/

Tampa Bay Rowdies, stadium contract sold to MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays

Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays have added their town’s soccer club, purchasing the USL Championship’s Tampa Bay Rowdies from owner Bill Edwards for an undisclosed amount.

[ MORE: Champions League wrap ]

The Rays will also get the Rowdies’ stadium contract for Al Lang Stadium, and the story has stoked interest in Major League Soccer potentially coming to Tampa and the Rays building a new stadium.

The Rowdies began as an NASL club in 1975, playing in several leagues before folding in 1993. The club was reborn in 2008, and purchased by Edwards in 2013. This past season was its second in the USL. From RowdiesSoccer.com:

“We are committed to continuing the upward trajectory that the Rowdies have been experiencing under Bill’s visionary leadership,” said Tampa Bay Rays President Matt Silverman. “The Tampa Bay Rowdies are a legendary soccer team, and we look forward to extending their legacy and prominence. We are eager to get to know Ralph’s Mob and all the Rowdies fans, to growing soccer in St. Petersburg and throughout Tampa Bay, and of course, bringing home a championship, which could be imminent!”

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/10/01/reports-potential-ownership-change-mls-hopefuls-tampa-bay-rowdies

Reports: Potential ownership change for MLS hopefuls Tampa Bay Rowdies

USL side and MLS expansion hopefuls the Tampa Bay Rowdies are being purchased by Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, according to multiple media reports and a statement from the mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, where the team plays.

The Rowdies have not commented on the reports, but have scheduled a press conference for Tuesday morning.

The news appears to add multiple layers of intrigue to the Rowdies’ prospects of future MLS entry, a campaign the club have dubbed #MLS2StPete.

Last year St. Petersburg voters approved a referendum solidifying the Rowdies’ Al Lang Stadium (pictured above) as the future home of a potential MLS expansion team, with current Rowdies owner Bill Edwards having proposed to fund the expansion fee and an $80 million renovation of the historic waterfront stadium into a striking 18,000-capacity soccer venue, a development welcomed by MLS executives.

Edwards “deserves much appreciation for remaking the Tampa Bay Rowdies and investing in Al Lang Stadium and our community,” said St. Pete mayor Rick Kriseman in a public statement.

“Similarly, the Tampa Bay Rays' leadership has remade their baseball organization and placed considerable emphasis on community engagement. I am confident that this is a positive development for all parties, the great fans of both teams, and the City of St. Petersburg."

The Rays are also based in St. Petersburg, which sits across Tampa Bay from the city of Tampa proper, and are seeking a new ballpark to replace Tropicana Field, the domed stadium near Al Lang that they’ve called home their entire existence.

The team has proposed a new domed venue in Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood, but with a price tag approaching $1 billion, it’s unclear who and how the new park would be funded. A decade ago the Rays sought unsuccessfully to advance a proposal for a new baseball stadium on the site of Al Lang, which was originally a baseball facility used primarily as an MLB spring training site in the latter half of the 20th century.

A Rays official told the Tampa Bay Times on Monday the purchase would have no effect on their Ybor City plans.

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/955077

MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays Purchase the Tampa Bay Rowdies

FORMER ROWDIES OWNER BILL EDWARDS TO BE HONORED AT OCT. 6 ROWDIES HOME GAME

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship today announced the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball team has purchased the storied professional soccer club from former owner Bill Edwards. Per league practice, financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

“As the USL Championship continues to expand and firmly root itself in the American professional soccer landscape, it continues to draw growing interest from experienced and sophisticated investors like the Tampa Bay Rays organization,” said United Soccer League CEO Alec Papadakis. “I am excited to welcome the Rays into the league’s ownership group, the third Major League Baseball ownership group to join the USL. I am also incredibly grateful for the long-term contributions of former Rowdies owner Bill Edwards. Bill was a model owner and played a major role not only in the successful resurgence of his club but in the overall growth of the league.”

As part of the deal, current Rays Presidents Matthew Silverman and Brian Auld will become Vice Chairmen of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, overseeing all aspects of the club going forward in concert with Rowdies VP & COO Lee Cohen.

“I am thrilled to join a successful and forward-looking organization as the USL and believe there is a very bright future ahead for the beloved Rowdies,” said Silverman. “This community is a hotbed for soccer- from the strong youth participation to the thousands who pack Al Lang Stadium each week clad in green, yellow and white. I look forward to working with our supporters and community partners to build upon the success of the club and grow the Rowdies brand into one of the most vibrant in all of professional soccer.”

Edwards accomplished much during his tenure as owner of the Rowdies, returning the iconic club to its former prestige within the Tampa Bay community. Edwards purchased the club in 2013 and invested millions of dollars into Al Lang Stadium, converting it into one of the most unique and picturesque venues in the sport. Edwards will be recognized during a special tribute at the Rowdies’ final home game on Oct. 6 at Al Lang Stadium.

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https://www.wtsp.com/video/news/investigations/10-investigates/tampa-bay-rays-are-buying-the-tampa-bay-rowdies/67-8267867

Tampa Bay Rays are buying the Tampa Bay Rowdies

The Tampa Bay Rays are purchasing the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer club, as well as the team's control of Al Lang Stadium on the St. Petersburg waterfront.

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https://www.wtsp.com/video/sports/tampa-bay-rays-to-pursue-ybor-city-ballpark-while-keeping-rowdies-in-st-petersburg/67-8269003

Tampa Bay Rays to pursue Ybor City ballpark while keeping Rowdies in St. Petersburg

Tampa Bay Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards publicly confirmed 10Investigates' story Tuesday that he would sell the St. Petersburg-based professional soccer team to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball franchise.

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/usf-bulls/2018/10/01/former-usf-phu-soccer-star-ben-sweat-joins-u-s-national-team/

Former USF, PHU soccer star Ben Sweat joins U.S. national team

https://www.wfla.com/sports/2-tampa-bay-natives-on-roster-for-usmnt-game-at-raymond-james/1490569423

2 Tampa Bay natives on roster for USMNT game at Raymond James

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - Two Tampa Bay natives are coming home next week and suiting up for the United States Men's National Soccer Team.

The United States takes on Colombia next Thursday at Raymond James Stadium. The game is part of the team's Kickoff Series and is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.

U.S. Soccer released the roster for the game on Monday. Twenty-four players made the cut, including two from the Tampa Bay area: Julian Green and Ben Sweat.

Green is a 23-year-old midfielder with 12 USMNT caps under his belt. The Tampa native appeared in the 2014 FIFA World Cup for the USMNT and scored the United States' only goal in their losing Round of 16 match against Belgium.

Green currently plays for Greuther Fürth in Germany's second division of professional football, 2. Bundesliga. He previously played for Bayern Munich.

This roster marks the first time Sweat has been called up to the men's national team. The 27-year-old Palm Harbor native is a product of Chargers SC, a U.S. Soccer Development Academy club.

Sweat is a left back who played four years at the University of South Florida. After college, Sweat was taken by Columbus Crew in the 2014 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. He went on to play for the Crew's USL affiliate club and even spent two seasons with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Sweat currently plays for the Major League Soccer team New York City FC.

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/955061-usl-race-for-the-playoffs-sept-oct-3-7

USL Race for the Playoffs – Sept. Oct. 3-7

WESTERN CONFERENCE TAKES SPOTLIGHT FOR KEY MIDWEEK CONTESTS IN BATTLE FOR POSITION

The race for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference continues to remain a close-run thing with five teams separated by three points from sixth place through 10th place in the standings, and that group could be joined by the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Wednesday night to add to the tension. The big spotlight in Wednesday’s action, however, falls on the Western Conference where two teams have the chance to clinch their spot as others fight for a chance at homefield advantage in the conference quarterfinals.

References: FiveThirtyEight.com Playoff Projections

THREE KEY GAMES
Wednesday, Oct. 3 – ATL UTD 2 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
After last week’s loss to Indy Eleven it’s make-or-break time for the Rowdies in their two games this week, but both on paper look winnable starting with a trip to Coolray Field to face ATL UTD 2. Atlanta has lost four in a row, a sequence that began with a 1-0 defeat to the Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium on September 15. The Rowdies are four points out of the playoff positions to start the week, but also play host to the Charlotte Independence on Saturday night which means a victory here could set up one final push for a place in the postseason.

11. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Current Record: 11-13-7, 40pts
Maximum Points Available: 49
Points Needed to Clinch: 13
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Playoffs Odds: 13%
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 2-0 at Indy Eleven
Next Game: 10/3 at ATL UTD 2, 7 p.m. ET; 10/6 vs. Charlotte Independence, 7:30 p.m. ET
The Rowdies will have been happy to see the draw between Nashville SC and the New York Red Bulls II, but now have to make hay this week in their two games against ATL UTD 2 and the Charlotte Independence. Victories in both those games, and defeats for the Red Bulls II in North Carolina and Bethlehem Steel FC against Indy Eleven would be highly beneficial and potentially set up a winner-take-all contest for the final spot in the postseason with Steel FC on the final day of the season.

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/955272

USL’s Week Ahead – Playoff Race Nears Climax with Key Games in East, West

SEVEN PLACES REMAIN UP FOR GRABS IN 2018 USL CUP PLAYOFFS WITH TWO WEEKS TO GO IN REGULAR SEASON

USLSoccer.com: MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays Purchase the Tampa Bay Rowdies
Tampa Bay Times: Bill Edwards: Rowdies will stay in St. Petersburg ‘for at least five years’ under deal with Rays
Tampa Bay Business Journal: Rowdies owner Bill Edwards talks about how the Rays deal came together and what’s next for him

ATL UTD 2 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Coolray Field, Gwinnett, Georgia | 7 p.m. ET
The Tampa Bay Rowdies (11-13-7, 40pts) open a two-game week by visiting ATL UTD 2 (5-17-8, 23pts) with Tampa Bay likely needing to take victory in both contests to keep its chances at a place in the USL Cup Playoffs moving forward. The Rowdies had a three-game winning streak snapped last Wednesday night in a 2-0 loss to Indy Eleven that put the side four points out of the playoff positions with three games to play. A matching victory to the 1-0 result at Al Lang Stadium against Atlanta that began ATL UTD 2’s current four-game losing streak on Sept. 15 would be an ideal result for the visitors to take back to the Sunshine State.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Charlotte Independence
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Florida | 7:30 p.m. ET
The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Charlotte Independence return to action for the second time in Week 30 both hoping their playoff hopes remain alive after their midweek outings, with Tampa Bay looking to send off Owner Bill Edwards with a victory in its final home game of the season following the club’s purchase by the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. The Rowdies and Independence played to a 2-2 draw when they met on June 27 but given the situation for both in the playoff race nothing less than three points will do in the penultimate game of the regular season for both.

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/954744

USL Power Rankings – Week 29

RENO, PORTLAND SHOW DOWN FOR BID AT FOURTH PLACE IN WEST IN MIDWEEK CLASH

Indy got the win it needed in its pursuit of a playoff place against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and while the final score in Saturday’s loss at FC Cincinnati didn’t look good there were certainly positives the side could take moving into another big game with Bethlehem Steel FC.

Dropped from rankings: Tampa Bay Rowdies (16)

Also receiving votes: Tampa Bay Rowdies 2, Nashville SC 1, Ottawa Fury FC 1, Rio Grande Valley FC 1

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https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/rays-buy-rowdies-bill-edwards

Tampa Bay Rays acquire soccer club

The deal ends Bill Edwards’ five-year run as owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to buy the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer club from St. Petersburg businessman Bill Edwards, effective Oct. 11, for an undisclosed sum.

The deal will also cede control of Al Lang Stadium, the Rowdies’ downtown St. Pete waterfront home, to the Rays — who a decade ago made an unsuccessful push to build a new baseball stadium on the site. A key condition of the sale, however, requires the Rays to keep the Rowdies at Al Lang for at least the next five years.

The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field in St. Pete but intend to build a new stadium in Tampa’s Ybor City historic district, despite questions about how the $892 million project will be funded.

Edwards, according to a statement issued by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, “deserves much appreciation for remaking the Tampa Bay Rowdies and investing in Al Lang Stadium and our community. Similarly, the Tampa Bay Rays' leadership has remade their baseball organization and placed considerable emphasis on community engagement. I am confident that this is a positive development for all parties, the great fans of both teams, and the City of St. Petersburg.”

During his five-year tenure as owner, Edwards, 73, made significant improvements to the stadium, adding more than 1,000 seats, among other changes. He also moved the team from the struggling North American Soccer League (NASL) to the fast-growing United Soccer League (USL), while simultaneously submitting a bid for the Rowdies to join the upper-echelon Major League Soccer (MLS).

Edwards also founded Al Lang Live, a summer concert series featuring the likes of Poison, Counting Crows, Soul Asylum and 3 Doors Down, in an effort to bolster economic activity in downtown St. Pete during the slow summer months. At a press conference announcing the deal, Edwards said that his Big 3 Entertainment company would continue the Al Lang Live series and continue to manage the Mahaffey Theater, which is adjacent to Al Lang Stadium.

"We've come a long way," Edwards says. "I'm very proud, but I've done what I came to do. Mission accomplished, and I'm out."

In a statement, Edwards adds, "The sale is bittersweet. When I purchased the Rowdies, they were on the brink of bankruptcy; today they are champions fighting for their rightful spot in the USL playoffs. I saw the potential of the team, and what it could mean for downtown St. Petersburg. I invested my blood, sweat, tears and money, and built an amazing staff that I could not be more proud of. The Rowdies have made great strides, truly becoming a key fixture in the community. I am grateful to the staff and players who have worked so hard, as well as the many sponsors who have stuck with us over the past five years; and I am especially grateful to the fans! We have the best soccer fans in the world, and I don't want them to worry. The team is in great hands. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Edwards, at the press conference, said that the majority of the 250 people who work at Al Lang Stadium will continue to be employed after the deal with the Rays goes through.

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/954558

USL Reaches New Heights, Surges Past 2.5 Million Attendance

HISTORIC WEEK OF ACTION SAW SECOND-HIGHEST ATTENDED WEEK IN LEAGUE’S MODERN ERA

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https://www.wcpo.com/sports/fc-cincinnati/fc-cincinnati-breaks-another-usl-attendance-record

FC Cincinnati breaks another USL attendance record