Voters to consider soccer stadium on November ballot – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9mws17/voters_to_consider_soccer_stadium_on_november/

Voters to consider soccer stadium on November ballot – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

Interesting article/video.

Worth keeping an eye on during the election coming up in a few weeks time.

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https://wsvn.com/news/politics/voters-to-consider-soccer-stadium-on-november-ballot/

Voters to consider soccer stadium on November ballot

(WSVN) - Miami voters are set to decide whether the city should move forward with plans to build a Major League Soccer stadium on a publicly-owned golf course. 7’s Craig Stevens looks at the issue.

David Beckham, Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami: “Yes, we will want to bring some of the best players in football, in soccer, to Miami.”

It has been nearly five years since soccer icon David Beckham announced he’s bringing Major League Soccer to South Florida.

From day one, the issue was where to put a stadium. After looking at several sites, he and his investors settled on Melreese Park — the only golf course owned by the City of Miami, located just east of the airport.

Jorge Mas, Inter Miami CF: “I want to create an environment where they can go with their family and have a good meal; they can enjoy themselves, that there’s entertainment, that there’s things to do after the game, before the game, a true community around the stadium.”

The $1 billion soccer stadium complex will be called Freedom Park. But to build it, voters have to approve an exception to the City’s competitive bidding law. That would allow the City to lease the land to Beckham’s group and let them build the stadium without following normal county rules.

City Commissioner Manolo Reyes said traffic alone makes this a bad idea.

Manolo Reyes, Miami Commissioner District 4: “It’s a major development. It’s a 500-room hotel. It is a million-square-feet of office. It is shopping center. It is restaurants in the middle of that park next to the airport.”

Reyes supports soccer but said he has received thousands of petitions from residents who are against this location.

Manolo Reyes: “This has been pushed down our throats and our voter’s throats without any previous analysis of what would be the consequences of having that major development there.”

Some of the biggest concerns have come from the smallest members of the community.

Child: “It breaks my heart to know I may or may not have this place.”

Melreese Golf Course is home to the First Tee youth golf program, and the children are concerned they won’t have a place to play.

But Mas said this is the perfect site and the perfect time for a big development in Miami.

Jorge Mas: “It’s a project that brings jobs. It brings 13,000 jobs to our community that otherwise would not be here. Brings $40 million to our tax rolls — very difficult to find a project that does that, no tax subsidies or tax payer dollars. A new iconic project for all of our community and a new park.”

If residents vote to turn Melreese Park into a soccer stadium complex, there’s still one more vote by the commission before the deal is approved.

You’re reminded that today is the last day to register to vote if you would like to take part in the General Election on Nov. 6. Click here to register.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9msmar/drays_bay_experiencing_a_rowdies_game_for_the/

[DRays Bay] Experiencing a Rowdies game for the first time

Really cool to see people coming over and experiencing us for the first time!

Great write up, and it leaves me hopeful that we will draw well from the Rays well of fans and marketing resources. I really appreciate the inclusion of the TIFO and the incredible drumming that went with it.

I don't mean to bash the Rays or baseball. I still go on occasion but soccer has always been and will continue to be my passion. It's just become such a dry game, and I'm not blaming the Rays for that. We stand chant and cheer for every drive by the Rowdies, and every good defensive play. Say what they will, but it's nice to see a newcomer notice that a soccer match is a constantly evolving thing w/ action everywhere. It takes me back to how we played in little league growing up. Never say die, always go for the steal or the pick, and work the bases. If somehow baseball could get back to that, and have better seating like Al Lang, with passionate yelling from a DJKittyMob it would be beyond amazing.

I really want to commend the author on his careful descriptions of the fan experience. I didn't expect such a positive review. But the atmosphere was (as always) incredible for a team on the brink of elimination. I look forward to working with the Mob to keep it going in the years to come!! And look forward to a little extra push from the Rays! First order of business: Hooped sleeves please!!!

Baseball and soccer are very different spectator experiences.

I first noticed this when I went to a MLB game for the first time, after having grown up going to Rowdies games at Tampa Stadium in the 1970s.

Instead of 2 hours of fans undivided attention fixed to constant action on the pitch with few interruptions, baseball was over 3 hours of very constantly interrupted action with fans coming and going from their seats, and many seemingly only half paying attention to the game.

It's a different culture; recall the problems Rowdies ("FC Tampa Bay") fans had at George Steinbrenner Field in 2010.

Someone who comments on that site might want to reply to this comment below; I'm not going to register there just to do that, but this kind of disinfo in the comments section is very annoying:

"Looked like 1,000 people"

"Why on Earth do people think the Rowdies can go to the MLS again?"

This on a night when Al Lang was sold out!

The pictures that were in the article are pre-game though; also, those annoying corporate sales seats in the west stands are always sold out but are seldom filled with actual butts in seats. Maybe the Rays can do something to fix that next year.

Also listened to this yesterday (link below); the comments about the Rays purchase of the Rowdies from last week are from baseball writers; they are showing a complete lack of comprehension about what this deal was all about; hopefully as this deal moves forward in the coming years this comprehension barrier from baseball people will cease to exist:

https://www.sportstalkflorida.com/mlb/joe-maddon-eliminated-from-playoffs/

"Joe Maddon Eliminated From Playoffs, Do Tampa Fans Care?"

"Tyler Bradley and Timothy Mallard bring you Tampa Bay Sports This Morning! The Show that covers all of the local sports scenes in Tampa Bay. After the NL Wild Card Game between the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago Cubs, Joe Maddon is out of the playoffs. What do the people of Tampa have to say about it? The Rays have bought the Tampa Bay Rowdies what are the plans for the team going forward? USF travels to take on UMass this Saturday what do they need to do to finally crack the Top 25? Florida State takes on Miami in a heated rivalry matchup what do Tyler and Tim think about the latest installment in a heated rivalry?"

"Steve Kinsella with Sports Talk Florida joins to discuss the Rays purchase of the Rowdies and the playoff picture going forward. Who does Steve see in the World Series?"

Yeah, we’re going to deal with that kind of crap for awhile. Especially from the older crowd that only grew up with baseball, but it’s nice to see the sentiment from these guys who run the SB Nation blog (who are a lot more influential than a commenter). There was a lot of good talk on Twitter from their writers, too.

The younger blogger/social media/web forum crowd are a bit more clued in.

Dinosaur broadcast media are a lost cause.

I'm a bit of an odd duck in that I'm an over 50 year old middle class white guy who grew up with soccer (in the Tampa Bay Area in the 1970s), and not baseball.

I couldn't avoid some contact with baseball, as an American, but it was never a sport I cared about or knew anything about.

So I couldn't help myself, signed up in spite of my initial resistance, made some comments. Doubt anyone will read or care about them but there it is.

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https://www.draysbay.com/2018/10/9/17947814/rays-fan-tampa-bay-rowdies-game-experience-al-lang-stadium

Experiencing a Rowdies game for the first time

What have the Rays acquired in the Tampa Bay Rowdies?

The Tampa Bay Rowdies played their final home game on the season on Saturday night, and since the Rowdies were recently purchased by the Tampa Bay Rays, we took a look at what a Rowdies game is like for a first-time attendee, making the trip to Al Lang Stadium to get an idea of what the experience would be like for Rays fans who have interest in this foreign new world.

Getting to the grounds

Five minutes away from Tropicana Field, Al Lang Stadium requires a similar trip as one to the Trop would take. Finding parking was relatively easy, as there are three lots within a block of the stadium that take cash on game days.

With bars and restaurants scattered around the walkable area, there’s definitely something to do while waiting for the match to start. The walk to the stadium is relatively short but also pretty neat, with the 2nd Ave providing views of the towering condos and provoking art.

Walking up to Al Lang Stadium, there is an outdoor store that lets you grab some gear, and there are two main entrances into the stadium.

Entering the stadium

Walking through gate two, which was my ticket’s designated gate, it was as similar of a process to entering a stadium as any other. Security is standard issue, as was scanning my ticket, but with a key difference being that once you enter the stadium, you’re almost immediately in the concourse.

A walk up a small ramp, at least if you enter through gate two, brings you into a narrow concourse that has food behind you, food in front of you, a mini-shop to the left of you and tunnels to the seats all around you.

It’s an intimate setting, and better for it.

Settling into the seats

I was impressed by how easy my seats were to navigate to. Each seat has a gap that’s a couple of inches wide and it makes for comfortable leg room for almost anyone sitting in them.

Despite its conversion from a baseball stadium, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house, as every seat is relatively close to the pitch. Additionally, the higher up you sit, the more pitch you can see, allowing a view similar to that of what you’d see on a TV broadcast.

In addition to the regular seats, there’s also a berm along the “first base” side of the stadium.

Time for kick-off

About ten minutes after warmups concluded, the players made their way out of the locker room and back out on to the pitch. It was about this time when the group of supporters in the stands known as Ralph’s Mob started their pre-game festivities.

With the raising of their banner, the lighting of their flares and the banging of their drums, Ralph’s Mob set the atmosphere that would be carried on throughout the night.

Following the player introductions and the national anthem, the match started shortly after 7:30. The Rowdies, who were desperately fighting for a playoff spot, were facing the Charlotte Independence, who were even more desperate for that spot.

The first fifteen minutes were mostly dominated by the Rowdies, and the atmosphere was entirely consumed by Ralph’s Mob’s chanting. The atmosphere was seriously so cool to experience, and even though I was not sitting in The Mob, to feel like I was a part of.

The Charlotte Independence scored the first goal in the 26th minute, and then another goal in the 32nd minute. You’d think that two quick goals from the visiting team would suck the life out of the home supporters, right? That wasn’t the case at Al Lang Stadium, as the support from everyone in the crowd never once stopped, even if their optimism wasn’t at the same level.

These fans have created a new and enthralling culture around the historic brand, as evidenced at halftime, when a video played remembering the previous five years of Rowdies soccer.

With the start of the second half, possession was mostly split between the two sides, but as full time neared, the Rowdies again were the ones driving possession in their favor.

To illustrate Tampa Bay’s dominance of possession, here’s a graphic showing key passes (passes that lead to an attempt on goal) from each team, with the Rowdies being the black boxes and Charlotte in green:

In the 80th minute, Leon Taylor finally put the Rowdies on the board with a goal that sent an explosion of cheers throughout the stadium. From that point on, the support from the home side fans never dropped. Al Lang was rockin’.

With many attacking attempts and corner-kicks, the Rowdies were poised to score a second, equalizing goal. Unfortunately, even after 22 shots, the Rowdies couldn’t put another one in the net.

The best chance that the Rowdies had to tie the game up came in the 94th minute, and that shot did go into the net, but it was ruled offside.

Equalizer was JUST off... pic.twitter.com/DQsc3o4YrY

— DRaysBay (@draysbay) October 7, 2018

Following the final whistle, goalkeeper Daniel Vega received a red card for arguing with the referees, and was very animated in doing so. Unfortunately, the Rowdies were eliminated from playoff contention with this loss, while Charlotte kept their playoff hopes alive.

Since this was the final home match on the season, all of the Rowdies players stayed afterwards to sign autographs for the fans, and they didn’t leave for at least 20 minutes following the conclusion of the match.

Al Lang Stadium was a great host to a great match between two strong teams, and that made for a really fun night.

I shared my immediate final thoughts on the Rays’ acquisition of the Rowdies in a couple of tweets, and I stand by those thoughts upon reflection:

First Rowdies game takeaways:

- the team itself created so many chances, thrilling play
- the atmosphere is incredible. the chants never stopped and the peaks of intensity were so awesome
- the match and experience were genuine fun
- Al Lang is a really solid, intimate stadium

— DRaysBay (@draysbay) October 7, 2018

I think the Rays have a real winner in the Rowdies and there’s a ton of potential for growth thanks to the community surrounding this franchise.

I really hope to see the clubs embrace each other with things like a “Rowdies Night” at Rays games and vice versa, and as the franchises begin to integrate some back office requirements, I hope the cultures can learn from each other as well.

But if there’s one thing that attending a match has convinced me of, it’s that going to another game is a must, and I recommend Rays fans to give their new sibling organization a shot in 2019.

After following the original team

and attending games back in the 70’s and 80’s, really great to see the brand thriving and excited to see how the relationship with the Rays develops.

Looked like 1,000 people

Why on Earth do people think the Rowdies can go to the MLS again?

#MLS2StPete #MLS2TampaBay #Rowdies2MLS

"Looked like 1,000 people"

Al Lang was effectively sold out: 7,709 in attendance. You’re looking at pre-game pictures. There’s also lots of corporate tickets sold on the west stands whose owners often don’t bother to show up.

Read more here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9mgi0b/final_rowdies_home_attendance_thread_game_17_vs/

FINAL Rowdies Home Attendance Thread – Game 17 vs. Charlotte Independence [10/6]

"Why on Earth do people think the Rowdies can go to the MLS again?"

Because they have some of the most expensive tickets in USL (as expensive as MLS tickets in many markets) and still averaged this year 5,869 per game, with six years of slow but steady average attendance growth prior to that.

Because the Tampa Bay Area is the largest TV market (#11) without a team in MLS.

Because the Tampa Bay Rowdies have a rich and interesting history going back to 1975 and are still an American soccer brand name that is widely recognized world wide amongst soccer fans who know anything about US soccer history.

Because the Rays have the money, expertise, and connections to make a viable MLS bid if they so choose.

Orlando $hitty B

"Just make sure you don’t go when they play a pre-season "friendly" against Orlando City. They are anything but friendly, lol."

Last year we did home and away with Orlando, as we were in the same league; this year, however, Orlando $hitty B was not in USL, and next year they will be in the USL league that is below the league that the Rowdies are in (they’re rebranding the USL league names next year).

I forget what the new USL league names will be; effectively though the Tampa Bay Rowdies are in USSF Division 2 and Orlando $hitty B will be in USSF Division 3.

But, yeah, there are no friendly games against Orlando. At least last year they weren’t trying to light Al Lang on fire or punching children, however.

Don't worry about this effecting the Rays.

"Because the Rays have the money, expertise, and connections to make a viable MLS bid if they so choose."

Rays fans should not worry about the Rowdies diverting money away from the Rays; the Rowdies reached break even financially this year and the undisclosed sum that the Rays paid for the Rowdies was probably nowhere near close to the $25 million evaluation of the Rowdies franchise.

This purchase by the Rays ownership of the Rowdies is an investment, and has nothing to do with the operating budget of the Rays. If the Rays had not made this purchase, that money would not have gone into the Rays budget; it would have been invested elsewhere, in financial institutions, earning money for the Rays ownership in other ways.

Most Rays fans have probably not been paying attention, but there has been a huge growth in investment in MLS, USL, and other soccer leagues in the USA and Canada over the past 10-15 years, and this move by the Rays is part of that. There are already two other MLB teams that own USL teams for instance.

Should the Rays choose to take the Rowdies to MLS, it doesn’t mean that money would be diverted away from the Rays, either; these are two separate business operations that happen to have the same owners.

If the Rays want to bring on other investors to move the Rowdies to MLS, that would also help to lessen the costs of the MLS expansion fee and building a new SSS (soccer specific stadium) and all the other costs that MLS requires (operating expenses, salaries, practice facilities, soccer youth academies, etc.), so that there need be no impact on the Rays baseball operations budget.

One example of this in MLS is New York City FC, which is jointly owned by the New York Yankees and the City Football Group, who also own Manchester City FC in England as well as Melbourne City FC in Australia and several other soccer clubs around the world.

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https://www.wfla.com/sports/tampa-bay-area-soccer-product-returns-home-on-us-men-s-national-team/1510367794

Tampa Bay area soccer product returns home on U.S. Men's National Team

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/10/09/st-louis-mls-expansion-bid-enterprise-taylor-family

St. Louis MLS Expansion Bid Revived, Backed By Enterprise Owners

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https://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/us-soccer-is-looking-to-find-the-right-mix-of/article_5e4accdc-5c0a-5c62-aba9-2067c6056ce4.html

US Soccer is looking to find the right mix of youth and experience

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https://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/10/penn_fc_soccer_club_wont_play.html

Penn FC soccer club won't play in 2019 as it looks for new stadium, plans 2020 return in new league

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https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/soccer/mid-michigan-gets-green-light-for-new-pro-soccer-team

Mid-Michigan gets green light for new pro soccer team

Lansing Ignite to play at baseball stadium

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https://www.kob.com/sports/new-mexico-united-becomes-states-usl-team-name/5101360/

New Mexico United becomes state's USL team name

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https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2018/10/08/heading-for-the-twin-cities-minneapolis-to-host-npsl-annual-owners-meeting/

HEADING FOR THE TWIN CITIES: Minneapolis to host NPSL annual owners meeting

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3665217/st-louis-back-in-mls-expansion-mix-with-majority-female-ownership-group

St. Louis back in MLS expansion mix with majority-female ownership group

St. Louis is back in the hunt for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise after the family behind rental car company Enterprise Holdings announced a bid that calls for a new stadium built mostly with private funding.

The bid is using the slogan using the slogan #MLS4THELOU and would have 100 percent St. Louis-based ownership.

Members of the Taylor family said Tuesday that the franchise would be majority-owned by women -- a first in MLS and a rarity in professional sports -- and led by Carolyn Kindle Betz, senior vice president of Enterprise Holdings, along with six other female members of the Taylor family.

The group also includes Jim Kavanaugh of St. Louis-based World Wide Technology.

"We recently met with the Taylor Family and Jim Kavanaugh regarding their new vision for Major League Soccer in St. Louis and are impressed by their commitment to the MLS effort," said Dan Courtemanche, Major League Soccer executive vice president of communications, "We look forward to spending time with them during the coming months to learn more about their plan."

St. Louis hopes to become a three-sport town for the first time since the NFL's Rams left for Los Angeles in 2016.

The Taylors are seeking tax breaks but no other public funding for a downtown stadium.

Enterprise, founded by Jack Taylor with a fleet of seven cars in 1957, is now listed by Forbes as one of America's largest private companies.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2018/10/09/mls-ownership-group-steps-forward-pledging.html

MLS ownership group steps forward, pledging ‘overwhelmingly privately financed’ stadium

The Taylor and Kavanaugh families said Monday they’d like to own a Major League Soccer franchise in St. Louis.

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/10/09/portland-timbers-providence-park-celebrates-92nd-birthday

Portland Timbers' Providence Park celebrates 92nd birthday

The oldest stadium in Major League Soccer is celebrating a birthday on Tuesday.

Home to the Portland Timbers and NWSL's Portland Thorns, Providence Park turned 92 on Oct. 9. The ground opened as Multnomah Stadium when it hosted a University of Oregon vs. University of Washington football game on Oct. 9, 1926. It has had a few different names since opening and was renamed Providence Park in 2014. 

Happy 92nd birthday, Providence Park.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane to celebrate. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/ewQlUXYGRI

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) October 9, 2018

This season, Portland are 10-2-4 at Providence Park after going 11-2-4 at home last year. They have one home game remaining, against Real Salt Lake, to match last season's home record.

Despite the Timbers not playing, Providence Park will work on its birthday weekend as the Portland State University football team hosts Northern Colorado.

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https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/soccer/mid-michigan-gets-green-light-for-new-pro-soccer-team

Mid-Michigan gets green light for new pro soccer team

Lansing Ignite to play at baseball stadium

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https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/st-louis-is-taking-another-swing-at-an-major-league-soccer-franchise/

St. Louis is taking another swing at an Major League Soccer franchise

The family is envisioning a stadium that will pay itself off through in-house purchases