Will Rays’ Pitch The MLS To Look At Tampa Bay Again?

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https://www.sportstalkflorida.com/soccer/tampa-bay-rowdies/will-rays-pitch-the-mls-to-look-at-tampa-bay-again/

Will Rays’ Pitch The MLS To Look At Tampa Bay Again?

Will the MLS like Sternberg in due time?

The owners of Major League Baseball’s St. Petersburg-based Tampa Bay Rays have purchased the St. Petersburg-based Tampa Bay Rowdies of the United Soccer League. Rays ownership now has two St. Petersburg-based sports businesses although The Rays owners would like to leave St. Petersburg and head across the bay to the Tampa area and eventually build a stadium in Ybor City. It is unclear if Rays’ ownership wants the soccer team to remain in the lower tier United Soccer League or move up to the first tier Major League Soccer group. Tampa Bay or more specifically St. Petersburg was one of the areas that Major League Soccer considered when owners in the soccer circuit decided to add four teams in February 2017. MLS owners have been struggling to find four cities and four ownership groups with just Nashville and Cincinnati having the stadiums and ownership money to make the cut.

Why St. Petersburg was passed over is a bit of a mystery. It seems there was a willing owner, the Rowdies Bill Edwards and a stadium available. In May, 2017 St. Petersburg residents said yes to lease the city owned Al Lang Stadium to the Tampa Bay Rowdies ownership and allow stadium to be renovate. The Rowdies’ owner Bill Edwards paid for the referendum and claimed he would put up the money, an estimated $80 million, to get the field to MLS standards. Even though St. Petersburg residents were on board and Edwards was willing to put up money, by November 2017, the MLS opportunity in St. Petersburg had passed. The league decided Nashville, Cincinnati, Detroit and Sacramento were much better options.  Eleven months later, MLS owners are still shifting through proposals including revisiting plans in Phoenix and St. Louis along with other areas. St. Petersburg was not in the mix. Rays ownership has a team in an area that might interest MLS owners.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9nour4/st_pete_city_council_approves_transfer_of_al_lang/

St. Pete City Council Approves Transfer of Al Lang Agreement

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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2018/10/11/st-pete-city-council-approves-transfer-of-al-lang-agreement/4104

St. Pete City Council Approves Transfer of Al Lang Agreement

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https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/2018/10/12/st-petersburg-reauthorizes-the-rowdies-lease-to-use-al-lang/

St. Petersburg reauthorizes the Rowdies’ lease to use Al Lang

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https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-rays-purchase-of-rowdies-good-for-st-petersburg-20181012/

Editorial: Rays’ purchase of Rowdies good for St. Petersburg

The Tampa Bay Rays’ purchase of the Rowdies soccer team adds some stability to the region’s roster of professional sports franchises. It also guarantees that the Rowdies, who have amassed an enthusiastic fan base in a short time, will keep playing in St. Petersburg for at least the next few years.

Rowdies owner Bill Edwards, who bought the team five years ago and retrofitted Al Lang Stadium from baseball to soccer, announced the sale earlier this month. The sale needed the City Council’s approval because St. Petersburg owns Al Lang. The deal passed this week with little discussion, but council member Darden Rice pinpointed a key benefit for the city: the Rowdies will continue to be owned and managed by a sports franchise the city knows well.

Indeed, St. Petersburg became a reluctant partner in allowing the Rays to look outside the city at new sites for a baseball stadium in a delicate deal that expires at the end of this year. With the Rays focused on a proposed stadium site in Ybor City, the Rowdies purchase is a boost for St. Petersburg that will keep Al Lang in active use, help maintain the energy downtown and keep professional sports in the city.

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https://theminaretonline.com/2018/10/11/rays-buy-rowdies-and-deepen-tampa-roots/

Rays buy Rowdies and deepen Tampa roots

On Tuesday Oct. 2, the Tampa Bay Rays announced their purchase of local United Soccer League (USL) club, the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Tampa Bay Rowdies have about one game left in their season, as they are fighting for a playoff spot. The Rowdies play at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, which was once a place where the Tampa Bay Rays held their spring training. The deal was made at an undisclosed amount, and does not become official until Oct. 11.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies became a part of the USL in 1975, but eventually disbanded in 1933. However, in 2010 David Laxer, Andrew Nestor, and Hinds Howard revived the club and became a part of the National American Soccer League (NASL) as they played their games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The following season, the Rowdies moved to St. Petersburg, and in 2012 the club won their first Soccer Bowl Title. In 2013, Bill Edwards purchased a majority stake in the club, and was dedicated to the team. Edwards was able to help fund renovations to Al Lang Stadium, making it one of the most fan friendly venues in soccer. In 2016, the team moved to the USL, and are now fighting for a playoff spot. Bill Edwards saw the sale of the team as bittersweet as he said, “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.” Tampa Bay Rays team presidents Brian Auld and Matthew Silverman will act as vice chairmen of the Rowdies, and alongside Rowdies VP Lee Cohen, they will be directing the club. Edwards was interested in selling the team in previous years, but was finally able to pull off a deal this year to the Rays. Edwards and the Rowdies are optimistic of the future of the Rowdies and are confident that the club is in good hands. Matthew Silverman said in the introductory press conference, “Our future has never been brighter, and our commitment to the Tampa Bay area has never been stronger.”

One reason why the Rays purchased the Rowdies was for community. The club decided it made the best sense to purchase the Rowdies because of community engagement, and from a business standpoint, the package sponsorships for both teams. Many fans thought the deal had to do with the Rays building their new stadium in Ybor City, and were planning on moving their spring training back to St. Petersburg. Rays President Brian Auld denied these claims as he said to the Tampa Bay Times, “It’s got nothing to do with what’s going on in Ybor City, it’s got nothing to do with spring training, It’s purely a business decision that makes a lot of sense when you look at the relationship the teams have …” 

The purchase of the Rowdies shows the Rays’ commitment to community. With attendance and stadium rankings at an all time low, fans were worried that the Rays would have to relocate out of the Tampa Area. But this deal shows they are committed to staying. Ron Cristaldi said, “If they were leaving, they likely wouldn’t buy another professional sports team in the market. It’s kind of doubling-down on their commitment.”

Soccer is slowly gaining interested in the United States, and franchises are becoming more valuable. In an article published by Forbes, Lee Igel said, “The USL has also experienced increasing franchise valuations over the past several years, with expansion fees growing nearly 50-fold during the past decade to seven million dollars.”

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https://www.richlandsource.com/sports/columbus-crew-saved-people-still-have-the-power/article_1c4e8ffa-ce6b-11e8-b705-c379c0673785.html

Columbus Crew saved; People still have the power

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http://rednationonline.ca/Articles2016/CapsweighinonaunitedNorthAmericansoccer

CONCACAF - Article

'Caps weigh in on a united North American soccer league

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https://www.sacbee.com/sports/mls/article219955045.html

Sacramento’s Major League Soccer bid dealt another huge blow

Sacramento’s bid to land a Major League Soccer expansion franchise was handed a serious setback Friday, when MLS announced it was making progress with an ownership group that would keep the Columbus Crew in Ohio while also remaining committed to launching a franchise in Austin, Texas.

That could mean that one of two expansion spots still up for grabs in MLS would go to one of those cities, leaving Sacramento to compete with Detroit, St. Louis, Phoenix and other cities for the final available franchise.

Republic FC has been searching for a lead investor for nearly a year who could lead its expansion effort after being told by MLS officials that its ownership group needed more financial weight.

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https://www.kvue.com/video/news/columbus-crew-mls-team-to-stay-in-ohia-austin-could-get-expansion-team/269-8280341

Columbus Crew MLS team to stay in Ohia, Austin could get expansion team

The Ohio Columbus Crew Major League Soccer team might stay in Ohio after all, according to a statement released Friday, but Austin could still get an MLS expansion team. MLS released a statement Friday announcing that the family of Cleveland Browns owner

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https://wsau.com/news/articles/2018/oct/12/soccer-browns-owners-aiming-to-keep-crew-in-columbus/

Soccer: Browns' owners aiming to keep Crew in Columbus

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https://www.wthitv.com/content/national/497179941.html?ref=941

LIGA MX PRESIDENT ENRIQUE BONILLA ON PROSPECT OF NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE

Speculation surrounds the top flight of Mexican football merging with Major League Soccer in a bid to expand and compete with Europe, as CNN World Sport's Alex Thomas found out

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/colorado-rapids/how-to-watch-mls-on-tv-streaming-week-33/

How to watch MLS on TV, streaming Week 33

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https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2018/10/12/sacramentos-mls-effort-buffeted-by-austin-columbus.html

Sacramento's MLS effort buffeted by Austin, Columbus developments

Shifts in potential team relocations for Major League Soccer added up to another potential obstacle for Sacramento’s chances of getting an expansion team.

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https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1030723/Man-Utd-news-Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-LA-Galaxy-David-Beckham-transfer-gossip

Man Utd news: Zlatan Ibrahimovic return compared to David Beckham deal - 'It makes sense'

MANCHESTER UNITED re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic on loan would make sense for the Red Devils, claims ESPN FC pundit Steve Nicol.

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https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/music/Sun-Dome-no-more-After-years-of-struggle-can-the-new-Yuengling-Center-find-a-soul-_171901448

Sun Dome no more: After years of struggle, can the new Yuengling Center find a soul?

But the cost ballooned from $7 million to more than $12 million, in part due to structural cracks that pushed the opening more than 18 months behind schedule. The Tampa Bay Rowdies, which had planned to make the dome its home stadium, backed out when it became clear that, due to a design flaw, many fans wouldn’t have clear views of the field. Acts like Bruce Springsteen and Kenny Rogers declined to play there when they learned its lightweight lighting rig couldn’t handle their productions.

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/958432

Miller Earns Fans’ Choice Save of the Week

REMARKABLE VICTORY-PRESERVING SAVE AGAINST ROWDIES CLAIMS HONOR FOR INDEPENDENCE SHOT-STOPPER

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https://www.draysbay.com/2018/10/12/17966350/tampa-bay-rays-news-and-links-our-two-day-baseball-drought-is-over

Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: Our Two Day Baseball Drought is Over!

Plus: Which Arb Rays are worth keeping and which are on their way out?

What happens when there’s no baseball:

One of our new friends, Mike Pendleton, who covers the Tampa Bay Rowdies, has introduced me to something I will certainly steal at some point for a Rays baseball version...

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http://www.dailycal.org/2018/10/11/the-curious-case-of-major-league-soccer/

The curious case of Major League Soccer

In his most recent article for popular sports blog The Athletic, Minnesota-based soccer writer Jeff Rueter summed up the current state of Major League Soccer plainly and swiftly: “Either we have a soccer system that might one day take its place alongside other respected leagues around the world, or MLS is just another North American sports business operation.”

He was referencing the ongoing debacle between the Columbus Crew, one of the 10 founding MLS clubs that arrived with the league 23 years ago, and its owner Anthony Precourt, who is under fire from various pundits and supporters for his proposition to move the Crew from its Ohio home to Austin, Texas.

This issue has fueled the debate of community versus cash in a sport that traditionally entrenches itself in its resident culture. More importantly, this issue puts the microscope on a league whose popularity is skyrocketing in the midst of an identity crisis.

Precourt’s decision to move the Crew isn’t controversial so much because of its literal and immediate implications but more because of its lasting impact on shifting the values of America’s soccer culture – especially after the U.S. men’s national team failed to qualify for last summer’s World Cup.

A league that harps on being unique in a country that values money more than anything is a recipe for disaster. Conversely, a league that makes smart, calculated and bold decisions while taking equal amounts of inspiration from its domestic and foreign counterparts can potentially foster sustained global success.

I am of the belief that most American soccer fans show up to matches and support their clubs because they are hungry for progress. Average attendance numbers for the MLS in 2017 rank third in the U.S., falling behind the National Football League and Major League Baseball with 22,113, a nearly 60 percent increase since 2000.

The league’s two most popular teams, the Seattle Sounders and Atlanta United, have set 12 of the last 15 single-game attendance records. Atlanta boasted a 48,200 average attendance in its very first season in the league in 2017, revealing a strong desire for rigorous and passionate fandom.

Perhaps the most promising number of all, soon-to-be MLS club FC Cincinnati, which currently plays in the second division of American soccer, hosted an average of 21,199 fans per game last season, breaking its own record from 2016.

MLS has garnered a substantial following overseas with foreigners admiring the league’s unmatched parity, comparable to most American sports, in which any team is capable of winning because of each club’s balance of superstar talent and squad depth.

The biggest soccer clubs in the world similarly value the U.S. as a hotbed for brand growth and exposure. FC Barcelona, which plays in Spain’s first division, recently opened offices in New York City for this reason alone.

German powerhouse Bayern Munich also signed former Vancouver Whitecaps homegrown prospect Alphonso Davies last summer for a record $22 million. Born at a refugee camp in Ghana, Davies eventually moved to Canada and rose through the ranks of Vancouver’s youth system.

The signing was arguably the most important and impactful in the league’s history, showing that a league with only two decades of youth development can produce world-class talent.

For MLS to have this much momentum in such a brief amount of time is unprecedented for American sports, even when the competition and level of play overseas are miles ahead of where the league is at, currently.

All in all, it’s inevitable that the MLS will continue to grow into one of the most popular leagues in the U.S., but being taken seriously on the world stage starts with keeping the founding clubs where they belong. Using money as a catalyst, not the deciding factor, is crucial to its ascent.

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http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mls-liga-mx-merger

Liga MX president: ‘MLS merger could happen’

Combined US and Mexican top tier viewed as possible legacy of 2026 World Cup.

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/10/11/kick-us-hosts-colombia-eales-bins-miggy-talk-mls-liga-mx-marriage

Kick Off: US hosts Colombia | Eales bins Miggy talk | MLS-Liga MX marriage?

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https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2018/10/11/how-san-antonio-s-path-to-major-league-soccer.html

How San Antonio’s path to major league soccer could go through Mexico

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https://fox2now.com/2018/10/11/st-louis-own-ellie-kemper-endorses-mls-in-st-louis-with-cool-moves/

St. Louis’ own Ellie Kemper endorses MLS in St. Louis with cool moves

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https://www.thebluetestament.com/2018/10/11/17962970/blue-links-st-louis-mls-expansion-busio-called-up-sporting-kc-podcasts-lindsey-nemeth-and-more-usl

Blue Links: St. Louis MLS Expansion, Busio Called Up, Sporting KC Podcasts, Lindsey, Nemeth and more.

Gianluca Busio will miss time with Sporting KC due to international duty, just like Gutierrez, Russell and Nemeth.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2018/10/11/court-rules-miami-dade-can-sell-land-to-david.html

Court rules Miami-Dade can sell land to David Beckham group

The group wants to build its Major League Soccer stadium on another site.

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https://therealdeal.com/miami/2018/10/11/judge-rules-against-matheson-beckhams-overtown-land-deal-stands/

Judge rules against Matheson: Beckham’s Overtown land deal stands

Technicalities could push deadline to close on Overtown site until after Melreese vote

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9o76nl/a_little_honey_helps_the_medicine_go_down_rowdies/

A Little Honey Helps the Medicine Go Down: Rowdies Road To The 75' NASL Soccer Bowl

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlRSfC6StTQ&list=LLUBggO_h6IUUykjjy6RMn8w&index=114

Rowdies Road To The 75' NASL Soccer Bowl

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Published on Oct 24, 2012

1975 NASL Semifinals - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Miami Toros

1975 NASL Soccer Bowl Championship - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Portland Timbers

Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California

Final: Rowdies 2-0 Portland

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9o6bwj/rowdies_drop_final_match_bhs_10_tbr/

Rowdies drop final match: BHS 1-0 TBR

Edwards era ends on a down note. On to better days in 2019!

Silly season begins now!

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9o7974/rowdies_report_week_34_bts_v_tbr/

Rowdies Report Week 34- BTS v TBR

We bid adieu- The Rowdies season will end at 11 wins, 15 losses, and 8 draws. A goal difference of 0 (the Rowdies are one of 3 bottom half teams with a non-negative goal differential). The season ended on a road game that had shades of numerous losses the Rowdies have suffered this season. The attack was lacking throughout. A couple of near chances, some that definitely should've been goals, but to no avail. The Rowdies are a team with pride, giving it 100% to the end. The season ends with numerous questions that I will cover in my year in review article that I'm in the midst of composing.

Diakite is a must retain- Of the 10 new Rowdies signings mid-year, if Diakite departs for any reason, I'd be deeply saddened. I was weary of him at first worrying about how his physical style of play could give up fouls and penalties but he's really shown a lot of competence late in the season intercepting passes and making clutch defensive plays. He's a guy to build around, and from what I saw against Bethlehem, I'd hope to see Diakite starting centre back game 1 of 2019.

Wouldn't be surprised if Taku is cut- It puzzles me to this very moment that Taku wasn't benched many games ago for Morrell. I've watched way too many runs up the right side that led to poor crosses and turnovers by Taku to think that when the club looks at the tape, that there's anything to convince management to keep him around. This game against Bethlehem for Taku was a mirror image of just about every game he's played in this season. Ineffective.

No fly zone- When USL commentators are telling you that they're seeing a poor performance, then you know you're having a bad night. Fernandes is a guy I hope to see in 2019 because I like his skill set but this game against Bethlehem was a struggle for him. He couldn't get a cross in the air. The corner kicks and free kicks were brutal. There were two dangerous crosses from Morrell, who didn't have a particularly inspiring night, but he had one cross that was sublime. The ball sailed to the back post over all the defenders and took one hop straight into Fernandes' lap to put the ball back across for a goal, which earlier in the season Fernandes scored on from that spot. Today's effort saw Fernandes play the ball back into the middle for an easy turnover.

Midfield flux- I thought the commentary team in Bethlehem did a good job of calling the game because they saw a lot of the same things I saw. One moment, in particular, was when the Rowdies couldn't string 3 to 4 passes together in the middle of the field. The Rowdies don't have a really good midfield conducive for making pinpoint passes. If the ball eventually has to go through Vingaard, you're in trouble. When you're playing Vingaard in one of the more important positions on the field where he has to connect point A to point B or point C, you're in a world of trouble. One thing I did think the commentary missed was as they were raving about Poku's physical skill set and perceived "technical" skill set, I was watching him be dispossessed of the ball way too easily. Poku doesn't respond well to defensive pressure. He's a guy who HAS to get the ball in space. What the commentators did do a good job of mentioning was that Poku was getting the ball so far back in the field that defenders were able to swarm him. I've thought since we got Poku that he's rarely been able to establish deep position, on the ball, in the attacking third. Poku also hasn't shown much off the ball either. Because if you pass to him in the attacking third, his touch can be sloppy and lead to easy turnovers. The come to Jesus meeting over Poku making the 2019 roster starts now (though I already wonder if he signed a 2-year deal, unlikely but you never know).

Abridged offseason expectations- First and foremost I expect a lot of midfield signings, and likely one somewhat big or well-respected name. After the success that the Cole and Schafer duo provided the Rowdies, I would imagine the Rowdies want to build a great midfield again.

During the season as Collins went through his first tenure as Rowdies head coach, I would've told you I 90% expect Collins to be in the head coach role for next season. I'm hovering right now around 60% that he retains is head coach role here at the end of the season. Most of that drop coincides with the Rays takeover, where if they have any influence over team personnel (which I doubt they'll have much), I think there might be pressure to bring in a veteran coach. I still think it's unlikely Collins isn't head coach for game 1 of 2019, but I'm less bullish on it now.

I do think we watched Cole's final game as a Tampa Bay Rowdies player. My baseless assumption would be that he moves back to England and finds a job or coaching or punditry now that he has experience in both. Joe Cole is the guy that made me pay attention to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. My first ever article about the Rowdies was about the Joe Cole signing. The irony was I knew little about the professional soccer landscape at the time and really had no idea who Joe Cole was outside of Googling him. When I finally started watching the Rowdies, I was amazed by how smooth his game is and how cerebral of a player he is. He's not fast, he's not going to beat anyone physically, he outwits you. He bends the ball to his will. He places passes where others can't. God bless Joe Cole and his amazing run with the Rowdies.

Hristov will have a decision to make too. Is this the final season for him? Less likely than Cole but definitely not out of the cards. There are plenty of Rowdies fans that have been around longer than I who can properly give Hristov his farewell dues. What always amazed me about Hristov outside of being a dynamic goal scorer, was how committed he was when he played on the wing to get physical and D up opposing wingers. I remember Hristov saying if coach Campbell put him on defense, he'd give the best defensive effort he could give. Hristov is a true gamer.

Usain Bolt- Sign him. Please.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9o8arx/watch_highlights_bstvtbr_10142018_on_youtube/

Watch "HIGHLIGHTS #BSTvTBR | 10-14-2018" on YouTube

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4hiHEez-kI&feature=youtu.be

HIGHLIGHTS #BSTvTBR | 10-14-2018

USL Championship

Published on Oct 14, 2018

Bethlehem Steel FC (13-12-8, 47pts) will know by kickoff what it needs to advance back to the USL Cup Playoffs as it hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies (11-14-8, 41pts).

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9nm5zt/former_rowdies_sweat_and_picault_feature_for/

Former Rowdies Sweat And Picault Feature For National Team

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https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/958395

SWEAT AND PICAULT FEATURE FOR NATIONAL TEAM

TAMPA, Fla. (October 12, 2018) — A pair of Tampa Bay Rowdies alums took the field at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday night, playing for the United States national team in a Kickoff Series friendly against Colombia.

Ben Sweat and Fafa Picault both came off interim coach Dave Sarachan’s bench in the second half of a 4-2 loss in front of a record-setting crowd of 38,631.

Sweat is a Palm Harbor native with huge ties to the Tampa Bay community. After playing club soccer in Pinellas County, he played college soccer and set a new appearances record at the University of South Florida. After being drafted in the first round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft in 2014, Sweat struggled for playing time with Columbus Crew SC, departing after one season without making a single appearance.

In need of significant playing time, Sweat signed with his hometown Rowdies and played a total of 36 matches in 2015 and 2016, earning himself a trial and eventually a contract with New York City FC.

“I think a lot of players go into their first year expecting more and something can change like that,” Sweat said. “It’s important for young players to play and to have confidence. That’s something I was able to get with the Rowdies. I got even games where I was at a confidence level where I knew I could make a jump back to MLS.”

His consistency in MLS earned him this first national team call-up and he was able to make his debut in his home town, replacing Antonee Robinson at left back in the immediate aftermath of Radamel Falcao’s go-ahead goal.

Picault made his second appearance for the national team, replacing Kenny Saief in the 58th minute.

Picault played for the Rowdies in 2012, making 19 appearances in helping the team win the Soccer Bowl. He made a penalty kick in the decisive second leg shootout.

It was a remarkable moment for Rowdies fans to see two former Rowdies on the field for the national team at the same time and for it to happen in Tampa Bay made it all the more special.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9nm6v4/guenzatti_its_definitely_been_a_crazy_year/

Guenzatti: It's Definitely Been A Crazy Year

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https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/957992

GUENZATTI: IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A CRAZY YEAR

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/9ne1vp/news_st_pete_city_council_approves_proposal_to/

NEWS: St Pete City council approves proposal to transfer Al Lang management agreement from Big 3 Ent. (Bill Edwards) to Rowdies Soccer, LLC (Rays)

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https://twitter.com/unusedsubspod/status/1050492676930527234?s=21

The Unused  ⭐ Substitutes  ⚽ Show
‏
@UnusedSubsPod

NEWS: St Pete City council approves proposal to transfer Al Lang management agreement from Big 3 Ent. (Bill Edwards) to Rowdies Soccer, LLC (Rays).

5:05 PM - 11 Oct 2018

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https://www.wcpo.com/news/our-community/from-the-vault/from-the-vault-cincinnati-comets-won-city-s-first-pro-soccer-championship-in-1972

From The Vault: Cincinnati Comets won city's first pro soccer championship in 1972

Watch archived video

CINCINNATI - Nearly 50 years before FC Cincinnati did the trick, the Cincinnati Comets brought a professional soccer championship to the Queen City in 1972.

Led by a high school kid, Ringo Cantillo, a 17-year-old midfielder from Costa Rica, and Charlie Roberts, a Liberian attending the University of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Comets won the Division II American Soccer League title in their first season.

WATCH Roberts' game-winning goal and the Comets' celebration in the video player above.

Although the ASL began in the 1920s and the Division I North American Soccer League started in 1968, pro soccer was barely a blip on U.S. sports radar outside the Eastern Seaboard when Dr. Nick Capurro put together a team of international players from Latin America, South America and Europe and tossed in a few from Cincinnati to play in what amounted to a semi-pro league.

Soccer hadn’t caught on yet in the Queen City – Ohio high schools hadn’t even started fielding teams - and the Comets barely drew a few hundred fans to their home games at St. Xavier High School that first season despite a 7-1-1 record. There were close to 2,000 people at St. X for the ASL championship against the three-time defending champion New York Greeks, according to WCPO’s report of the game.

The Comets had an early chaotic moment when goalkeeper Augusto Quesada showed up without his uniform. He had to go back home for it, and the Comets started the game with their backup keeper, the Enquirer reported.

The Comets were already playing at a disadvantage – they had to use two subs because an auto accident earlier in the week sidelined three starters.

About the time Quesada came running across the parking lot to the bench, the Comets took a 1-0 lead. Two minutes after Capurro put him in the game, the Greeks tied it. But Roberts, a former Indiana University player, broke the tie at 8:45 of the second half, scoring off an indirect free kick from the right side.

There was no scoring after that, thanks to Cantillo, who gave Comets fans a glimpse of greatness. The McNicholas High student blocked a Greeks shot in front of the net and weaved through the whole Greek team until he was tripped in front of the goal.

“This kid’s worth a million dollars,” Capurro said. “What a future he has.”

The 17-year-old was named the league MVP that year and again two years later. Capurro was named Coach of the Year in ’72. The Comets went 10-2-0 the next year and reached the championship game again, but lost 1-0 in double overtime to the Greeks, who had changed their name to New York Apollo.

That was the apogee for the Comets, and they started to fizzle out after that. They moved to Nippert Stadium in 1973, but attendance wasn’t enough to fill The Bailey. They played two more seasons in Trechter Stadium, a high school football stadium cut into the bottom of the hill on Ludlow Avenue and Central Parkway, where Cincinnati State is now.

Despite Cantillo’s skill, the Comets slipped to 8-5-5 in 1974 and 7-9-4 in 1975. By then, Jim Scott, a DJ at rock-and roll station WSAI before becoming a Tri-State icon at WLW, had invested in the team and become president. Scott saw the writing on the wall and tried to find investors to take the Comets into the Division I NASL.

In 1975, the NASL signed Pele out of retirement, and a host of international stars followed, establishing the NASL as “major league” in America. But there were no buyers for the Comets, and they went out of business.

Cantillo didn’t become the millionaire star Capurro had predicted, but he had a fine career. He jumped to the NASL Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1975, but came back to the ASL in 1977 and won a third MVP award with the New Jersey Americans.

During their short four seasons, the Comets planted the soccer seed in Cincinnati for a long list of teams to follow. That included several indoor teams  - Kids, Cheetahs,  Silverbacks, Excite – as well as outdoor teams - Riverhawks, Ladyhawks, Kings, Lady Saints, Dutch Lions and Sirens -  before FC Cincinnati debuted in 2016.