Is MLB Destroying The Tampa Bay Market?

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https://sportstalkflorida.com/mlb/tampa-bay-rays/https-wp-me-p81oan-1nql/

Is MLB Destroying The Tampa Bay Market?

MLB destroyed Montreal as a market.

Is Major League Baseball sabotaging the Tampa Bay market by continuing to push a St. Petersburg-Montreal home games in two cities plan? MLB is telling Tampa Bay area business leaders your market is not good enough for us and there could be a backlash because it is corporate support and not fans that is the economic engine that fuels teams in all sports. Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternburg is convinced Montreal is a good part-time market but not full-time home for his team. St. Petersburg, Florida Mayor Rick Kriseman said that the team must play every home game scheduled in St. Petersburg through the 2027 season. The planned move of Rays’ summer home games to Montreal beginning in 2024 is on hold for now. The franchise is now scheduled to play out the last eight years of a 30-year lease in St. Petersburg. Major League Baseball wants to get back into the Montreal market. Sternberg is convinced that Montreal is a good part-time market despite the fact that the Canadian dollar has been hanging around 76 cents US for quite a while. MLB does business in American greenbacks.

Sternberg had an opportunity to change the terms of the St. Petersburg lease had he secured funding for a baseball park in Tampa. In 2018, Rays’ owners had plans to build a park in Ybor City. That fell through. What happens next is anybody’s guess other than the Rays will be financially challenged. Tampa Bay’s business community could have second thoughts about supporting the franchise whose owners are not convinced Tampa Bay is a good market. If the corporate community walks away, that would destroy the Rays business. MLB’s might be hoping its split home games threat will result in a getting stadium plan approved somewhere in the Tampa Bay market.

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https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2020/03/08/how-long-to-redevelop-the-rays-home-turf-in-st-petersburg-mayor-kriseman-wont-say/

How long to redevelop the Rays’ home turf in St. Petersburg? Mayor Kriseman won’t say

The future of the team remains uncertain, yet Mayor Rick Kriseman says development can begin anyway. So when will it start?

Tropicana Field sits atop 86 acres of publicly-owned land. When will St. Petersburg begin development?

ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Rick Kriseman said the redevelopment of Tropicana Field is imminent.

That was back in 2018.

And yet the critical first step in the process — asking companies to compete for a city...

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https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2020/03/08/no-goals-no-win-red-bulls-ii-drop-home-opener-1-0/

NO GOALS, NO WIN: Red Bulls II drop home opener, 1-0

Red Bulls II could not find the net on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Red Bulls II)

MONTCLAIR, N.J. — A familiar name to Cosmos fans sent the Red Bulls II to its first loss of the USL Championship season on Saturday.

Leo Fernandes, who was the North American Soccer League young player of the year when he played with the Cosmos  in 2015, scored in the 59th minute to lead the Tampa Bay Rowdies to a 1-0 win over Red Bulls II at MSU Soccer Park on Saturday.

Fernandes converted a Zach Steinberger pass in the season opener for both sides before 1,002 spectators.

Joseph Fala, Wallis Lapsley, Samad Bounthong and Mandela Egbo made their NYRB II debuts.

Roy Boateng made his first career start before departing for Preston Kilwein in the 22nd minute.

In his first professional start in goal , Lapsley made two saves.

NYRB II hosts Hartford Athletic Friday at 7 p.m at MSU Soccer Park.

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https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-unused-substitutes

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-unused-substitutes/e/67827213

Computeronavirus

The guys continue to do battle with technical issues in an attempt to discuss the end of preseason, preview this week's season opener against NY Arby's 2, discuss the Rowdies Women schedule and Jake chats with Rowdies GK Evan Louro

In this episode:

USF 1:1 Rowdies
Evan Louro interview
RBNY2 Preview
Rowdies Women schedule

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/03/05/mls-club-statements-ahead-week-2-matches-wake-coronavirus-covid-19-cases

MLS club statements ahead of Week 2 matches in wake of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases

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https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article240948811.html

Analysis: Charlotte MLS ticket prices expected to be more expensive than league average

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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11952679/david-beckhams-inter-miami-score-first-mls-goal-but-slip-to-second-straight-defeat

David Beckham's Inter Miami score first MLS goal but slip to second straight defeat

We round up the latest action from the MLS...

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https://punditfeed.com/quick-reads/is-mls-really-a-major-league/

Is MLS Really a Major League?

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/mls-coronavirus-precautions/

MLS taking cautious approach with coronavirus

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is providing a cautious backdrop to Week 2 of the 2020 MLS season.

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https://www.sltrib.com/sports/rsl/2020/03/06/mls-teams-migrate/

As MLS teams migrate downtown, RSL’s suburban Rio Tinto Stadium is getting a makeover to remain a draw

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/03/06/rapidman-returns-retirement-colorado-rapids-25th-mls-season

RapidMan returns from retirement for Colorado Rapids' 25th MLS season

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/how-to-watch-mls-on-tv-live-stream-week-2/

ATLANTA UNITED FC

How to watch MLS on TV, live stream Week 2

MLS Week 2 begins Saturday afternoon and ends with a pair of Sunday night clashes.

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/03/06/if-daniel-sturridge-comes-mls-where-would-be-best-fit-greg-seltzer

If Daniel Sturridge comes to MLS, where would be the best fit? | Greg Seltzer

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http://www.startribune.com/in-ever-growing-mls-here-are-six-sides-to-put-on-your-must-watch-list/568559542/

In ever-growing MLS, here are six sides to put on your must-watch list

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https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/philadelphia-union-coronavirus-meet-the-team-postponed-20200307.html

Union postpone ‘Meet the Team’ event amid growing coronavirus concerns

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/03/06/taylor-twellman-inter-miami-will-make-two-big-signings-and-pressure-will-be

Taylor Twellman: Inter Miami will make two big signings, and the pressure will be on

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https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/other-sports/ball-kids-wear-gloves-not-touch-towels-indian-wells

Ball kids to wear gloves, not touch towels at Indian Wells

Tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open that starts next week will have to manage their own towels on court and ball kids will wear gloves while working matches at the combined men's and women's tournament in the Southern California desert.

The measures were announced Friday by tournament organizers, who are offering fans uneasy about the coronavirus a refund for this year's event or a credit for next year. The event runs March 11-22.

Major League Soccer celebrates its 25th season. Two expansion teams join the league as it kicks off its 2020 season (Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC), bringing the number of clubs to 26. MLS will also add a pair of teams in each of the next two years (Austin and Charlotte in 2021, St. Louis and Sacramento in 2022) increasing the total number of MLS franchises to 30 by 2022 – three times the number it fielded 2002-2004. America’s top pro soccer league is growing rapidly. Larry Berg, lead owner of LAFC, the league’s most valuable team (at $700 million per the Los Angeles Times), suggested the league could surpass both MLB and the NHL, in terms of popularity, within the next decade. MLS has been an undeniable success in cities like Atlanta, Portland, and L.A., but the league continues to lack relevance amongst fans in legacy markets like Houston, Dallas, and Denver. MLS Commissioner Don Garber says that turning around struggling clubs in major markets is among his top goals for 2020, along with continuing to grow the fan base, driving new commercial revenue, and positioning the league to cash in on its next media deal.

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https://fox40.com/news/local-news/sacramento-republic-fc-gets-ready-to-join-mls-as-team-heads-into-7th-season/

Sacramento Republic FC gets ready to join MLS as team heads into 7th season

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http://www.startribune.com/in-ever-growing-mls-here-are-six-sides-to-put-on-your-must-watch-list/568559542/

In ever-growing MLS, here are six sides to put on your must-watch list

You might have other favorites but you shouldn't take your fan eye off the ones with the most intriguing pedigrees.

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https://www.ajc.com/sports/coronavirus-and-sports-nba-could-play-without-fans-necessary/hCO4OGR8SFueyF6kljH8mJ/

Coronavirus and sports: NBA, baseball, MLS considering restrictions

MLB added that it has not made changes to media access procedures yet, though it confirmed it was discussing “additional measures" with other leagues. MLS is expected to have some limits on access this weekend, but no NHL or NBA teams are working under a league mandate to change pregame or postgame procedures. However, some NHL clubs did not have postgame locker room access Saturday.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianquillen/2020/03/08/seattle-sounders-play-on-amid-coronavirus-but-mls-could-reschedule-postseason-now/#63b689622604

As Seattle Sounders Play On Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, MLS Could Consider Delaying Postseason Now

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https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/03/08/major-league-soccer-grows-its-facebook-strategy-with-weekly-watch-party-programming/

Major League Soccer Grows Its Facebook Strategy With Weekly “Watch Party” Programming

Facebook's long-form video content portal, Facebook Watch, will serve as primary destination for MLS content

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https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/03/then-and-now-20-things-to-know-about-the-open-cup

THEN & NOW: 20 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE OPEN CUP

HEADING INTO THE 2020 VERSION OF THE COUNTRY’S OLDEST SOCCER TOURNAMENT AND LONG-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, JOIN USOPENCUP.COM FOR A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE QUIRKS, BOTH ANTIQUATED AND MORE MODERN, OF THIS 107-YEAR-OLD ICON

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https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/09/mls-to-become-bigger-than-baseball-why-the-need-for-comparison

MLS to become bigger than baseball? Why the need for comparison?

Figures around the league like to make glorious predictions of the future. But the competition is successful enough in its own right

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https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/soccer/story/2020-03-07/landon-donovan-san-diego-loyal-wynalda-sdsu-las-vegas-lights-usl

Column: San Diego Loyal debuts before capacity crowd, plays to 1-1 tie

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https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/minor_leagues/how-charleston-battery-owner-and-college-of-charleston-saved-a/article_e51e0f82-58d0-11ea-b5aa-a3ab8edabc61.html

How Charleston Battery owner and College of Charleston saved a soccer team

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https://stpetecatalyst.com/zaps/grand-prix-takes-coronavirus-precautions/

Grand Prix takes coronavirus precautions

March 6, 2020 - The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg doesn't expect any disruptions to the March 13-March 15 race activities, but organizers are taking extra precautions due to concerns about coronavirus. Organizers are asking everyone associated with the event to follow basic hygiene precautions as recommended by the CDC, such as frequent hand-washing, use of hand sanitizer and covering coughs and sneezes appropriately. Organizers said they have added additional hand sanitizer and hand soap washing units placed throughout the event site to assist with these hygiene precautions, and are implementing increased cleaning measures including disinfecting handrails and surfaces numerous times throughout the day. Race organizers also said they are actively monitoring health agency alerts and are working with the City of St. Petersburg. Mayor Rick Kriseman told the St. Pete Catalyst earlier this week that the city is doing everything it can to be prepared. 

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https://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/food-drink-events/article/21120561/the-9th-annual-international-cuban-sandwich-festival-returns-to-ybor-this-month

The 9th Annual International Cuban Sandwich Festival returns to Ybor this month

This year's event is set to be bigger than ever.

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https://patch.com/florida/southtampa/raise-glass-during-tampa-bay-beer-week-march-7-15

Raise A Glass During Tampa Bay Beer Week March 7-15

There's no better time to try a few of Tampa Bay's extensive line of craft beers than Tampa Bay Beer Week March 7-15.

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https://www.natlawreview.com/article/victory-opponents-prorel-model-court-arbitration-sport-determines-there-no

Victory for Opponents of the Pro/Rel Model: the Court of Arbitration for Sport Determines There is No Obligation to Implement Pro/Rel in the United States

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/feihds/wfla_round_of_applause_for_tampa_bay_rowdies_new/

WFLA - Round of applause for Tampa Bay Rowdies’ new goalkeeper Evan Louro

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https://www.wfla.com/sports/round-of-applause-for-tampa-bay-rowdies-new-goalkeeper-evan-louro/

Round of applause for Tampa Bay Rowdies’ new goalkeeper Evan Louro

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https://www.onceametro.com/2020/3/6/21167494/rb2-preview-tampa-bay-rowdies

RB2 Preview: Tampa Bay Rowdies

A preview of this week’s USL matchup against a team many RBNY fans will find strangely familiar

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https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1093011

THE MORNING TEA: The Inside Story on Reno’s Rivas

ROWDIES HOPE REBUILT BACK LINE LEADS TO TITLE CONTENTION; LOUISVILLE MAKES SPLASH WITH GOMEZ’S SIGNING

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/fe4f5w/rowdies_plan_to_claim_2020_usl_title_out_with_the/

Rowdies’ plan to claim 2020 USL title? Out with the old

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rowdies/2020/03/05/rowdies-plan-to-claim-2020-usl-title-out-with-the-old/

Rowdies’ plan to claim 2020 USL title? Out with the old

Fans will notice that this isn’t the same group of Tampa Bay defenders that faltered down the stretch last year.

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rowdies/2020/03/05/landon-donovan-joins-rowdies-league-as-coach-of-san-diego-loyal/

Landon Donovan joins Rowdies’ league as coach of San Diego Loyal

One of the greatest U.S. soccer players of all time says he has revived his passion for the sport working with the USL Championship expansion team.

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rowdies/2020/03/05/former-us-goalkeeper-tim-howard-set-to-play-in-rowdies-league/

Former U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard set to play in Rowdies’ league

Howard, 40, will play for Memphis 901 FC, which he also co-owns, pending league and U.S. Soccer approval.

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https://theathletic.com/1657118/2020/03/05/six-big-questions-for-the-usl-east-top-heaviness-miamis-chances-more/

Six big questions for the USL East: Top-heaviness, Miami’s chances, more

This is the second in a two-part series previewing the upcoming USL season. We covered the Western Conference here.

For most of the modern USL era (2011-present), the East has reigned supreme — boasting seven of the last nine champions. In 2020, with a larger roster of MLS affiliates and some of the strongest independent clubs, the East continues to be an intriguing mix.

Still, we have some questions before the new season gets underway.

Are the conference’s top teams even better than last year?

Of the six best teams in all of USL last season, you could make the case that five of them were in the East. With Nashville SC off to MLS, the conference still has three teams worthy of carrying the “favorite” moniker — and a fourth who should never be written off entirely.

2019 marked the third consecutive year where Louisville City made the USL postseason final. Unlike the last two years, Louisville couldn’t seal the deal and were...

The Tampa Bay Rowdies arguably did even more to boost their roster than their Kentucky counterparts, adding three-time USL Best XI center back ...

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https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2020/03/05/st-petes-long-awaited-pier-will-open-in-may/

St. Pete’s long-awaited Pier will open in May

Mayor Rick Kriseman chooses May 30 to coincide with closing of the old inverted pyramid on Memorial Day 7 years ago.

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https://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/food-drink-events/article/21119881/all-the-best-2020-st-patricks-day-parties-pub-crawls-and-celebrations-happening-in-tampa-bay

Here's where to eat, drink and celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Tampa Bay this year

Make sure to call a Lyft after chugging green beer.

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https://thatssotampa.com/a-21-foot-tall-pink-flamingo-is-coming-to-tpa/

A 21-foot-tall pink flamingo is coming to TPA

Tampa International Airport is actually a contemporary art museum. The terminals for TPA are filled with sculptures, murals, and other iconography that provide exceptional greetings for new arrivals to our region, and a welcome farewell to those headed out. The latest addition to TPA’s art collection is a massive pink flamingo.

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https://hoodline.com/2020/03/tampa-s-4-favorite-spots-to-score-sandwiches-on-the-cheap

Tampa's 4 favorite spots to score sandwiches on the cheap

Sulphur Springs Sandwich Shop | Healthy N Fresh Cafe | La Segunda Bakery & Cafe | Thee Burger Spot

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https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1093417

GAMEDAY ROUNDUP: Dadashov Leads Rising FC Past T2

BOLD FC NOTCHES HOME WIN AGAINST NEW MEXICO; TAMPA BAY, COLORADO SPRINGS WIN ON ROAD

NEW YORK RED BULLS II (0), TAMPA BAY ROWDIES (1)

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The Rowdies claimed their first points at MSU Soccer Park in the club’s history as Leo Fernandes’ second-half goal earned the victory against the Red Bulls II.

Tampa Bay’s Sebastian Guenzatti missed out on a chance to give the visitors the lead midway through the first half on a breakaway, but the Rowdies took the lead in the 57th minute as Zach Steinberger’s cutback from the left byline found Fernandes, who poked home a finish from the top of the six-yard area.

The Rowdies thought they had doubled their lead in the 62nd minute when Juan Tejada put home the rebound off a shot by Fernandes that rang off the right post, only for the offside flag to be raised. The Red Bulls II then carved out a big chance as Jared Stroud found space on the left and delivered a back-post cross for Sebastian Elney that was turned away by Louro, while Tampa Bay’s Aaron Guillen also failed to capitalize on a breakaway late on that could have put the game away. Fernandes’ goal proved enough, however, as the Rowdies’ defense earned a road shutout to start the season. 

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Leo Fernandes, Tampa Bay Rowdies – Fernandes scored the deciding goal and also hit the post as the Rowdies came away with its first road win against the Red Bulls II.

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https://patch.com/florida/stpete/construction-begin-new-food-hall-sundial-st-pete

Construction To Begin On New Food Hall At Sundial St. Pete

St. Pete foodies can look forward to a new food hall concept at Sundial St. Pete opening in the last quarter of 2020.

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https://www.bgn.fm/bgns-2020-usl-championship-predictions/

BGN’s 2020 USL Championship Predictions

Ahead of Friday’s season opener, we bring you the official BGN predictions for the 2020 USL Championship season.

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https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/driving-tampa-bay-forward/teco-streetcar-stations-reopen-after-phase-one-of-track-work-completed

TECO Streetcar stations reopen after Phase One of track work completed

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https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/03/04/long-before-coronavirus-florida-caught-spanish-flu-how-bad-was-it/

Long before coronavirus, Florida caught Spanish flu. How bad was it?

Half of Tampa’s cigar workers got sick. So did the mayor, fire chief and a third of the students at the University of Florida. “There was nothing science could do.”

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https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/how-david-beckham-went-deepdale-17859831

How David Beckham went from Deepdale & Preston North End to Florida & Inter Miami

He didn't go on to have a bad career, did he?

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https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/inter-miami/feature/inter-miami-everything-you-need-to-know-about-david-beckhams-mls-team_391208.html

Inter Miami: Everything you need to know about David Beckham's MLS team

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https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/03/open-cup-rewind-99-rhinos-if-you-cant-join-em-beat-em

OPEN CUP REWIND: ‘99 RHINOS - IF YOU CAN’T JOIN ‘EM, BEAT ‘EM!

STILL THE GOLD STANDARD FOR UNDERDOGS IN THE OPEN CUP’S MODERN ERA, TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE 1999-CHAMPION RAGING RHINOS OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

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https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2020/03/02/offside-remarks-remembering-a-lancers-great-and-a-great-guy-as-well/

OFFSIDE REMARKS: Remembering a Lancers great and a great guy as well

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https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2020/03/02/goodbye-ibraim-silva-who-scored-one-of-the-most-important-goals-in-lancers-history-dies/

GOODBYE, IBRAIM: Silva, who scored one of the most important goals in Lancers history, dies