Rowdies under political fire from City of St. Petersburg

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Rowdies under political fire from City of St. Petersburg

St. Pete needs the Rowdies and the Rowdies need St Pete.

A non SSS/baseball configuration would suck, and you can't beat the downtown/marina/pier location.

The Rays will either leave the bay or end up Tampa side. A win win is a situation where St.Pete works out an agreement to use some of the funds in conjunction with continued Al Lang improvements.

If this is the first volley in that process, it's a pretty poor one on the part of St.Pete.....

I am still trying to determine what problem SPFR is trying to solve by enacting these new regulations. Was this in response to the 2014 fiasco against Orlando City B? /s A little transparency here would be in order. Right now, at best they are coming across as petty. For instance, why five extra personnel when clearly one would suffice? 5 looks like a number Domante picked out of his ass. (It was backdraft?!).

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https://www.draysbay.com/2020/2/27/21152502/rowdies-smoke-political-fire-st-petersburg-fire-marshal

Rowdies under political fire from City of St. Petersburg

The City has made unprecedented demands within the soccer industry of Rowdies management and supporters.

@RalphsMob

St. Petersburg city officials are learning that the quickest way to make an enemy of soccer fans is to infringe on their ability to express their passion.

For years Ralph’s Mob, the independent supporters group of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, has been using green and gold smoke grenades as part of their celebrations at Al Lang Stadium. It’s a tradition that mob members, along with countless other soccer fans across the globe, hold near and dear to their hearts.

That tradition came under threat last Tuesday when members of Ralph’s Mob and Rowdies team staff met with St. Petersburg Fire Marshal Michael Domante, who informed them that the use of smoke devices would be prohibited entirely going forward. Mob members at the meeting also claim Domante said any fans in violation risked arrest, that matches could be ceased, and the stadium could even be evacuated.

Everyone at the meeting was reportedly taken aback by Domante’s hard line stance, as they had come to the table hoping to have an open-minded discussion on the issue of smoke devices at the city-owned venue; however, Domante was not interested in doing the same. The Fire Marshal declined to look at the manufacturer specs and research brought to the meeting, and instead informed the team and the supporters it was in his purview as Fire Marshal to enforce the statute as he saw fit and that he was acting on behalf of the city.

The next day the Rowdies and Ralph’s Mob reached out to Mayor Kriseman to have the decision reversed or reopened in hopes of having a chance to address the city’s concerns.

At this point Ralph’s Mob went public on its social media platforms to pressure Kriseman and the city into acquiescing. As expected, the online soccer community likewise came to the Mob’s defense. The Independent Supporters Council of North America and other groups from across the country, many of whom implement the same smoke devices, rallied behind Ralph’s Mob.

@RalphsMob

Kriseman’s response eventually came on Thursday afternoon, and it struck a much different tone than the one Mob members claim Domante demonstrated in their initial meeting. The Mayor (who has previously marched with the Mob during gameday festivities) began by affirming that, “The City of St. Petersburg is not banning smoke devices at Rowdies’ matches, as we want to ensure the matches remain a fun and lively experience for fans.”

So, problem solved? Not really.

The Mayor continued by emphasizing that public safety remained “paramount.” He noted that the Rowdies were informed by the city late last year that the club’s own rules stated that no smoke devices can be activated in “close proximity to another person,” and that the rule must be enforced in 2020.

The Rowdies have not publicly weighed in on the issue, but those involved in the discussions say the club has been nothing but supportive of the continued use of smoke devices.

Rowdies players certainly haven’t been silenced by the club on the matter, and several voiced their support for Ralph’s Mob on Twitter and Instagram, and a handful have posed for pictures with fan-made signs protesting the prospective smoke ban after the club’s preseason match against Inter Miami FC over the weekend.

Curiously, Kriseman’s response also claims SPFR determined the devices in question measured at 800 degrees. It’s a puzzling assertion considering the manufacturer of the cool burn smoke grenades states the maximum temperature is roughly 200 degrees Fahrenheit and the operating temperature is 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since Ralph’s Mob is unaware what exactly was tested and how it was tested, the group is left to wonder how St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue (SPFR) reached its results.

Kriseman closed his response to the Mob by saying, “St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue is confident that through coordination with the Rowdies Organization we can both ensure public safety and health and allow smoke to be deployed. As soccer fans and fans of the atmosphere created at Al Lang Stadium, we look forward to seeing the Rowdies’ colors billowing from Al Lang Stadium for years to come.”

When Domante returned to the Rowdies after Kriseman’s response, Ralph’s Mob was not included. The Rowdies were told in that meeting that in order for the fans to keep their smoke, the club would have to pay to obtain fire permits for every match, add extra fire personnel to supervise the smoke devices, only permit team employees to use the devices, and only activate the devices in newly designated areas far away from fans and the field, according to both sources and documentation obtained in support of this article.

A week removed from that first meeting that kicked all this off, and the ire has only been rekindled by this list of requirements, which Ralph’s Mob deemed unreasonable in a statement on Monday.

Ralph's Mob
@RalphsMob
 An update.

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No one from the city or SPFR seems to have adequately explained what led to this drastic approach to smoke after years of it never being a problem; however, it’s worth noting that the city has recently been at odds with Rowdies ownership over stadium rights for its other franchise, the Tampa Bay Rays. Up until last week the Rowdies and the city had been on seemingly excellent terms since the club took over management of Al Lang in 2014 and invested $1.5 million into the neglected venue.

If these demands are related to specific concerns within the Pinellas County fire code , it is also worth noting that no other cities with soccer teams in the state of Florida are clamping down on smoke use in the same way. In fact, most revel in its use. Ralph’s Mob leadership has consistently asked SPFR to consider the best practices used throughout Florida and across the country. So far those requests have fallen on deaf ears.

Additionally, the local fire code specifically differentiates “smoke devices” with “not more than ten grams* of pyrotechnic composition” from “fireworks” within its enforceable ordinances. The spirit of the law makes room for smoke, but seemingly goes the extra mile with this definition.

We’re still about a month away from the Rowdies’ home opener on March 21, so there is still time for cooler heads to prevail. For the moment, though, fans are continuing to express their displeasure. Some have gone as far as pledging to not spend any money at restaurants or bars in St. Pete on Rowdies match days unless the smoke issue is resolved entirely.

All this is happening as the Rowdies enter the final year of their use-agreement to manage Al Lang Stadium. Previous owner Bill Edwards quietly renewed the agreement with the city back at the end of 2016 ahead of the club’s move to the USL Championship for the 2017 season.

When the Tampa Bay Rays bought the Rowdies from Edwards, they agreed to a provision to keep the club in St. Petersburg for at least five years. We’re in year two of that promise and Al Lang remains the best possible spot for the Rowdies for the time being, though no one really knows what would happen if the Rays decide it’s in their interest to break the agreement.

Rays officials have previously discussed the possibility of moving the Rowdies into the stadium they hope to build as part of their shared-team proposal with Montreal, a requirement Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has made clear in previous discussions during the Rays Stadium Saga.

*DRaysBay has reached out to the manufacturer for additional details on the grams of pyrotechnics in the 40g weight smoke grenades utilized by Rowdies supporters

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/fadz77/looking_for_a_game_day_flag_the_former_national/

Looking for a game day flag. The former national flag of Zaire seems very apropo these days!

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https://imgur.com/ERXbI2Q

Looking for a game day flag. The former national flag of Zaire seems very apropo these days!

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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/03/01/david-beckhams-inter-miami-make-mls-debut-can-conquer-city-has/

David Beckham’s Inter Miami to make MLS debut: can they conquer a city that has a mysterious lack of sporting success?

After years of delays, protests and legal battles, the MLS' newest side are finally ready to focus on matters on the pitch

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https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/mls-soccer-season-preview-fixtures-inter-miami-david-beckham-la-galaxy-javier-hernandez-lafc-a9366341.html

MLS season preview: David Beckham’s Inter Miami debut and ‘Chicharito’ becomes U.S. football’s newest star

LA Galaxy take on Houston Dynamo while Miami face Los Angeles FC

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https://talksport.com/football/676586/cristiano-ronaldo-juventus-inter-miami/

STAYING PUT Cristiano Ronaldo denies claims he could leave Juventus to join David Beckham’s new club Inter Miami

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https://www.journalinquirer.com/living/st-pete-sunshine-city-is-florida-s-west-coast-gem/article_c962b808-5a4f-11ea-a22c-e76eb69d0fbc.html

St. Pete: ‘Sunshine City’ is Florida’s west coast gem

In half a century of traveling those places that come to the top of my list of favorites are small cities on the water, among them Nice (France), Napflion (Greece), and Halifax (Nova Scotia). This winter I have added St. Petersburg on Florida’s west coast. It was an easy direct three-hour flight from Bradley International Airport, and staying in the city center made it unnecessary to have a car.

This town was founded in 1888, and unlike its east coast counterparts, today has a young and exciting vibe. It has grown considerably in the past 20 years and holds the Guinness Book of World Record for most consecutive days of sun: 768 in a row 1967-69. In fact the local newspaper (which began in 1884) was given away free for years “on any day the sun does not shine.”

The area was first explored by the Spanish in 1528. After the Hibbs Fishing Company was established in 1899 there was a rail line developed from the dock into the town. From 1906 to 1908 the channel was dredged to allow more shipping and the first trolley in town operated in 1904.

During the early years of the 20th century, Tampa Bay became a popular area for spring training of many baseball teams. The local St. Petersburg Museum of History has a remarkable private collection of baseballs and memorabilia which has led to the exhibit being called “Little Cooperstown.” Nearby, the Tampa Baseball Museum just opened in the Ybor City neighborhood in Tampa, and covers 125 years of baseball history, from Little League to the Major Leagues.

In 1914 the first small airline began service from St. Pete to Tampa. The following year the Mirror Lake Library opened downtown and is still operating today with many branches in other neighborhoods that offer free programs open to all.

Expansion in the 1920s resulted after the Gandy Bridge was built and in 1926 the “Million Dollar Pier” brought a great influx of tourists. This declined with the Great Depression. The population of St. Pete increased greatly in the 1940s as there were Coast Guard and Army training bases here, which housed 100,000 troops.

Today St. Pete is home to about 270,000 people. With the exception of newer residential towers, it is a low, flat city with panoramic views. It has wonderful Mediterranean and contemporary architecture and well-manicured public parks abound, many along the harbor. Art deco and arts and crafts bungalows and hotels still exist in the neighborhoods. The city is a grid with many one-way streets that manage the traffic very well. Even during rush hour the traffic moves smoothly and the city is quiet at most hours.

Cultural attractions downtown or very near include the Sunken Garden, the Dali Museum, the Chihuly Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Florida Holocaust Museum, the James Museum of Western Art, and a number of large and impressive fine arts galleries. The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement is close to being finished, in an architecturally stunning downtown building.

The Florida Orchestra’s home is the Mahaffey Theater at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts on the Waterfront Walk, where they offer classical and pops concerts. The museums have impressive permanent collections, rotating temporary exhibits, and special lectures and programs. The Raymond James Theater is a small (183 seats) state of the art performance facility that shares a building with St. Petersburg College. It is home to the American Stage and offers affordable world class shows year round.

Regularly scheduled events are a first Friday of the month downtown block party on a street that is cordoned off and includes live music.

On the second Saturday of the month, art galleries are open late and there is a circulating trolley. The free downtown Looper trolley serves visitors and residents alike and operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and until midnight on weekends.

If you are so inclined, there are swing, salsa, and ballroom dance events in the area.

Other easy public transportation options are a Cross Bay Ferry from St. Pete to Tampa (currently not running every day) which takes about an hour, and bus service on Central Avenue, which can get you to the beaches. Some of the downtown hotels offer their own shuttle services and many have happy hours and pools. They also offer free parking if your visit to Tampa is part of a road trip.

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/lightning/2020/02/29/in-case-of-emergency-the-lightning-have-a-beer-league-goalie-on-tap/

In case of emergency, the Lightning have a beer league goalie on tap

John Romano | Nick Sullivan played club hockey at USF and has been an occasional practice partner for the Lightning, but he’s never played pro hockey in his life.

Nick Sullivan typically keeps his equipment in his truck in the players' parking lot while waiting for a call to see if either team needs an emergency goaltender for Lightning games at Amalie Arena. [DIRK SHADD | Times]

TAMPA — He sits about 20 rows behind his (not really) teammates every game at Amalie Arena. Somewhere in the building, his (not yet official) contract awaits his signature. Hanging in the balance are ...

By day, Sullivan, 38, works as an IT recruiter at an office in Ybor City and on ...

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https://wflanews.iheart.com/content/2020-02-28-patrick-venable-buildings-alive-ybor-city-architecture-hop/

Patrick Venable-Buildings Alive! Ybor City Architecture Hop

Patrick Venable, Ybor City Museum Society Board of Trustees, joined AM Tampa Bay to discuss Buildings Alive! Ybor City Architecture Hop is happening March 5, 2020, from 5:00-9:30 pm.

This is a behind-the-scenes tour of some of Ybor City’s historic buildings and sites, each with its own architectural style and unique story.

With hundreds of historically significant structures in the area, we take the general public into sites they wouldn’t get a chance to explore.

Here is a list of the stops this year:

Design Styles Architecture (former Italian grocery store)

El Centro Asturiano (this building replaces original one that burned. club formed in 1902)

Lion’s Eye Institute (former F. Lozano Cigar Factory)

Italian Club (built in 1918)

Cuban Club (1917 building replaces original one burned down)

New owners of the German American Club are going to give our guests preview of the renovations they’re planning for the 1909 building. (Metro Inclusive Health)

Location: Ybor City Museum State Park - Kick off in the Garden (1818 East 9 Avenue, Tampa 33605)

Price: Discounted tickets now – Monday, March 2:

Non – members = $50

YCMS members = $40

Students (with school ID) = $20

If you're interested on attending the tour or finding out more information click here

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https://it.toolbox.com/blogs/dukeganote/python-counting-distinct-digits-deux-and-doh-022820

Python: Counting Distinct Digits, Deux and D'oh

NOT New Orleans' French Quarter, but a seemly similar vibe as my wife and I walked Ybor City: the metal balconies overlooking the street life below look like a scene from the TV series "NCIS: New Orleans". Ybor City (a Tampa historical district) has its own Mardi Gras celebration! And an auxiliary Gasparilla parade: the Sant Yago Knight Parade. One of our friends recommended we attend the 2021 Knight Parade; watching some Youtube videos made us inclined to agree.

We visited Ybor City during the Fiesta Day event in 2020: it was 3-4 blocks of street vendors and buskers. The fragrant smell of cigars drifted sometimes drifted around us: Ybor City is the historical Cuban cigar making district of Tampa. Not as famous as NOLA's French Quarter nor dangerous as Miami's "Little Havana" reputation, Ybor City seemed charming, although the strutting, strolling roosters reminded us of Hawaii.

All part of a busy last weekend before returning to Cincinnati, Ybor City was fun excursion before laughing at the fledging sailors at Seaplane Basin Park on Davis Islands -- then heading to Cypress Point Park: there we watched descending planes arrive at Tampa International Airport as the sun descended in bright colors into Tampa Bay to end the day.

I understand why my maternal grandparents snowbirded in Clearwater-Tampa; yes, it's a family tradition!

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/29/report-lafc-valuation-grows-more-700-million-amid-ownership-buyout

Report: LAFC valuation grows to more than $700 million amid ownership buyout

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https://sportstalkflorida.com/soccer/mls/https-wp-me-p81oan-1nov/

Is The MLS Becoming More Successful Or A Failing Business?

What exactly is the MLS?

The Major League Soccer season is underway and there seems to be a bit of a difference between the league commissioner and one team owner about the financial health of the business. Atlanta owner Arthur Blank said the league is doing fine financially while the Commissioner Don Garber has painted a bleak financial picture. Blank stated that the league “has grown and yet maintained, I think, financial integrity and stability. Not all the clubs are profitable, but most are, and most are getting more profitable. I think the league continues to attract a higher level of investor that is willing to invest not only more money, but bring their business expertise, their sense of marketing and management to the league and to their own clubs, which is really good. I couldn’t be more excited about the direction of the league.”

But Garber isn’t even sure what type of a league the MLS should be. “Most teams are operating at a loss,” he said. “I need to convince our owners to make investments in the future of the league that will force them to operate at a loss. This is a labor of love. They are willing to run their businesses at a loss. They ultimately want to make a profit.” Garber, in 2019, said the league had to change its business model “We all need to get used to the fact that in the world of global soccer, players get sold. We have been buying for so long and as we’ve gone through the analysis, it’s hard to justify that investment and the investment that we have to make in player development. We’ve got to have something that turns this model around, or else it’s going to be unsustainable.” Blank and Garber are at odds. But Blank is also correct when he said the league is now getting different investors with really deep pockets including David Tepper in Charlotte and Ron Burkle in Sacramento. Is Major League Soccer, now with 30 active franchises, financially viable or not?

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https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/ugandas-azira-africans-will-choose-mls-over-europe-because/7dx59medxnos1an25xt9q121f

Uganda’s Azira: Africans will choose MLS over Europe because of ‘awful’ racism

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https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/professional/story/2020/mar/01/atlantspoils-nashvilles-mls-defront-largest-s/517040/

Atlanta spoils Nashville's MLS debut in front of largest soccer crowd in Tennessee history

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https://fox17.com/news/local/save-our-fairgrounds-to-file-injunction-to-stop-mls-stadium-deal

Save Our Fairgrounds to file injunction to stop MLS stadium deal

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https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/02/29/sports/soccer/29reuters-soccer-usa-mls-future.html

MLS Sees Itself as World's Top League in 25 Years

NEW YORK — As Major League Soccer launched a milestone 25th season on Saturday, the mood was not one of reflection and cautious optimism but bold even outrageous predictions of a future empire.

Not content to eventually become one of the most successful leagues in North America, MLS has set its sights on supplanting the UK's Premier League and Spain's La Liga as the world's top soccer product by the time it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

A splashy 25th season kickoff event on Wednesday at a posh Manhattan hotel overlooking Central Park was not meant as a celebration of the past but of the riches that lay ahead, so there was no need to dwell on a troubling bottom line which is written in red ink.

While all indicators are trending upwards MLS remains a largely unprofitable venture.

Only a handful of the 24 teams made money last year and even commissioner Don Garber concedes the league will remain a money pit until a new media rights deal is negotiated sometime before the current one expires at the end of 2022.

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https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/02/29/sports/soccer/29reuters-soccer-usa-mls-timeline.html

Timeline of Major League Soccer's 25 Years

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https://www.nj.com/sports/2020/03/lafc-vs-inter-miami-fc-live-stream-3120-watch-david-beckhams-team-make-mls-debut-online-time-usa-tv-channel.html

LAFC vs. Inter Miami FC LIVE STREAM (3/1/20): Watch David Beckham’s team make MLS debut online | Time, USA TV, channel

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http://www.wdtimes.com/sports/state_national_sports/article_c5581830-b4a5-5483-a922-94ed797e4c0b.html

Beckham's Miami MLS team to kick off after 7 years of twists

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https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/02/28/crossing-the-pond---chelsea-players-in-the-mls

CROSSING THE POND – CHELSEA PLAYERS IN THE MLS

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http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/hill-s-challenge-former-english-legend-charged-with-guiding-jamaica-s-youth-football-development_188438

Hill's challenge

Former English legend charged with guiding Jamaica's youth football development

The former Tampa Bay Rowdies player/coach says building for the future cannot start too soon, as it is never too late.

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https://mlsmultiplex.com/2020/03/01/inter-miami-vs-lafc-breaking-diego-alonso-starting-xi/

Inter Miami Vs LAFC: Breaking down Diego Alonso’s starting XI

With their highly anticipated MLS debut, Inter Miami has a tough challenge ahead when they face perennial MLS cup contenders LAFC. But how will Diego Alonso line them up on Sunday?

The game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, however, saw Inter Miami finally settle into what Alonso wants from his players:

Inter Miami CF
✔
@InterMiamiCF
 The #InterMiamiCF Starting XI
vs @TampaBayRowdies
(Pre-season friendly)

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Well, look for Alonso to go with a veteran-heavy presence. LAFC is one of the best teams in MLS and having the know-how of players like Roman Torres, Luis Robles, and Wil Trapp will go a long way in possibly getting points. If the game against the Rowdies is anything to go by, we could see Alonso reverting to a back three again to provide that defensive stability while still having wing-backs like Ambrose and Powell that can stretch LACF’s backline on the counter-attack.

In defense, Christian Makoun could start alongside Torres and Figal in a back three. Makoun’s agility and passing ability will be key. In attack, it’s almost certain that Robinson will lead the line. His outing against the Rowdies proved that he can be the focal point of the attack until a DP striker is brought in or Julian Carranza returns from injury. And in midfield, it’s a toss-up depending on how Alonso wants to play: Rodolfo Pizarro or Lee Ngyuen could get the start based on their form during the preseason, depending on how MLS-heavy Alonso wants his team to be.

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http://bernews.com/2020/03/usl-league-two-adds-16-teams-2020/

USL League Two Adds 16 Teams For 2020

Southeast Division [1]

“Tampa Bay Rowdies U23 are the lone addition to the Southeast Division, which The Villages SC has dominated in recent years. The team will play its home matches at the historic Al Lang Stadium, the home venue of professional parent club Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship.

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rowdies/2020/02/29/mls-begins-25th-season-we-can-be-bigger-than-baseball/

MLS begins 25th season: We can be bigger than baseball

Optimism for the future of the sport and league run high among owners as the season begins Saturday.

Inter Miami CF co-owners Jorge Mas, left, and David Beckham, right, pose for photos with Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber during the Major League Soccer 25th Season kickoff event, New York, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020.

NEW YORK — Three days ahead of the start of Major League Soccer’s 25th season, owners, executives and players gathered for a day of unbridled optimism and hyperbole.

Los Angeles FC lead owner Larry Ber...

The original teams that started play in 1996 — a group that included the Tampa Bay Mutiny — paid $5 million each. The Mutiny, plagued by financial, ...

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https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1091294-preseason-roundup-toros-win-final-tune-up-vs-san-antonio

PRESEASON ROUNDUP: Toros Win Final Tune-up vs. San Antonio

BECKFORD, OBREGON JR. ON TARGET FOR RGVFC; TEJADA SCORES LATE, EARNS ROWDIES DRAW WITH SOUTH FLORIDA

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES 1, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA 1: Juan Tejada scored a late equalizer to earn the Rowdies a draw against the Bulls at Corbett Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

The Rowdies trailed for most of the game after USF’s Adrian Billhardt scored in the 25th minute, while the Rowdies sputtered offensively in the first half and caught a bad break in the 66th minute when Forrest Lasso was shown his second yellow card of the second half and sent off. Tampa Bay played the final 30 minutes down a man.

The Bulls nearly doubled their lead in the 70th minute when Victor Claudel took a shot on target from inside the six-yard box, only for Rowdies goalkeeper Evan Louro to make a spectacular save with his left hand while falling to his right.

Despite playing a man down, the Rowdies closed the match on the front foot. Tejada forced a great save from USF's goalkeeper in the 76th minute, but in second-half stoppage time a long ball forward from Louro was flicked on by Lucky Mkosana, allowing the Panama U-23 international to produce an individual effort to tie the match after beating his defender and rounding the goalkeeper to close preseason with a bang.

“That goal is everything we know about Juan,” said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. “Juan had an excellent season and at the end it tailed off a little bit because he had put his body through so much to get in that position. Now he's back, he's fit and he's ready and he's a huge part of what we're trying to do here. We played with 10 men for the last 30 minutes and the boys found a way to get their equalizer. Was it deserved? Possibly not, but that's a positive from tonight.”

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https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/85093/sa-trivia-head-coaches-in-both-mls-and-the-old-na.html

SA Trivia: Head coaches in both MLS and the old NASL?

Soccer America

NASL — Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975-77), New York Cosmos (1977-79), Philadelphia Fury (1980), Montreal Manic (1981-82), New York Cosmos ...

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https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51666308

Inter Miami: Why David Beckham's MLS team have ultras before having played a game

Like many US cities, Miami has experienced several false starts when it comes to football but the latest attempt to bring the game to the south of the Sunshine State promises to be very different, thanks to a Major League Soccer trailblazer and one of the biggest names in world football: David Beckham.

On Sunday, MLS welcomes Beckham's Inter Miami to the fold as South Florida takes another shot at sustaining a successful team in a sport the locals call "soccer" or "futbol".

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https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/02/a-long-strange-trip-107-years-of-us-open-cup

A LONG STRANGE TRIP: 107 YEARS OF U.S. OPEN CUP

OPEN CUP

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is an unbroken thread that runs from the early 20th century to today. From the industrial leagues of the 1920s and 30s, to the ethnic flavor of the post-World War II era, and the dominance of MLS since the league’s birth in 1996, the Open Cup tells the confusing, chaotic and unlikely story of soccer’s success on American shores. Join usopencup.com for a look at the Cup from the good old days when there were laces on the ball, up to the gleaming professionalism we know now.

READ MORE: Deep Denton Roots Spur Diablos’ Cup Dreams

WAY, WAY BACK

The first U.S. Open Cup was played in 1914, making it the oldest cup competition for soccer in the United States and the country’s oldest annual tournament for team sports. While professional soccer came and went in various forms and incarnations, at various stages of the 20th century, the Open Cup crowned a champion for each of the last 107 years. Even through the want and woe of the Great Depression and the challenges of two World Wars, the U.S. Open Cup survived. Teams from 17 different states have won this title that’s older than the Panama Canal, Mount Rushmore and the Super Bowl too.

Brooklyn Field Club were the first winners of the Open Cup

BROOKLYN BEGINNINGS

The first final took place at Coates Field in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, contested by a pair of teams from the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Brooklyn Field Club edged Brooklyn Celtic 2-1. The price of admission on that crisp day in May was 25 cents. Celtic returned to the final the next year only to be beaten by powerhouses Bethlehem Steel, who hold the joint-record of most titles with five. In all, eight teams with Brooklyn in their name have won the Open Cup.

ONCE THERE WERE TWO

Only once in the long history of the U.S. Open Cup has a champion not been established on the pitch. That was in 1923, when FC Paterson became the first team from New Jersey to win the title. Scullin Steel of St. Louis were unable to field a side for a replay after the initial Final finished tangled at 2-2. In what might be the most American of soccer problems, Scullin claimed they couldn’t play again because many of the young men in their side were making preparations for the upcoming professional baseball season.

Maccabi LA legend Benny Binshtock [L] in the 1970s

NAME GAME

The competition was known as the National Challenge Cup in its early years, and was renamed and dedicated to MLS owner and American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt in 1999. From then on it became the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In 2016, FC Dallas, who are owned and operated by Hunt’s sons Clark and Dan, gave the trophy a homecoming of sorts when they defeated New England Revolution 4-2 in the tournament final played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

THE OPEN CUP’S GREATEST?

Many legends of American soccer have graced the stages of the U.S. Open Cup through the years. Perhaps none shine as bright as the mustachioed and lethally left-footed Billy Gonsalves, who won the Cup a record eight times with four different teams. In 1931, Glasgow Celtic manager Willie Maley said, without hesitation: “This Billy Gonsalves is the greatest player I’ve ever seen.” Sometimes called the Babe Ruth of American Soccer, this son of Portuguese immigrants and the seventh of nine children, Gonsalves lined up for the U.S. Men’s National Team in both the 1930 and 1934 FIFA World Cups.

Bert Patenaude for Fall River Marksmen against Bethlehem Steel in 1930

INDUSTRIAL GIANTS

Employer-owned teams dominated the 1920s and 30s, with industrialists in the Northeast and Midwest importing talented foreign players with the promise of good jobs and soccer on the side. Bethlehem Steel won five titles between 1914 and 1924. The likes of St. Louis Ben Miller, named after a prominent hat company, Brooklyn Robbins Dry Dock, St Louis Scullin Steel, Todd Shipyards, Vesper Buick, Holley Carburator, Manhattan Beer, Morgan Strasser and St Louis Stix, Baer & Fuller all made their mark on the competition.

A RICH BROTH OF BACKGROUNDS

It’s impossible to untangle ethnicity and soccer in a country of immigrants like the United States. Many Open Cup champions were teams formed by newcomers, proud of their native land and their adoptive home, and eager to meld the two in the form of a soccer club. The result of this most American of hybrids are champions with names that span the old world and the new, like New York Hakoah – champions of 1929, who took their name from the Hebrew word meaning Strength. Philadelphia German-American SC won in 1936 and Chicago Sparta two years after. Among the list of Open Cup winners are: Brooklyn St. Mary’s Celtic, Brooklyn Hispano, New York German-Hungarians, SC Eintracht, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals, New York Hungaria, New York Ukrainians, New York Greek-American, New York Hota, Los Angeles Maccabee, New York Pancyprian-Freedoms, the Brooklyn Italians, DC’s Club España and San Francisco Greek-American.

The 1944 Open Cup Final

OLD NASL OPT OUT

There’s no matching the North American Soccer League of the 1970s and early 80s for over-the-top glitz and glamor. During the league’s salad days, when global superstars like Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, George Best and Pele, came to play in the USA, the league declined to take part in the U.S. Open Cup. Theories abound as to why the likes of the New York Cosmos, Chicago Sting and LA Aztecs refused to play, the most plausible being that those big-timers wanted to avoid the possibility of being beaten by smaller fish. “They (NASL sides) didn’t want to run the risk of losing to amateurs,” Dr. Joe Machnik, Open Cup champion in 1965 with New York Ukrainians, told usopencup.com.

MAJOR-LEAGUE DOMINANCE

Romance be damned! Since the inception of Major League Soccer in 1996, teams from the country’s top flight have dominated the U.S. Open Cup. Only once since then has a team from below the summit of the United States’ soccer pyramid won the competition, when the Rochester Rhinos beat four MLS teams to claim the crown in 1999. The Charleston Battery also reached the Final in 2008, but fell 2-1 to D.C. United. With four titles each, Chicago Fire, Sporting Kansas City and Seattle Sounders FC lead the pack of MLS clubs, followed by D.C. United, FC Dallas and LA Galaxy (2 each) and Columbus Crew SC and New England Revolution (1 each).

Manhattan Beer in the late 1930s

TRAVAILS OF A TROPHY

The 64 winners of the U.S. Open Cup all have their names etched on the base of the Sir Thomas Dewar Cup. The trophy was donated by whiskey magnate and soccer promoter Sir Thomas Dewar in 1912. The original trophy was retired in 1979 due to the damage sustained over a long life of being grasped by grateful hands. But the Dewar Cup came back out of retirement for a brief revival in 1997 and was last awarded to the Chicago Fire when they won the 2006 tournament. The Dewar Cup is now living the good life behind glass at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas.

FLIRTING WITH LONG-AGO LEGENDS

Sporting Kansas City, Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders are all on the cusp of equaling the record of most wins in Open Cup history. Another title for any one of these four-time champions would bring them level with Bethlehem Steel and Maccabee Los Angeles, a club formed by Israeli ex-pats, Holocaust survivors among them, who dominated the 1970s and early 80s with their five championship runs. Fall River Marksmen and Philadelphia Ukrainians also have four titles to their name (though some argue the Marksmen are also five-time winners of a kind). The other four-time champs, New York Greek Americans, are not among the 100 participating teams in 2020.

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 #ThrowbackThursday: Back in 2017, @SportingKC lifted the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 🏆 for the fourth time in its history (2004, 2012, 2015 and 2017).

On that day, Captain @MattBesler claimed his third Open Cup 🏆, all with #SportingKC 💯#TBT | #OpenCupREWIND

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DAVIDS AND GOLIATHS

The romance of the U.S. Open Cup derives, in large part, from its format as a single-elimination competition open to all affiliated professional and amateur teams in the United States. $300,000 in prize money is on offer to the winner of the 2017 event, an unfathomable amount for the hopeful amateurs from the Open Division. And while a non-Major League Soccer side hasn’t won since the Rochester Rhinos did it back in 1999, the dream of a fairytale scramble to the Final is a spur for those small sides who play for the love of the game. Financial inducements don’t stop with the champions, either, as the runner-up collects $100,000 and the team that advances farthest from each lower division gets $25,000.

DOORWAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA

The winner of the U.S. Open Cup qualifies directly for the CONCACAF Champions League (formerly the CONCACAF Champions Cup), a tournament of the league champions and cup winners from North, Central America and the Caribbean. The CONCACAF Champions League has only ever been won on two occasions by American teams (both from MLS) – DC United in 1998 and LA Galaxy in 2000.

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100 FOR 2020

100 teams will participate in the 2020 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Among the sides in the 107th installment of the competition are reigning champions Atlanta United and 22 other Major League Soccer outfits. There are 25 teams from the officially recognized Division II United Soccer League (USL Championship), including Charleston Battery, who, in 2008, became the last non-MLS team to reach the Final. Among the brigade of amateur combatants, Christos FC of Baltimore are back and hoping to match their run to the Fourth Round at #USOC2017, where they earned the chance to play D.C. United of Major League Soccer.

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The Originals: Meet the MLS supporters who were there from the start | Legacy

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New-look FC Edmonton looking forward to second Canadian Premier League season

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10 Newcomers to Watch in the 2020 Championship Season

WHICH NEW FACES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TURN HEADS AS THE NEW SEASON KICKS OFF?

Louis Lomas

Tampa Bay Rowdies

As the first player from Norwich City FC to join the Tampa Bay Rowdies on a season-long loan, all Caleb Richards did was play every game of the season and log more than 3,100 minutes for Head Coach Neill Collins’ side. That’s raised some expectations as to what fellow Canaries defender Louis Lomas might be capable of in his season-long loan at Al Lang Stadium. The 19-year-old looked the part, though, in Tampa Bay’s 2-1 preseason victory against the Montreal Impact and his physical tools at 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds could allow him to thrive alongside Forrest Lasso in the Rowdies’ back line.

(Follow link for full article.)

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GIVING BACK: Lancers to celebrate 50th anniversary of their NASL title with charitable contributions

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Bucket list: 12 can’t-miss Florida restaurant experiences

2. Ybor City: Have a Cuban sandwich at the original Columbia Restaurant

Occupying a full city block and going strong for more than 100 years, the Columbia has found itself on more than one list of places to get authentic Cuban food in the U.S. The restaurant has its roots in serving Ybor City’s then-largely-Cuban population around the turn of the 20th century, and the current menu doesn’t skimp on those traditional flavors. And you certainly won’t be bored – visitors enjoy live music and can see a Flamenco dance show.

8. Tampa: Enjoy a steak and a glass of wine at the iconic Bern’s Steak House

The walls are red. The wine list is extensive. The steak is perfect. Bern’s knows how to do it right. This restaurant delivers on date night, or any night you just want an awesome steak. With their theatrically appointed dining room, special dessert room and not-fooling-around menu, you can’t really have a bad time at Bern’s.

Read more: Sample some of Florida’s best vegan food at these 6 black-owned restaurants

Bern’s sources their produce locally—from their own farm, to be exact. The wine cellar (yes, they have one) offers more then 6,800 selections and has won the Wine Spectator Grand Award. And that dessert room we mentioned? A dream come true for those who love to linger over sweets and drinks.

12. Cross Creek: Eat like a Florida cracker at The Yearling

Fans of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ description of old Florida in the classic novel The Yearling can find a taste of that world on Cross Creek, not far outside Gainesville. Here, a restaurant named for that novel serves hard-to-find regional wild game dishes that will take you back in time.

Gator, frog legs, venison and quail are on the menu, at The Yearling. These unique dishes are more than a curiosity for tourists—the food here is a tribute to Florida cracker culture and regional history. You can also find classic sour orange pie, the elusive cousin of our better-known key lime pie.

(Follow link for full article.)

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Tampa's 4 favorite spots to find cheap Caribbean food

La Segunda Central Bakery | La Teresita Cafe | El Gallo De Oro | Arco Iris Cafe

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https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/1090573

Current, Former USL Standouts in Line for Olympic Qualifying

SIXTY-FIVE PLAYERS WITH CHAMPIONSHIP, LEAGUE ONE EXPERIENCE NAMED IN PROVISIONAL ROSTERS

The Tampa Bay Rowdies' Malik Johnson (Canada), Reno 1868 FC loanee JT Marcinkowski (United States) and North Texas SC's Ronaldo Damus (Haiti) were among those named in the provisional rosters for the 2020 Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament on We

TAMPA, Fla. – Sixty-five leading current and former USL Championship and USL League One players have been named in the provisional rosters for the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament scheduled to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico next month.

The eight-team tournament will determine which two countries will advance to the 2020 Men’s Olympic Soccer tournament to be held in Tokyo this summer.

Thirty-one of the players selected are present on the United States U-23 Men’s National Team’s provisional squad, making up more than half the players named by Head Coach Jason Kreis, who will lead the side in addition to his duties as Head Coach of new USL League One side Fort Lauderdale CF.

Included in the group are goalkeeper David Ochoa – who last season played a key role in Real Monarchs SLC’s victory in the 2019 USL Championship Final – and former LA Galaxy II midfielder Ulysses Llanez, who in January made his first appearance and scored his first goal for the U.S. Men’s National Team in an exhibition against Costa Rica.

Canada also features strong representation from the Championship and League One, with the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Malik Johnson and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Aidan Apodaca among the 24 selections with Championship or League One experience by Head Coach Mauro Biello. Also selected is Callum Montgomery, who has joined San Antonio FC on loan in the Championship this season from FC Dallas after winning the USL League One title last season with North Texas SC.

The Championship and League One could also be represented elsewhere in the tournament, with 2019 Championship-winner Douglas Martinez (Real Monarchs SLC) and Juan Obregon Jr. (Rio Grande Valley FC) named by Honduras, former Portland Timbers 2 forward Marvin Loria selected by Costa Rica, and first-year League One side Union Omaha’s Christian Molino selected by El Salvador.

The 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament opens on March 20 with group play, with the United States set to face Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic in Group A and Canada to face Honduras, El Salvador and Haiti in Group B. The top two teams will advance from each group the Semifinals, where the two winnings sides will earn a place at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1090424-next-step-johnson-s-arrival-binds-hartford-southampton-closer

NEXT STEP: Johnson’s Arrival Binds Hartford, Southampton Closer

21-YEAR-OLD’S SEASON-LONG LOAN MIRRORS OTHER AGREEMENTS BY TAMPA BAY, ORANGE COUNTY

Midfielder Tyreke Johnson has appeared for Southampton in both the Premier League and F.A. Cup prior to his arrival on loan this season with the USL Championship's Hartford Athletic. | Photo courtesy Southampton FC

HARTFORD, Conn. – An official agreement might not be in place, but Monday’s announcement that Southampton FC midfielder Tyreke Johnson would join the USL Championship’s Hartford Athletic certainly felt like the next step in a growing relationship between the two clubs that has emerged over recent months.

There are other reasons for the 21-year-old to have arrived at Dillon Stadium, certainly. At the top of the list is his previous experience competing for new Athletic Head Coach Radhi Jaïdi in the Saints’ U-23 squad, which should allow Johnson to quickly fit into the club’s system.

But the move also brings the two clubs closer together as Johnson – who has appeared for Southampton’s First Team in both the Premier League and the F.A. Cup – gets the chance to shine on a new stage after competing previously this season on loan with Woking FC of the National League.

The obvious parallel to be drawn is that between the formal arrangement struck last year between the Championship’s Tampa Bay Rowdies and another current Premier League side, Norwich City FC. Last year, Caleb Richards shone on loan with the Rowdies while spending a full season in Florida from the Canaries, and this year it’s the turn of Louis Lomas to make the most of his time at Al Lang Stadium.

There’s also the new relationship between Orange County SC and legendary Scottish club Rangers FC, which has seen three young players – Cammy Palmer, Danny Finlayson and Matthew Shiels – join OCSC on loan this season, and Orange County youngster Francis Jacobs suit up for Rangers at the recent Alkass International Cup.

The potential for a similar agreement to arrive between Hartford and Southampton – foreshadowed by Athletic Chairman Bruce Mandell’s comments when Jaïdi was hired last November – seems the next logical step for the two clubs.

“Our fans have given us a mandate to build a world class organization, and Radhi brings everything to the table that we need to achieve this goal as our leader on the field,” said Mandell then. “We thank Southampton Football Club for putting their trust in our organization and look forward to our growing relationship.”

(Follow link for full article.)

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David Beckham's MLS team finally kicks off, but will Miami care?

After six years of delays, Inter Miami will play their first-ever league game this weekend. There are still obstacles to overcome though

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Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to Inter Miami? David Beckham responds to rumors on The Tonight Show

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David Beckham: 'Bloody-mindedness' made Inter Miami MLS dream a reality

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Victoria Beckham, son Brooklyn and Gordon Ramsay proudly cheer as David’s team Inter Miami make debut

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Vela's sensational goal ruins debut for Beckham's Inter Miami

Carlos Vela scored a beautiful goal as LAFC beat David Beckham's Inter Miami 1-0 in Miami's first ever match in the MLS.