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http://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2017/05/developer-driven-battle-brewing-over-san-diego-soccercity-plan/
Developer-Driven Battle Brewing Over San Diego SoccerCity Plan
Developers are funding the major opposition to the proposed San Diego SoccerCity plan, as different visions for the future of the Mission Valley Qualcomm Stadium area and a new MLS stadium are playing out in public.
FS Investors is proposing a SoccerCity mega-development that would cost over a billion dollars and dramatically remake the Mission Valley stadium site into a huge mixed-use installation anchored by a stadium of some sort, whether it be a MLS-specific facility or one shared with San Diego State University. The entire development would be privately financed by FS Investors, who would also own the potential MLS expansion franchise.
The proposal is being opposed by local developers H.G. Fenton Company & Sudberry Properties, who have investments in the Mission Valley stadium area and don’t want to see any negative impact (traffic, competition. environmental impact) from the SoccerCity plan. From the San Diego Union-Tribune:
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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/69un8y/developerdriven_battle_brewing_over_san_diego/
Developer-Driven Battle Brewing Over San Diego SoccerCity Plan (soccerstadiumdigest.com)
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https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/860909707334082560
Canada Soccer
Verified account
@CanadaSoccerEN
The Canadian Premier League has received unanimous support to join Canada Soccer. #CANPL
10:30 AM - 6 May 2017
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https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/69mf9p/canada_soccer_the_canadian_premier_league_has/
[Canada Soccer] The Canadian Premier League has received unanimous support to join Canada Soccer. #CANPL (twitter.com)
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http://wlos.com/sports/content/asheville-city-soccer-club-wins-1st-game-in-the-history-of-the-team
Asheville City Soccer Club wins 1st game in the history of the team
ASHEVILLE, NC -- A sellout crowd witnessed the first ever pro soccer game in Asheville on Saturday night. Asheville City beat the Georgia Revolution 2-1 in front of a packed house at Memorial Stadium.
Christian Szalay and Cameron Saul scored the goals for the Blues who thrilled the fans with the victory.
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http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-fury-fc-play-scoreless-draw-ottawa/
Rowdies, Fury FC play to scoreless draw in Ottawa
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http://www.ottawasun.com/2017/05/06/fury-happy-with-a-point
Fury happy with a point
Fury satisfied with another clean sheet in draw with talented Tampa Bay
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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/05/06/light-rail-hearts-oak-inside-nycfcs-burgeoning-supporters-scene
Light Rail to Hearts of Oak: Inside NYCFC's burgeoning supporters' scene
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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3120817/seattle-sounders-usl-affiliate-to-move-to-tacoma
Seattle Sounders' USL affiliate to move to Tacoma
The Seattle Sounders plan to move their reserve team to Tacoma, where they will build a new 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium.
Sounders 2 currently plays in the second-tier United Soccer League at the 4,500-seat Starfire Sports complex outside of Seattle.
Once the move south to Tacoma is completed, Sounders 2 will be co-owned with the Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners, who will rebrand the team name.
The stadium will be built next to the Rainiers' Cheney Stadium, and the baseball team will take over the team's business operations while the Sounders will "retain technical control of the soccer side."
"We are absolutely thrilled to be moving forward with the Tacoma Rainiers and City of Tacoma, progressing toward construction of a soccer-specific stadium," Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer said in a statement.
"Our vision of having players begin their time with the club playing at Starfire with the Academy, then move up to the USL team with matches in Tacoma, before finally getting the call-up to the First Team at CenturyLink Field -- all while playing within the Puget Sound region -- really reinforces our commitment to bringing quality soccer to the communities of Western Washington."
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http://ballparkdigest.com/2017/05/06/tacoma-rainiers-enter-soccer-business-with-sounders/
Tacoma Rainiers Enter Soccer Business With Sounders
Another MiLB team is entering the pro soccer business, as the Tacoma Rainiers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Seattle Sounders (MLS) will collaborate on a USL team and a soccer-specific stadium adjacent to Cheney Stadium.
More details at our sister site, Soccer Stadium Digest.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding announced today, the existing Seattle Sounders 2 team will be rebranded with a Tacoma-specific identity. The goal is to open a new, 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium by the 2020 season, with the Sounders supplying the on-field product and the Rainiers running the business side. The design is from Populous, which oversaw the most recent renovations to Cheney Stadium as well as the design for MLS venues in Orlando, Houston and Kansas City.
The collaboration model is not new in MLS or USL: similar agreements exist between USL clubs Rio Grande Valley FC and Reno 1868 FC and Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes, respectively. And we know there has been similar discussions between other MLS teams and potential business partners in the baseball world. But this is the first such agreement where the baseball team will run a soccer-specific stadium. Currently USL teams play at MiLB facilities in Reno, Louisville, Tulsa and Harrisburg, while the Tampa Bay Rowdies play out of Al Lang Stadium, a former MiLB and MLB spring-training facility.
“This is the art of the possible,” Rainiers President Aaron Artman said. “What can we create, with our community and our partners, that adds to Tacoma’s current trajectory? Now that both parties have agreed on a structure to move forward – as one entity representing USL soccer in Tacoma – it gives us the ability to work together to try to deliver a first-class stadium experience.”
This is not a done deal, however, and while there is talk of a public-private partnership, the exact parameters of that partnership needs to be presented to the city.
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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article149185469.html
Miami FC sits atop NASL standings after Puerto Rico victory
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2017/05/07/new-canadian-soccer-league-faces-many-of-the-old-problems-as-well-as-some-new-ones/#4746869f5dea
New Canadian Soccer League Faces Many Of The Old Problems As Well As Some New Ones
May 7, 2017 @ 07:30 PM
Bobby McMahon
Contributor
I cover the world's most popular sport, the bad, good and brilliant
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Ever since the lights were turned out on the Canadian Soccer League in 1992 there have been rumors and even plans to reconstitute a coast-to-coast soccer circuit. Without a professional league, young Canadian players have nothing to aspire to or so goes the conventional wisdom.
“Our primary purpose is the development and improvement for the Canadian player and the Canadian game. We have 800,000 registered players across the country. There are loads of kids playing at a very high level. But we are missing the top of the pyramid. That peak would be our own domestic league.” - Paul Beirne, the Canadian Premier League
The first public step in creating the “top of the pyramid” came on Saturday with an announcement in Whistler, B.C. An entity named the Canadian Premier League was confirmed as a member of the Canadian Soccer Association along with representatives from two league-founding cities, Hamilton and Winnipeg.
The new league is touted as a Tier 1 league sanctioned by FIFA although FIFA only gets involved with cross-border league situations and Tier 1 refers in FIFA Statutes to international matches.
(Clarification - the league has not yet been sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association whose responsibility it is. It is, however, nice that there is someone out there who still thinks the FIFA brand means something positive. After bringing this to the new league's attention a clarification has been posted.)
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http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/dynamo/article/At-35-Kak-still-a-draw-for-Orlando-MLS-11124516.php
At 35, Kaká remains a draw for Orlando, MLS
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http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/fresno-fuego-fans-ready-to-embrace-new-professional-soccer-team-in-2018/707283135
Fresno Fuego fans ready to embrace new professional soccer team in 2018
The USL confirmed Thursday, the City of Fresno is getting the league's 32nd team
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https://mlsmultiplex.com/2017/05/05/louisville-city-fc-stadium-project-wants-mls-in-their-kentucky-home/
Louisville City FC stadium project wants MLS in their Kentucky home
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http://www.kolotv.com/content/sports/Fresno-awarded-USL-expansion-team-421495804.html
Fresno awarded USL expansion team
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http://www.sentinel-echo.com/kentucky/usl-d-eyeing-lexington-for-possible-pro-soccer-franchise/article_8bd23a1c-31bd-11e7-80b1-5f88190ac991.html
USL D3 eyeing Lexington for possible pro soccer franchise
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http://www.ocregister.com/2017/05/05/with-new-look-and-new-ownership-orange-county-soccer-club-is-ready-to-stake-its-claim-in-the-county/
With new look and new ownership, Orange County Soccer Club is ready to stake its claim in the county
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http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/79731/
Tormenta FC looks to move to next division
Soccer team forming committee to research move to USL
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http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-and-rainiers-baseball-team-reach-deal-on-soccer-specific-stadium-in-tacoma-to-host-usl-team/
Sounders and Rainiers baseball team reach deal on soccer-specific stadium in Tacoma to host USL team
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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/789637
Fury FC, Rowdies End Deadlocked
Tampa Bay held scoreless for first time this season at TD Place
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http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/local-sports/ottawa-fury-vs-tampa-bay-rowdies
Ottawa Fury FC earns a draw with Tampa Bay Rowdies on a soggy Saturday
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http://www.football-espana.net/63940/vela-talks-mls-clubs
Vela in talks with MLS clubs
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/the-daystarter-expect-rain-finally-its-give-day-tampa-bay-time-for-st-pete/2322357
The Daystarter: Legislature goes into overtime; home prices fail to fully rebound; voters bless Rowdies' Al Lang upgrade, MLS bid; where are all the female chefs?
Voters overwhelmingly approved a measure that could help bring Major League Soccer to St. Petersburg. What needs to happen next? Read reporter Charlie Frago's story on the Rowdies referendum here.
Food critic Laura Reiley ponders how the Oscars of food awards, the 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards, brought so few wins for women chefs. She talked to women in the industry, both in the Tampa Bay area and more broadly, who have a whole lot of theories on the slow progress women have made in a male-dominated field.
Alex Cobb worked six solid shutout innings, shaking off whatever ailed him and whatever doubts may have crept in, leading the Rays to a 3-1 win over the Marlins that evened their record at 14-14. Pregame warmups were disrupted twice by a blister on his right middle finger that required attention from coaches and the team medical staff.
There are a half-dozen ways Tampa could expand the TECO Line Streetcar — north to Tampa Heights, west to Hyde Park, looping through downtown — but each has its own mix of costs, benefits and challenges. So Tuesday night, consultants studying the future of the Tampa trolley took the options to about 75 residents, business owners and neighborhood activists at Hillsborough Community College's Ybor City campus. Find out what they had to say.
Hillsborough County commissioners will vote Wednesday on whether to give a property tax break to a new company planning to build a $14 million plant in Ruskin to supply stainless steel medical tubing to firms that manufacture surgical and medical instruments. If approved by commissioner, Triple M Tube Tech would be granted a five-year tax exemption of 50 percent on the taxes eligible on its new plant. Beginning in 2022, that would save the firm an estimated total of $383,000. The new plant, which would be built at the site of a former fish farm would create 10 new jobs that pay in excess of the county's average wage of $47,939. Look to tampabay.com for the latest.
Today is the anniversary of the day the Tampa Bay Times bought out the Tampa Tribune and it's also the premiere tonight at the Tampa Theatre of the documentary Stop the Presses. Our film critic Steve Persall talked to the first-time director who intended to trace a day in the life of a newspaper and ended up depicting one's death.
St. Petersburg-based Valpak, one of the nation's largest direct mail companies, is laying off 40 graphic artists involved in ad production, the company confirmed. The jobs, mostly involving artists work from home, will be laid off in stages beginning in July and continuing into August, said Valpak president Michael Vivio. Employees were notified in individual meetings last week.
A huge runup in home prices across Tampa Bay has not caught up to boom times just yet. In fact, only 10 percent of bay area homes have rebounded to their pre-recession peak value, a new report says. Look toward income growth — or lack thereof — as a big reason why. tampabay.com/business
Granita is a must for summer, a simple recipe that can be endlessly adapted, food editor Michelle Stark writes. The basic components are fruit (or some other flavorful product, like coffee), sugar, and a freezer. Granita can be eaten on its own as a light and low-calorie dessert, or atop fruit or even a cocktail for a bit of textural variety. Check out her recipe for a refreshing Watermelon Lime Granita.
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http://www.espnfc.com/ghana/story/3118051/ghanas-david-accam-sees-growing-respect-for-us-soccer
Ghana's David Accam sees 'growing respect' for US soccer
Ghana international David Accam says July's meeting against the United States will be 'huge' for Ghana in general, and for Ghanaians who play in Major League Soccer in particular.
MLS has become a popular destination for Ghanaian players, with Accam, currently with Chicago Fire, one of three regular Black Stars in the league, alongside the Columbus Crew pair of Jonathan Mensah and Harrison Afful.
Accam expects a lot from the upcoming friendly in Connecticut on 1 July, including the hope that the meeting will highlight the strength of MLS and increase the respect that Ghanaian players have in the league.
The striker, referencing Ghana's 2-1 loss to the US at the 2014 World Cup, told KweséESPN: "I think most Ghanaians still have the perception that the MLS is not a good league, but we all saw what they did to us at the last World Cup with a squad dominated by players from that league.
"The league has quality now and hopefully that growing respect will rub of all of us who play here."
There are around 20 Ghanaians, or players of Ghanaian origin, in MLS and Accam reckons the friendly will be special for them.
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https://www.newstalkflorida.com/featured/rowdies-get-stadium-lease-win-next-comes-mls-expansion-bid/
Rowdies get the stadium lease win. Next comes MLS expansion bid
The vote paves the way for hopefully a MLS franchise invitation
Bill Edwards, the owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies was given the green light by the voters of St. Petersburg to forward on the expansion of Al Lang Field. Voters by an 87% to 13% margin has approved a referendum that allows St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, to work out a 25-year lease with the Rowdies on Al Lang Stadium and in exchange Edwards will invest $80 million to expand the facility to seat 18,000.
The deal is predicated on Edwards getting an expansion invitation to join Major League Soccer. The league will be adding at least four teams before the start of the 2020 season. The goal is to make an expanded Al Lang Stadium on the St. Petersburg waterfront a real showcase facility that both the city and the team can be proud of for years to come.
The Rowdies have put forth a strong bid that will include an estimated $150 million buy in. They are considered a strong contender in a field of 11 cities from coast to coast.
Sacramento, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Cincinnati, Louisville and Charlotte are among the cities that are in the hunt for a new MLS franchise.
The league looks for strong stable ownership, that has outstanding relationships with the local business community as well as local government. The key to the success of the league has been picking the franchises in markets that have the combination a passion for soccer as well as good media markets.
Another key point in Edwards and the Rowdies bid to join the MLS is that they have control of the stadium. Their personal investment in the expansion of Al Lang by not using any public funds is also a big plus for the Tampa Bay effort.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3118181/st-petersburg-approves-stadium-plan-amid-mls-expansion-bid
St. Petersburg approves stadium plan amid MLS expansion bid
The MLS aspirations of St. Petersburg, Florida received a boost on Tuesday, with voters overwhelmingly approving a plan to renovate Al Lang Stadium.
The referendum, which won approval with 87 percent of the vote, will allow city officials to begin negotiating a 25-year lease with Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards, who wants to expand the stadium's capacity to 18,000 seats.
More importantly, no public money will be required to complete the renovations, with Edwards' investment group prepared to pick up the entire $80 million price tag. The expansion fee, expected to be around $150 million, will also be privately funded. The investments are contingent on St. Petersburg being chosen by MLS to fill one of four expansion slots.
"I am grateful to the citizens of St. Petersburg for passing this important referendum," said Edwards via a press release. "St. Petersburg is very protective of our incredibly valuable waterfront -- as is appropriate. We have put together a stadium plan that enhances our downtown, is of a scale that is respectful to our waterfront and does not burden the taxpayers."
Former St. Petersburg mayor and current Edwards Group president Rick Baker, who helped lead the effort to get the referendum passed, believes that the margin of victory proves that the city is ready to support an MLS expansion franchise.
The Tampa Bay Times reported that, at a post-election gathering of 350 people, Baker said: "This was a statement from the people of St. Petersburg. We know we have the coolest downtown in the Southeast. We want to widen that gap."
Current mayor Rick Kriseman added: "In approving this referendum, voters have not only expressed their support for a longer term agreement at Al Lang Stadium, but have sent a strong message that St. Pete and the entire region are excited about the prospect of the Rowdies joining MLS. The Rowdies' future in the Sunshine City has never been brighter."
St. Petersburg is part of a 12-city competition to see which locales will fill the available expansion openings. MLS has said that it will select two cities by the end of 2017, with another two to be chosen in 2018. The other contenders include Sacramento, San Diego, Phoenix, San Antonio, Detroit, Nashville, Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, San Antonio, St. Louis, and Indianapolis.
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http://sportsnewsireland.com/soccer/soccer_irish/major-league-soccer-all-stars-to-play-2016-uefa-champions-league-winners-real-madrid/
Major League Soccer All Stars to play 2016 UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid
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https://sports.yahoo.com/news/villa-extends-york-city-mls-stay-165434710--sow.html
Villa extends New York City MLS stay
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http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3353/mls/2017/05/03/35183832/jonathan-dos-santos-reiterates-desire-to-reunite-with
Jonathan dos Santos reiterates desire to reunite with brother Gio at club level
The Villarreal midfielder is hoping to join up with his brother once again, though he doesn't seem picky about where the reunion would come.
Mexico international and Villarreal midfielder Jonathan dos Santos has again reiterated his desire to be back in the same club with his brother, LA Galaxy attacker Giovani. However, he said it may not be in Major League Soccer.
Ahead of Villarreal's trip to face Barcelona this weekend, Jona spoke with the Blaugrana's official website about the allure of once again lining up in the same XI as Giovani, who he played with at Villarreal and came up with in the Barcelona youth system, though Gio had moved on before the two could play together there.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/05/03/howard-webb-feels-like-privilege-work-new-york-city-good-move/
Howard Webb: It feels like a privilege to work in New York City - it's been a good move for me
On Sunday it was Atlanta, tonight it is Pittsburgh and this weekend the Long Island Half-Marathon. Howard Webb has been on the run ever since he arrived in the United States two months ago - and he has savoured every moment of it.
The Englishman has begun a new role overseeing the introduction of video assistant referees in Major League Soccer, a key testing ground for the International Football Association Board ahead of its use at next year's World Cup in Russia.
The 45-year-old's arrival in the States was described as a "coup" by former Premier League referee Peter Walton, who runs the Professional Referee Organization in the States. Yet for Webb his new position at PRO is both a "privilege" and an "honour".
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http://www.wmdt.com/sports/ap-sports/david-villa-extends-contract-with-nyc-by-1-year-through-2018/478921341
David Villa extends contract with NYC by 1 year through 2018
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https://sg.news.yahoo.com/villa-extends-york-city-mls-stay-165434525--sow.html
Villa extends New York City MLS stay
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https://ussoccerplayers.com/2017/05/why-do-la-mls-teams-insist-on-mexico-connection-los-angeles-el-tri-major-league-soccer.html
Why do the Los Angeles MLS teams insist on a Mexico connection?
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https://ussoccerplayers.com/2017/05/coaches-under-pressure-mls-major-league-soccer.html
Coaches under pressure in MLS
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http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2017/05/03/chris-ilitch-detroit-mls-bid/101252708/
Chris Ilitch supports Detroit Major League Soccer bid for 2020
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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article148466969.html
St. Pete voters okay Tampa Bay Rowdies' bid to join MLS
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies' quest to reach American soccer's highest rung won overwhelming approval from St. Petersburg voters, giving team owner Bill Edwards the ability to transform a historic stadium into a venue for Major League Soccer.
The measure passed with 87 percent of voters approving the plan.
Fewer than 20 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in Tuesday's special election. Just over 28,000 votes were cast, nearly 90 percent by mail.
The referendum will allow city officials to begin negotiating a 25-year lease with Edwards, who wants to spend up to $80 million to expand the stadium's capacity to 18,000 seats.
Despite the landslide vote, nothing will happen unless MLS decides to grant one of four expansion teams to St. Petersburg.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/phoenix-rising-football-club-retains-223000855.html
Phoenix Rising Football Club retains Goldman Sachs as Structuring Agent for MLS Soccer Stadium
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https://www.law360.com/hospitality/articles/920033/st-pete-voters-ok-stadium-measure-for-mls-expansion-bid
St. Pete Voters OK Stadium Measure For MLS Expansion Bid
Law360, New York (May 3, 2017, 7:13 PM EDT) -- The Tampa Bay Rowdies grabbed a victory Tuesday in the team's quest to join Major League Soccer as voters in St. Petersburg, Florida, approved a referendum to move forward with the expansion of Al Lang Stadium, a crucial piece to the club’s expansion bid.
St. Petersburg voters approved the referendum 87 percent to 13 percent, according to unofficial results posted on the Pinellas County elections website. The referendum grants the city authority to negotiate a 25-year lease with the Rowdies for the bayfront stadium, which was originally built for baseball, and reserves stadium's primary purpose as hosting an expansion MLS team.
The lease will enable team owner Bill Edwards to seek $80 million in private financing for a planned renovation of the stadium that would more than double the capacity from 7,000 seats to 18,000 seats, making it more suitable for an MLS team. The financing would be contingent on being awarded an MLS franchise, the team said Tuesday.
“This vote is clear confirmation that St. Petersburg wants and is ready for Major League Soccer,” Edwards said in a statement. “I want to specifically thank the City Administration and Council, the Chamber’s Rowdies Council and all of those Rowdies fans throughout our region who support this great effort.”
Tampa Bay is one of 12 U.S. markets looking to land an MLS club in the young league’s next round of expansion slated for 2020. The approval also comes after voters in St. Louis, Missouri, last month rejected a measure intended to provide public financing for a new soccer-specific stadium
The St. Petersburg referendum did not call for public financing for the renovation of Al Lang Stadium, which currently hosts the Rowdies as they compete in the lower-division United Soccer League.
The project calls for an expansion of the stadium to create an unconventional, striking soccer-specific stadium design offering views of Tampa Bay and permanently altering the stadium from its origins as a baseball diamond.
Renderings of the stadium, designed by Populous and Icon Venue Group, show a new grandstand in the opposite corner of the soccer field from the current stands, which sit behind where home plate was located before the stadium was slightly modified for soccer for the Rowdies.
"We are pleased that the people of St. Petersburg support the Rowdies proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium," MLS said in a statement Tuesday. "Bill Edwards personally came to our offices in January to submit his expansion application and share his vision. With the passage of the stadium vote, we look forward to working with the Rowdies as they continue to pursue a Major League Soccer team for Tampa Bay."
MLS added two new clubs this season with Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC, the 21st and 22nd clubs in the league, which started play in 1996. Two years ago, the league added New York City FC, the second club in the New York market, and Orlando City SC.
A second Los Angeles-based club Los Angeles Football Club is set to begin play in 2018 in a new soccer-specific stadium being built next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum just south of downtown LA.
Another club in Miami backed by English soccer legend David Beckham is tentatively set to join MLS but has run into snags with developing a stadium.
Tampa Bay and Miami were previously home to MLS clubs the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion before the MLS contracted in 2002 leaving Florida with no team. But the league returned to Florida with the addition of Orlando City, which just moved into a new soccer-specific stadium at the beginning of this season.
The Rowdies, an over-40-year-old team brand, had competed in the North American Soccer League in recent years, a league that had sought to challenge MLS as a top-division soccer league in the U.S. and Canada before running into financial troubles that nearly ended the league. The Rowdies moved to the USL last year.
If granted an MLS expansion bid, the Rowdies would follow a similar path as Orlando City and the expansion Minnesota United, which competed in USL and NASL, respectively, before being reformed as MLS expansion clubs.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/05/03/fc-cincinnati-s-berding-talks-mls-expansion-teams.html
FC Cincinnati’s Berding talks MLS expansion, team's slow start
FC Cincinnati filed its application for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise at the end of January, and since then it has largely been playing a waiting game. But there have been a few things happening behind the scenes, so it’s a good time to check in with Jeff Berding, FC Cincinnati’s president and general manager, to update where things stand.
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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/05/03/boston-ska-lifers-big-d-and-kids-table-pen-another-revolution-chant
Boston ska lifers Big D and the Kids Table pen another Revolution chant
May 3, 20175:05PM EDT
Jonathan Sigal
Contributor
Ska stalwarts Big D and the Kids Table are legends of the New England-area music scene -- and they share plenty of history with New England Revolution fans, too. Just over a year ago, the band recorded a host of new chants for Revs supporters' groups the Rebellion, Midnight Riders, and Rev Army.
So there's little surprise that the team's official new chant, "One New England," comes courtesy of David McWane, Big D's lead singer. Described by McWane as “sort of like a Viking battle cry," the official 30-second video resounds with howls of “One New England,” along with bagpipes and a chant-like response from Revs supporters’ groups.
“The two main things that New England holds are passion and history,” McWane says. “Our passion for sports and all different genres is so deep, and a lot of the music culture is passion. It comes down to the fact that a lot of us New Englanders are really hard workers, and the things we own, we all have had to work for them and bust our butt to make it.”
For this track, too, McWane says he was able to draw from a mix of his soccer and music fandom, past and present. He attended Revs games as a high schooler, then spent much of Major League Soccer’s budding years touring around England, witnessing first-hand how passionate supporters’ culture is the other side of the Atlantic.
But what really inspired McWane on this particular project, he says, is listening to “Believe,” the anthem Rancid's Branden Steineckert created for Real Salt Lake in 2012.
“I came across the RSL song, and after I heard it I almost thought, ‘That was perfect,’” McWane says. “I was like, ‘How does one top something of this tier?’ So I had to tell myself, ‘Don’t be inspired it, don’t think too much about it. You want this to be totally authentic.’”
Thus, McWane hit the recording studio and came out with his newest track. And, with positive feedback from Revs fans, there’s plenty more in store down the road.
He says said two more Revs-specific anthems will be released in the coming months, and there are plans to produce a “One New England” video, possibly featuring players. His biggest dream for this song, though, lies elsewhere: hearing Gillette Stadium bellow with his newest chant.
“I would just hang up my jacket and hat if this chant longevity-wise was ever embraced,” he says. “If it was a gift that New England accepts and uses and loves, that would mean the world to me.”
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https://sports.yahoo.com/news/detroit-makes-sense-mls-expansion-mls-make-sense-detroit-052523063.html
Detroit makes sense for MLS expansion, but does MLS make sense for Detroit?
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https://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/05/03/villa-extends-new-york-city-mls-stay/
Villa extends New York City MLS stay
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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/05/03/booth-buddies-call-broadcasters-jp-dellacamera-and-tommy-smyth
Booth buddies: On the call with broadcasters JP Dellacamera and Tommy Smyth
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http://igeeksoccer.com/carlos-vela-linked-with-mls-switch/
Carlos Vela linked with MLS switch
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http://us.blastingnews.com/sports/2017/05/major-league-soccer-expands-its-reach-to-new-cities-001670709.html
Major League Soccer expands its reach to new Cities
The fast-growing league considers competing expansion bids from several different cities around the country
Peter Wick
Published on:
4 May 2017
Major League Soccer (#MLS) is flexing its muscle, and celebrating new-found financial strength, as it plans to announce two new expansion #cities later this year. And when they do, they will not be finished.
The league, currently playing a season with 22 teams, plans to expand to 26 teams by 2020, and to 28 teams soon after. The most surprising aspect of this plan is not that it is happening in a country where soccer was once considered a sad afterthought. Most surprising is the fact that no one seems particularly surprised at all. In fact, cities are lining up to prove to the league their potential as soccer powerhouses. Some cities are even trading on the ‘street cred’ of the legends of the game to sell their vision to the league..
Legends of the game get involved
Tampa Bay Rowdies, a reborn franchise from the 1970’s NASL days, has locked in 35-year-old England legend Joe Cole to Captain the team – currently playing in the 2nd division USL – and to participate in the “project” of bringing the team up to MLS. Cole has committed what appears to be the remainder of his playing career to Tampa Bay, recently signing a contract extension that will keep him with the team until he is 38. If the Tampa bid is successful, Cole could potentially find himself playing as one of the league's oldest players during the Rowdies inaugural season in the MLS. The chance of pulling off such an intriguing accomplishment is no doubt the key selling point to a player of Cole’s stature, in embracing such an unusual move.
Phoenix Rising, another USL team, has recently recruited none other than Didier Drogba, one of the game's true legends, to perform a similar role for them. In addition to playing for the team, the 39-year-old has reportedly bought into the Phoenix MLS bid to such a degree that he will also perform an additional behind-the-scenes role with the team’s management and ownership..
A new conversation about soccer in the U.S.
Gone are the days when sports pundits questioned the wisdom of fielding professional soccer at all in the #United States. In their place is an entirely different conversation. The debate now focuses more on details; are 28 teams the right number? Will MLS rise to the competitive level of the top European leagues and, if so, when?
First comes next season’s LAFC, a well-hyped effort to capture the remaining unaffiliated soccer fans in the fickle LA sports environment. A city of L.A.’s size and diversity seemed like a no-brainer a few years ago, when the LAFC ownership – a group that includes a few celebrities including the likes of Will Farrell – announced plans to replace the ill-fated Chivas USA. Another seeming no-brainer was David Beckham’s Miami bid. “Miami Beckham United,” as the project is known, still looks like it will move forward, though it has repeatedly run into roadblocks with the city of Miami as it has tried to negotiate a new stadium deal..
High stakes competition sees its first casualty
Beyond LA and Miami, the Tampa and Phoenix bids are in competition with a host of other cities. San Antonio, Sacramento, Nashville, and Cincinnati are among a group that also includes underdogs such as Raliegh, Indianapolis, San Diego and Detroit. These cities are playing a high stakes game that has also seen its first casualty; St. Louis was considered one of the front runners until the recent failure at the ballot box of a stadium funding measure. On the flip side, Tampa’s successful ballot measure, approved by voters May 2nd, has no doubt elevated the Rowdies chances of prevailing over other bids.
Unlike past expansions, MLS has the luxury of being picky this time around. A city must bring more than money to the table. Today’s soccer environment shows unexpected strength in unexpected places. FC Cincinnati has been setting USL attendance records. It is statistics like these that MLS will find most compelling as they pick and choose between the many bids in front of them.
What will MLS look like five years from now? It is impossible to know for sure. One thing is certain, though, the game of soccer has permanently planted its flag in the United States and soccer enthusiasts are dreaming of big things to come.
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http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/3331432
2017 MLS All-Star Game Tickets: CapitalCityTickets.com is Slashing Their Prices on the 2017 MLS All-Star Game Tickets at Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago, IL on August 2nd
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http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/05/04/john-ingram-buys-majority-stake-nashville-sc-aligning-efforts-mls-bid/101278348/
John Ingram buys majority stake in Nashville SC, aligning efforts for MLS bid
Businessman John Ingram, who is leading an effort to bring Major League Soccer to Nashville, has now purchased a majority stake in Nashville SC, the city's lower-league team set to begin play next year.
It makes Ingram majority owner of Nashville SC. And it means that Nashville's MLS bid is now aligned with the United Soccer League's Nashville SC, likely strengthening Nashville's candidacy for one of four MLS expansion spots.
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http://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/communities/collier-citizen/2017/05/04/soccer-former-mls-striker-joins-staff-florida-fire-fgcu/101280086/
Soccer: Former MLS striker joins staff at Florida Fire Juniors, FGCU
Andrew Sodergren
Published 10:50 a.m. ET May 4, 2017 | Updated 4:44 p.m. ET May 4, 2017
The Florida Fire Juniors have already established themselves as one of the premier developmental soccer programs in Southwest Florida.
That reputation will certainly continue to grow with the recent addition to former Major League Soccer and Jamaican international striker Ryan Johnson to the club. Johnson joined the Florida Fire Juniors technical staff and will coach the Boys 18U Premier team next season.
“I owe a lot to the game of soccer,” Johnson said. “It helped me get an education, and I was fortunate to make a career out of it. I owe a lot of my life to this game and after retiring (last year), I felt it was important to give back in that sense by helping teach kids and teenagers the game, helping them achieve their dreams by going to college and hopefully playing the game they love.”
Johnson will also serve as an assistant on the Florida Gulf Coast University coaching staff under new Eagles coach Jesse Cormier, who was the associate head coach at Oregon State during Johnson’s freshman and sophomore seasons there. Cormier recommended Johnson to Florida Fire Juniors director of coaching Paul Williams.
“From our standpoint, it was a no-brainer bringing Ryan aboard,” Williams said. “Someone with his pedigree will be very beneficial for the long-term success of our program. We’re very excited to have him.”
Johnson played professionally from 2006-2016, spending seven years in Major League Soccer with Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC and the Portland Timbers. Johnson led Portland with 10 goals during the 2013 season, helping the Timbers to a first-place finish in the Western Conference. Internationally, Johnson has 40 caps with the Jamaican national team, tallying eight goals. Johnson was the 26th overall pick by Real Salt Lake in the 2006 MLS Superdraft.
“The professionalism Ryan brings is going to be a big benefit to our coaches and players,” said Dwight Morgan, director of operations for Florida Fire Juniors. “With him working with our older age groups, he’s going to be a big help to those kids aspiring to play in college and beyond. They’re going to be able to lean on him as a resource and see how it’s done and how he got there.”
A native of Jamaica, Johnson moved to Boston at the age of 2. Coming up through the ranks of youth soccer, he never came across a coach who played professionally.
“I think it’s beneficial for kids to be able to talk to someone who’s played in college and professionally, someone who can show them it’s possible to achieve all they dream about,” he said. “The main thing is helping kids make the right decisions and to take their schoolwork seriously. I’d like to become a role model for these kids.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.espnfc.com/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/3118764/manchester-city-major-league-soccer-and-bayern-help-celebrate-star-wars-day
Football celebrates 'Star Wars Day' as Man City, MLS, Bayern Munich tweet
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http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3118799/nashville-group-bidding-for-mls-expansion-team-unites-with-usl-club
Nashville group bidding for MLS expansion team unites with USL club
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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/05/04/designated-pitchers-who-baseballed-better-schweinsteiger-or-david-villa
Designated Pitchers: Who baseballed better, Schweinsteiger or David Villa?
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https://patch.com/tennessee/nashville/mls-bid-leader-buys-nashville-sc-boost-expansion-chances
MLS Bid Leader Buys Nashville SC To Boost Expansion Chances
MLS expansion leader and businessman John Ingram is the new majority owner of lower-tier club Nashville SC.
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http://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/sports-business/blog/20860422/mls-expansion-group-acquires-nashville-sc
MLS expansion group takes control of Nashville SC
John Ingram, Nashville Soccer Holdings eliminate local confusion, competition
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http://ghanasoccernet.com/ghana-forward-david-accam-sees-growing-respect-for-us-soccer-ahead-of-us-friendly-with-ghana
Ghana forward David Accam sees 'growing respect' for US soccer ahead of US friendly with Ghana
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http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2017/05/04/phoenix-rising-soccer-team-hires-goldman-sachs-to.html
Phoenix Rising soccer team hires Goldman Sachs to help with new stadium
The Phoenix Rising soccer team has hired Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) to help finance a new stadium.
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https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/05/04/nashville-mls-expansion-usl-john-ingram
Nashville's MLS interests align as expansion bid head Ingram buys city's USL team
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http://azbigmedia.com/ab/phoenix-rising-fc-retains-goldman-sachs-structuring-agent
Phoenix Rising FC retains Goldman Sachs as structuring agent
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http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2017/05/04/in-mls-push-john-ingram-buys-nashville-minor.html
In MLS push, John Ingram buys Nashville minor-league team
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https://www.law360.com/articles/920608/mls-hopeful-phoenix-rising-hires-goldman-sachs
MLS Hopeful Phoenix Rising Hires Goldman Sachs
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https://www.socceramerica.com/article/73283/mls-expansion-nashville-bidder-ups-ante.html
MLS Expansion: Nashville driving force ups ante
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http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/05/05/rowdies-referendum-win-reinvigorates-mls-push.html
Rowdies referendum win reinvigorates MLS push
The Tampa Bay Rowdies' leadership team is still in celebration mode after voters gave the OK for the team to sign a long-term lease up to 25 years with the city to continue playing soccer at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg.
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http://ghanasoccernet.com/9-english-players-who-have-found-their-home-across-the-pond-in-major-league-soccer-1494000002
9 English Players Who Have Found Their Home Across the Pond in Major League Soccer
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https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/mls-transfer-targets-el-tri-players-europe-return-usa-meixco-national-team
MLS should be targeting these five Mexican national team stars
Can the lure of the U.S. help bring these standouts back from Europe?
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https://mlsmultiplex.com/2017/05/05/mls-expansion-tampa-bay-takes-another-step-towards-winning-2017-bid/
MLS Expansion: Tampa Bay takes another step towards winning 2017 bid
A part of the largest MLS expansion bidding pool in history, teams such as Tampa Bay need to keep moving forward and staying in the news.
Back in January the MLS saw 12 cities push forward with formal bids for an expansion spot into the league. That number could have easily been 20 given the desire lately to jump into top flight soccer into America. However, the MLS expansion race has shown us these past few months it can quickly suffer major setbacks.
For Tampa Bay, however, they only have positive news this week as the city voted to move forward with the bid to expand the existing Al Lang Stadium. And unlike the failed St. Louis bid, the voters in Tampa Bay responded with a resounding 87% approval rate.
The biggest element helping the matter is the fact that the Rowdies owner plans to privately fund both the expansion bid and stadium renovations. So voters are really just approving investment in their city and the chance to have another major league sport.
Back in December 2016 the team released a mock-up of the proposed stadium:
After the vote, the league issued this statement:
“We are pleased that the people of St. Petersburg support the Rowdies proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium. Bill Edwards personally came to our offices in January to submit his expansion application and share his vision. With the passage of the stadium vote, we look forward to working with the Rowdies as they continue to pursue a Major League Soccer team for Tampa Bay.”
What are their odds?
Looking at the 12 submissions, it is safe to say that Tampa Bay easily falls into the top half. They could even make a strong argument for a spot at the top, alongside with Sacramento, Phoenix and Detroit.
The MLS has had huge success bringing in clubs from the lower divisions with a rich history. Seattle and Portland, provide great examples of the value of an existing fan base. Although Atlanta has shown how the right marketing and spending can generate top level MLS support quickly.
While there is still a ways to go – don’t expect an announcement until at least MLS All-Star weekend – Tampa Bay would be a safe choice for the league. Adding a local rival for Orlando makes sense as the MLS grows the footprint in the southeast, and with the lingering question marks surrounding David Beckham’s Miami franchise.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/05/05/nashville-mls-bid-leader-buys-majority-stake-city-s-coming-usl-team
Nashville MLS bid leader buys majority stake in city’s coming USL team
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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/05/05/major-league-soccer-pro-run-first-offline-var-test-colorado-friday
Major League Soccer, PRO to run first offline VAR test in Colorado Friday
MLS and the Professional Referee Organization will run the first offline test of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) initiative in a regular-season match when the Colorado Rapids host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday night.
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2017/05/05/mls-throwback-uniforms-do-not-need-come-back/101354398/
5 MLS throwback uniforms that don't need to come back
On Saturday, the Los Angeles Galaxy plan to honor the team's 2005 MLS Cup championship with a throwback night.
Throwback celebrations are common in sports, of course, but not so common in Major League Soccer, which is a relatively young league that is still building its historical and sentimental base.
While the 2005 Galaxy throwback threads are generally aesthetically pleasing, there are a good number from the league's early years that aren't so nice.
Here's a look at five MLS throwback uniforms that are best left in the past.
2. Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay (inevitably?) could get an MLS expansion team, but that doesn't mean the city's modern-day franchise should do an homage to its MLS predecessor, the Tampa Bay Mutiny.
The Mutiny were an MLS original in 1996, but were contracted following the 2001 season. During those six seasons, the Mutiny wore gawdy uniforms inspired by video games and the team name font suggested something straight out of the Atari 2600.
(For the record, the Tampa Bay Rowdies — the area's next potential MLS team — sport glorious uniforms, and that applies to both the current and throwback versions.)
http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/aug-1996-carlos-valderrama-of-the-tampa-bay-mutiny-looks-on-during-a-picture-id279134
http://cdn3.sportngin.com/attachments/photo/8242/0707/04292017_TBRvRIC_0079_large.JPG
http://www.nasljerseys.com/images/Rowdies/Rowdies%2078%20Home%20Team.jpg
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2017/05/02/voters-approve-rowdies-mls-stadium-referendum/101221838/
Voters approve Rowdies' MLS stadium referendum
The Tampa Bay Rowdies' Major League Soccer push took a step forward Tuesday as St. Petersburg voters approved a referendum that should aid in the club's plans for a soccer-specific stadium – an all but necessary piece of every MLS aspirants' pitch to the decision makers of America's top-flight league.
The referendum, which gives the St. Petersburg City Council authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium, was approved by about 87 percent, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website.
MORE: Is it FC Cincy vs. 'silent assassins' for MLS?
With St. Louis MLS bid reportedly finish, how does FC Cincinnati benefit?
The use agreement would allow the Rowdies, one of 12 organizations vying for four MLS expansion slots, to push forward with plans for a privately-funded, $80 million renovation of historic Al Lang Stadium, an aging facility originally constructed for baseball mere feet off the Tampa Bay waterfront.
The venue has undergone soccer-specific renovations and was made into a suitable site for soccer in recent years. Still, sweeping renovations are needed to bring it up to MLS standards.
Weeks removed from the failed stadium ballot measure in St. Louis, Tuesday's developments in Florida were widely received as a positive boost for the Rowdies' MLS push.
"We are pleased that the people of St. Petersburg support the Rowdies proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium." MLS officials said in a news release. "(Rowdies Chairman and CEO) Bill Edwards personally came to our offices in January to submit his expansion application and share his vision. With the passage of the stadium vote, we look forward to working with the Rowdies as they continue to pursue a Major League Soccer team for Tampa Bay."
Edwards, in a Tuesday statement released on the Rowdies website after the referendum passed, highlighted aspects of the stadium plan he's pledged to fund.
“I am grateful to the citizens of St. Petersburg for passing this important referendum,” Edwards said in the statement. “St. Petersburg is very protective of our incredibly valuable waterfront – as is appropriate. We have put together a stadium plan that enhances our downtown, is of a scale that is respectful to our waterfront and does not burden the taxpayers.
"This vote is clear confirmation that St. Petersburg wants and is ready for Major League Soccer. I want to specifically thank the City Administration and Council, the Chamber’s Rowdies Council and all of those Rowdies fans throughout our region who support this great effort.”
FC Cincinnati, one of the other 11 organizations fighting to earn a spot in MLS, has publicly maintained that the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium will work for MLS.
In spite of that, local politicians are already staking out positions for any possible public discourse about a soccer-specific stadium.
Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley has said several times he doesn't anticipate public funding for an FC Cincinnati purpose-built stadium.
FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding said the team has evaluated possible options for a stadium but would only act if instructed to by MLS as part of the team's ongoing application for MLS.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.soccernation.com/a-conversation-with-joe-barone/
A Conversation with NPSL Chairman Joe Barone
“When I die, I just want someone to say that Joe Barone was part of implementing an important change in the direction of the American game.” - Joe Barone
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https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/things-know-about-the-dayton-dynamo/tf2BwycnuPrGOCie19Un3H/
5 things to know about the Dayton Dynamo
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http://www.ottawasun.com/2017/05/05/fury-fc-not-intimidated-by-rowdies
Fury FC not intimidated by Rowdies
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http://jacksonville.com/sports/armada-fc/2017-05-04/nasl-commissioner-some-local-interest-no-hard-timetable-find-next-armada
NASL commissioner: Some local interest, no hard timetable to find next Armada owner
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https://ussoccerplayers.com/2017/05/us-soccer-100-million-problem.html
US Soccer’s $100 million problem
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http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/kriseman-and-baker-together-at-rowdies-celebration-what-comes-next/2322539
At Rowdies celebration, Mayor Rick Kriseman and former mayor Rick Baker stand together, but for how much longer?
Charlie Frago, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 11:09am
ST. PETERSBURG — They chatted. Shared a stage. And both of them touted the landslide vote for the Tampa Bay Rowdies' bid to join Major League Soccer while they pressed the flesh with the Rowdies' faithful at Al Lang Stadium as the election results came in Tuesday night.
Mayor Rick Kriseman and former mayor Rick Baker both kept it diplomatic when asked about their widely anticipated face-off in the mayor's race this fall. Baker hasn't officially entered, of course, but the race could begin in earnest any time now that Baker's push for a special city election to allow Al Lang to be upgraded to MLS standards netted 87 percent of the vote.
Kriseman, however, wasn't interested in discussing politics at Tuesday's rally.
“You know, today is all about the Rowdies," the incumbent said. "Today is all about MLS. That’s for another day. Today we are celebrating a great victory for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. A great victory for St. Petersburg and we’re looking forward to an MLS franchise in St. Petersburg."
As Kriseman spoke, Baker lingered nearby waiting for TV news crews to finish interviewing the mayor.
Baker followed suit.
“My answer is the same as Mayor Kriseman’s," Baker said. "I think that tonight is all about the Rowdies."
But Tuesday is over. What comes next for these two?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/st-pete-mayor-wants-to-designate-central-avenue-as-a-small-business-only-corridor
St. Pete mayor wants to designate Central Avenue as a small-business-only corridor
Mayor Kriseman unveiling Independent Corridor Plan
Adam Winer
5:24 PM, May 3, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -
Hoping to protect the charm and character of St. Petersburg’s Central Avenue, Mayor Rick Kriseman is announcing today a proposal called the “Independent Corridor Plan.”
The ordinance would designate Central Avenue as a place where only small and independently-owned businesses can open from now on.
Many people love St. Pete’s Central Avenue because it is filled with small, locally-owned businesses.
Recently, however, with Central Avenue going through what many are calling a “renaissance,” property owners have been raising the rents on the small business owners, making it challenging for many of them to make ends meet.
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http://www.cltampa.com/news-views/local-news/article/20860183/rowdies-stadium-referendum-passes
Kicking off: Voters approved negotiations for Al Lang Stadium. What's next?
Colin O'Hara
May 3, 2017 5 PM
The voters wanted it and the voters got it.
St. Petersburg voters overwhelmingly said “yes” to allow the Tampa Bay Rowdies to negotiate a 25-year lease for their home stadium of Al Lang, which also includes major renovations.
The tallied votes showed over 87 percent of voters wanted to see the Rowdies take control of the former baseball stadium and modify it to meet standards set by Major League Soccer in order to lure the league to St. Petersburg.
“I never would have guessed [a winning margin of] 87 percent,” said Bill Edwards Group president and former St. Petersburg mayor Rick Baker.
Bill Edwards Group, majority owners of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, are now able to enter into negotiations that will include a use agreement that must be approved by the St. Petersburg City Council. That document will pave the way for the team to privately fund renovations bringing the current stadium to the 18,000 seats required for MLS selection.
“MLS commissioner Don Garber has seen our plan, he has been out to the site and has had nothing but good things to say about it,” Baker said.
MLS is looking for four things when considering cities for the league, Baker said: a strong ownership group (check), a strong media market (check), community support (check) and a strong stadium plan (finally — check).
“We just had 87 percent of the votes. I don’t know what more we can do for community support to show MLS we’re serious,” Baker said.
There’s also support from neighboring communities across the Bay area by way of letters from mayors of Tampa, Clearwater and other communities, as well as from some 250 businesses.
“We have got to live in the coolest place in America,” Baker said. “I have to believe that.”
While optimism runs strong, nothing is certain.
The Rowdies are contending for one of four MLS extension team slots alongside the likes of Cincinnati, Detroit, San Diego, Sacramento and the Carolinas.
The May 2 referendum merely allows the team to negotiate the use agreement. The project required a referendum because the stadium is on city land.
It is unclear when negotiations will begin, but the city and the club appear to be on the same side.
“I am thrilled with the outcome of the referendum,” St. Petersburg City Council Chair Darden Rice said. “This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our city.”
Yet while 24,000 voters said yes, nearly 3,500 voters did not — and most of the eligible voters in the city didn’t bother to weigh in at all.
And even some of the project’s supporters have concerns.
Douglas O’Dowd is a 28-year resident of St. Petersburg who voted yes. He said he thinks it’s a great opportunity to have private funding for something that could benefit the city. But he hopes the city will keep its promise that no taxpayer dollars will go to it.
“They need to step up to the plate and keep within the confines they set,“ he said.
For now, the Rowdies will continue their play in the United Soccer League, where they’re currently tied for first place in the Eastern Conference. MLS’s decision now hinges on attendance and community support.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/kriseman-unveils-still-vague-plan-to-stall-chains-on-central-avenue-beach/2322630
Mayor Rick Kriseman (kind of) has a plan to keep chains invading downtown St. Petersburg
Charlie Frago, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 6:21pm
ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Rick Kriseman led a march down Central Avenue on Wednesday night to signal his support for independent businesses who fear getting priced out of a booming downtown.
Kriseman said he's working on a draft ordinance — no timetable has been set yet on when it might reach City Council — that would privilege locally-owned businesses along Central Avenue to 31st Street and Beach Drive. Those commercial areas, the mayor said, are essential to keeping St. Petersburg unique.
The measure would make it difficult for chains or even stores that use similar logos in multiple locations to set up shop in those corridors. They would need a variance to do so, the mayor's staff said. However, the mayor said the final details of his proposal were still in flux.
St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Chris Steinocher said the city needed to preserve its special character and not fall prey to previous boom towns that became homogenized as they grew and developed.
"We're not trying to say we don't want growth," Steinocher said. "We don't want to learn the lessons that Portland has learned, that Austin has learned, that Nashville is learning, that Atlanta has learned."
On a day that saw the mayor release the first TV commercial for his re-election campaign, the downtown march felt at times like a campaign rally. Kriseman spoke from behind a podium brought out front of Caddy's on Central at 217 Central Ave, for the brief presentation. Later, he held a megaphone as the march began.
Other cities have tried this approach. Some have found unintended consequences like high-priced boutiques and other luxury stores moving into areas instead of chains but still catering to a affluent customer base.
As Kriseman began to answer a question about those unintended consequences from the Tampa Bay Times, chief of staff Kevin King ushered the mayor away.
"We're hoping the exact opposite happens," Kriseman yelled over his shoulder under the firm grip of King. "Hopefully spur these businesses to be on First Avenue N and (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street N) and Fourth Street and 16th Street where we need businesses."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://floridapolitics.com/archives/237397-mike-deeson-king-end-pier-project-immediately
Mike Deeson: If I were king — I would end The Pier project immediately
Mike Deeson
Although there has been some kind of Pier project in downtown St. Pete since the late 1800s, the city has changed, and the Pier is not needed.
When I first moved to Tampa Bay 35 years ago, downtown was anything but vibrant. The Vinoy, now a crown jewel, was closed, full of broken windows and in search of a developer.
Young people didn’t seek downtown as a destination. The only things the drew people was Spring Training and the inverted pyramid Pier — I could never figure out why.
Back then, St. Petersburg was known for its green benches and (jokingly) was called the home of the newlywed and nearly dead.
But that was then, and this is now; things have changed.
Downtown is alive with outdoor cafes that draw people even during weekday nights … the Vinoy is a world-class hotel … the new Dali and Chihuly museums bring thousands to the city. but there is this little problem called sewage running in the streets and being dumped into Tampa Bay.
The city sewer system is a mess and needs a fix that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars … while the city administration says it can take care of the problem through issuing bonds.
Remember, bonds are like a loan that has to be paid back … and spending money on the Pier is like running out and buying a Rolls-Royce when your roof is leaking.
Now, there is an expense to stopping the Pier project; the city claims it will cost $35 million because of bond obligations it took out for the project … but others, including [St. Pete City] Councilman Karl Nurse, believes it will be much less … But still, even if the administration has wasted $35 million … that is less than half the $80 million it wants to spend on the Pier.
And continuing, in my mind, is throwing good money after bad.
I know Mayor [Rick] Kriseman is hellbent on completing this project, but I believe it is a waste of money, particularly at this time.
It is unnecessary and foolish … and if I were king, it would end today.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2017/05/02/voters-approve-rowdies-mls-stadium-referendum/101221838/
Voters approve Rowdies' MLS stadium referendum
The Tampa Bay Rowdies' Major League Soccer push took a step forward Tuesday as St. Petersburg voters approved a referendum that should aid in the club's plans for a soccer-specific stadium – an all but necessary piece of every MLS aspirants' pitch to the decision makers of America's top-flight league.
The referendum, which gives the St. Petersburg City Council authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium, was approved by about 87 percent, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website.
MORE: Is it FC Cincy vs. 'silent assassins' for MLS?
With St. Louis MLS bid reportedly finish, how does FC Cincinnati benefit?
The use agreement would allow the Rowdies, one of 12 organizations vying for four MLS expansion slots, to push forward with plans for a privately-funded, $80 million renovation of historic Al Lang Stadium, an aging facility originally constructed for baseball mere feet off the Tampa Bay waterfront.
The venue has undergone soccer-specific renovations and was made into a suitable site for soccer in recent years. Still, sweeping renovations are needed to bring it up to MLS standards.
Weeks removed from the failed stadium ballot measure in St. Louis, Tuesday's developments in Florida were widely received as a positive boost for the Rowdies' MLS push.
"We are pleased that the people of St. Petersburg support the Rowdies proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium." MLS officials said in a news release. "(Rowdies Chairman and CEO) Bill Edwards personally came to our offices in January to submit his expansion application and share his vision. With the passage of the stadium vote, we look forward to working with the Rowdies as they continue to pursue a Major League Soccer team for Tampa Bay."
Edwards, in a Tuesday statement released on the Rowdies website after the referendum passed, highlighted aspects of the stadium plan he's pledged to fund.
“I am grateful to the citizens of St. Petersburg for passing this important referendum,” Edwards said in the statement. “St. Petersburg is very protective of our incredibly valuable waterfront – as is appropriate. We have put together a stadium plan that enhances our downtown, is of a scale that is respectful to our waterfront and does not burden the taxpayers.
"This vote is clear confirmation that St. Petersburg wants and is ready for Major League Soccer. I want to specifically thank the City Administration and Council, the Chamber’s Rowdies Council and all of those Rowdies fans throughout our region who support this great effort.”
FC Cincinnati, one of the other 11 organizations fighting to earn a spot in MLS, has publicly maintained that the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium will work for MLS.
In spite of that, local politicians are already staking out positions for any possible public discourse about a soccer-specific stadium.
Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley has said several times he doesn't anticipate public funding for an FC Cincinnati purpose-built stadium.
FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding said the team has evaluated possible options for a stadium but would only act if instructed to by MLS as part of the team's ongoing application for MLS.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sportstalkflorida.com/featured/rowdies-get-the-stadium-lease-win-next-comes-mls-expansion-bid/
Rowdies get the stadium lease win. Next comes MLS expansion bid
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/afternoon-update-meth-operation-busted-in-pasco-turnout-very-light-for/2322459
Afternoon update: Meth operation busted in Pasco; turnout very light for Rowdies vote in St. Pete; Hillary Clinton blames Russian hackers, James Comey for election loss; Tom Jones: 'the best player I ever saw'
TURNOUT VERY LIGHT FOR ROWDIES VOTE IN ST. PETE
It was tough to find a voter today in a tour of St. Petersburg precincts open for a special election to determine if the city should give the Tampa Bay Rowdies long-term control over waterfront Al Lang Stadium to bolster the team's bid to join Major League Soccer. Citywide, just 1,662 of 168,145 eligible voters went to the polls as of 2: 10 p.m, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. Another 24,554 voted by mail.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2017/5/3/15526120/usl-eastern-conference-best-xi-for-april-charleston-battery-tampa-bay-romario-williams
USL Eastern Conference Team of the Month for April
The month of April has come and gone, who stood out from the rest in the Eastern Conference to make our first Team of the Month?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/788841
Vega Earns Fans’ Choice Goal of the Week
First professional goal for San Antonio midfielder edges out Tampa Bay’s Brown
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/05/02/80-million-al-lang-stadium-upgrade-is-a-go-after.html
$80 million Al Lang Stadium upgrade is a go after crucial ballot win
The Tampa Bay Rowdies scored a major win in its quest to become a Major League Soccer team after St. Petersburg voters overwhelmingly approved 87 to 13 percent a referendum allowing the team to enter into a long-term lease with the city at its home, Al Lang Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.socceramerica.com/article/73250/mls-expansion-st-pete-referendum-passes-easily.html
MLS Expansion: St. Pete referendum passes easily
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tbo.com/news/localgovernment/tampa-bay-rowdies-major-league-soccer-hopes-rest-with-st-petersburg-voters/2322337
St. Petersburg voters overwhelmingly bless Tampa Bay Rowdies' bid to join Major League Soccer
(Follow link for full article.)
https://ussoccerplayers.com/2017/05/the-mls-expansion-standings.html
The MLS expansion standings
May 3, 2017
St Petersburg, Florida voted in favor of letting Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards revamp Al Lang Stadium. Edwards wants to spend his own money to continue converting the former baseball park into an 18k-capacity MLS venue. It's worth noting that Edwards also paid for Tuesday's special ballot initiative, driving home the point that he doesn't expect public money.
MLS responded with the following statement. "We are pleased that the people of St Petersburg support the Rowdies proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium. Bill Edwards personally came to our offices in January to submit his expansion application and share his vision. With the passage of the stadium vote, we look forward to working with the Rowdies as they continue to pursue a Major League Soccer team for Tampa Bay."
Where this puts St Pete in the expansion table is a good question. As so many are pointing out, the favorites aren't the favorites anymore. St Louis couldn't get voters to agree to a stadium deal. People don't seem as keen on Sacramento. San Diego is now caught up in a much larger project that doesn't have as much to do with soccer as it does with real estate development. Detroit is Detroit, a city that may or may not be undergoing a revival. In St Pete, it's tough to ignore the issues the baseball team has had trying to prove that Tampa Bay really is a region rather than a market that has two distinct cities.
MLS remains on schedule to announce two new expansion teams sometime in the near future. Looking at it from the outside, who those two teams might be isn't close to a given.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article148466969.html
St. Pete voters okay Tampa Bay Rowdies' bid to join MLS
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2017/5/3/15531936/us-soccer-has-100-million-lying-around-what-should-they-do-with-it
U.S. Soccer has $100 million lying around. What should it do with it?
USSF made a lot of money off Copa America and wants to build a national training center.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/2017/05/02/commissioners-convene-talk-changing-world-sports/101230096/
Commissioners convene to talk changing world of sports
You don’t often see four major sports league’s commissioners in the same place.
But on Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, the NHL’s Gary Bettman, NBA’s Adam Silver, MLB’s Rob Manfred and Major League Soccer's Don Garber were all on a panel about addressing the ever-changing landscape of each of their respective sports.
NFL commissioner Roger Goddell, however, was not present.
The panel’s moderator, longtime sports broadcaster Jim Gray, pulled no punches during the hour-long discussion.
Perhaps the first of several attention-grabbing answers came from Bettman, when asked about dealing with the perception that the only important group to him was the league’s owners.
“I’m not sure I’ve figured that out yet, since we’ve had three work stoppages and missed an entire season since I’ve been doing this,” he said with a tinge of flippantness.
But then Bettman refined his answer.
“If you don’t run the game, you don’t run the business of the game, well, you won’t be successful,” he said. “And to run the game well, you have to be satisfying your fans, you have to be growing your fan base, you have to have a product that is compelling, exciting and entertaining.
“If you’re not focused on the good of the game, none of it works.”
Manfred said the changes baseball has made in recent years, such as instituting a timer to cut down the time between innings and during visits to the pitcher’s mound, and doing away with the four-pitch intentional walk, have come with a great deal of research.
“Having said that, there are situations in which you have to confront issues that you know a substantial number, and maybe even a majority of your fans, disagree with what you’re going to do,” he said. “That’s a business judgement. You have to pay attention to the fans, but at the end of the day, the fans don’t run the game.”
Later, Manfred suggested speeding up the game is something universally necessary in baseball.
“Being against dead time is like being against cancer,” he said.
Garber seemed to focus more on the fans than his counterparts, though.
“We’re trying to build a soccer nation in our countries,” Garber said. “We have so many constituents within that. We all answer to our owners and we all answer to our fans, our sponsors and our media partners, but we also answer to the broader community.
“Our players live in the community. They’re taxpayers. We’re working as hard as we can to get public financing for our stadiums. It’s all an ecosystem that works together that if done right, creates all the value that can reside with owners and can be delivered back to the community. At the end of the day, we all think about this a lot.
“You don’t report to your fans, but ultimately if you’re not mindful to any consumer, you’re going to lose them.”
Picking their brains
Expectedly, the conversation turned to concussions and other sport-related injuries.
Of the four commissioners present, Bettman has been the most embattled regarding concussions.
“When you’re playing a contact sport, there’s always going to be the risk of injury,” he said. “What we have tried to do is understand the medicine, understand the science and provide as safe an environment as possible within the context of a physical sport.”
The NHL, Bettman said, has always been on the front lines of concussion treatment, having been the first to determine baseline studies and return to play guidelines.
“What we’re trying to do is stay on top of all the developments in place from a medical standpoint in terms of how you deal with concussions," he said. "It’s something that’s constantly evolving for all of us, and I think all sports leagues, because it’s something that’s still in a nascent state.”
Garber, in whose sport concussions are also a prominent issue, made a puzzling statement.
“It’s not the two or three concussions that you get when you become a professional player,” he said. “It’s the head injury, or head contact or concussions you get as you’re going through your development as a player, and then becoming a professional.”
Garber said he and his league have been hard at work trying to refine ways to educate young athletes about the dangers of head injuries.
“Education kind of gets you halfway there,” Garber said. “Then your own protection programs and baseline testing and protocols allow you to deal with it when it happens.”
He said one such remedy is eliminiating heading for players aged 10 and under, which is already underway in the United States.
For Manfred, the issue of concussions is addressed in a compartmentalized manner.
“We don’t focus on the safety issue except as it relates to our sport,” he said. “We made a conscious decision that we don’t draw comparisons to other sports. It’s very rare that we even talk about other sports publically.”
Silver’s take on injuries was more about specializing than it was about concussions.
According to a study from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), athletes who play just one sport are at a higher risk of suffering a lower-extremity injury than one who plays two or more.
“I think we focus on the overall health of our players,” Silver said. “We far from celebrate head injuries in other sports. We’re very focused on kids being active. Generally, it’s still the case that in basketball, the great athletes play more than one sport.
“What we’re seeing that, even in terms of injury prevention when they get older, the doctors are telling them that at an early age, don’t specialize. We don’t want boys and girls to only be playing basketball when they’re 10. I’m rooting for those sports to find solutions to dealing with head injuries.”
Getting defensive
Bettman went on an unsolicited, defensive tangent 25 minutes into the discussion.
“Isn’t really the bigger issue that young people are going to play the sport that interests them and that they have a passion for? Frankly those that are good enough, skilled enough to make it to the elite level, if you don’t have a passion for what you’re doing, and it’s not going to be based on a calculated decision as to what the likelihood is you’re going to get injured, either your knees are going to go or a concussion or you’re going to get rotator cuff injuries” he said. “You’re going to play the sport that you’re excited about and that you want to get out and do every day because it’s a passion for you.
“You can’t make it to the elite level if it’s not something that really is going to motivate you because you love it.”
But Bettman wasn’t done.
“NHL players are known for not resting, and playing hurt,” he said. “We don’t have a pace of play problem and we’re not subject to the jurisdiction of the International Ice Hockey Federation.”
Then he defended his choice for the NHL to back out of the Winter Olympics, starting with the 2018 games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Bettman said the cost of sending NHL players, who come from 19 different countries, and their families to the Olympics is around $15-20 million. Before, the IOC would pay for that, but recently that cost has landed exclusively with the league.
Sticking to sports
The discussion turned to professional athletes making public their beliefs on politics, social issues and other hot-button topics.
Bettman said he encourages NHL players to have their beliefs, but do so off the ice.
“I think it’s great for our players to be involved in political and social causes, but I also think that’s not why people come to games to see them,” Bettman said. “I would encourage, and I do encourage, players to do it on their own time.”
While the MLS has worked to ban in-game political statements from players and fans alike, Garber said he realizes that players do have their beliefs and that the league has to address them in a relevant way.
“Leagues have to evolve as society evolves,” Garber said.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/mount-vernon/2017/05/05/memorial-field-plan-mount-vernon-ny/101304672/
Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas floats $120M Memorial Field project
The ambitious plan could build a retractable roof, underground parking and be used to woo a pro sports team.
Thomas believes if there is buy-in for the vision, Mount Vernon can make a pitch to become the home field of NYCFC, the Major League Soccer team that has been seeking a permanent home while playing its home games at Yankee Stadium.
The mayor said when considering Barclays Center in Brooklyn seats 18,000, he feels a 15,000 seat stadium would be appropriate for a professional sports club.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/69el8l/mount_vernon_kicking_the_tires_on_nycfc_with_120m/
Mount Vernon kicking the tires on NYCFC with $120M stadium pitch (lohud.com)
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
#MLS2StPete Referendum passes in St. Petersburg with 87% yes vote. Tampa Bay Rowdies inch closer to MLS.
#MLS2StPete Referendum passes in St. Petersburg with 87% 'yes' vote. Tampa Bay Rowdies inch closer to MLS.
Vote totals below:
City of St. Petersburg Referendum Question
93 of 93 Precincts Reporting
Percent Votes
Yes 87.14% 24,589
No 12.86% 3,628
This is good news, and an even better percentage of the 'yes' vote than was initially predicted.
It does not guarantee that the Tampa Bay Rowdies will get into MLS as an expansion team, but it is a necessary first step. I am slightly irritated, however, by the many loud and skeptical voices counter-signalling this victory by claiming that the Rowdies are still not in the likely group of potential MLS expansion teams. Most of the reasons cited against the Rowdies chances are bogus.
Pros:
1) Tampa/St. Pete is largest (#11) TV market not yet in MLS. MLS is not going to want to ignore the big, unrepresented TV markets for much longer (Tampa/St. Pete #11, Phoenix #12, Detroit #13).
2) Tampa Bay Area is fastest growing market of the 13 markets (including Miami) currently trying to get into MLS.
3) Tampa Bay Area has a long history of supporting pro soccer (much more so than Miami).
4) Tampa Bay Rowdies are an iconic brand with a 42 year history, still recognized internationally. This helps in many ways that can't be quantified; ask the San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, and Vancouver Whitecaps about that.
5) Tampa Bay Area in general, and St. Pete in particular, is rapidly growing with the young Millennial demographic that is particularly desired by MLS. St. Petersburg, over the past 10 years, has become a hipster-burg comparable in many ways (except for the weather) to Portland and Seattle.
6) Al Lang Stadium is located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, within easy walking distance from a huge selection of bars, restaurants, shops, cinemas, theaters, music venues, museums, and other recreation and nightlife. This is EXACTLY the type of downtown, walkable, urban soccer stadium situation that MLS has been trying to get in many other cities (and often failing miserably; see for instance Miami and New England).
7) With this vote, and the soon to be negotiated extended lease agreed to by the Rowdies and St. Pete government (which WILL happen; St. Pete city government has shown itself entirely on the side of #MLS2StPete), Tampa Bay Rowdies will join Sacramento Republic as the only teams in the MLS expansion race to have both stadium situation and financing all lined up; i.e. both are shovel ready and ready to go as soon as MLS gives the word. There are a few other markets that may be close to doing this, but they are not quite there yet; at the moment, only Tampa Bay and Sacramento are.
8) Bill Edwards has not yet announced who his additional investors are, but they will be big and they will enhance his case for #MLS2StPete.
9) The Tampa Bay Rowdies #MLS2StPete project has the overwhelming support of local St. Pete politicians, neighborhood groups, local businesses, the chamber of commerce, local corporate sponsors, and politicians and businesses and corporate sponsors from other Tampa Bay Area cities such as Tampa and Clearwater. Like Sacramento, political and business support for the local MLS bid is overwhelming and unequivocal. That's more than you can say for a lot of the other MLS bids.
Anti-Cons:
1) Bill Edwards' negatives aren't going to stop #MLS2StPete any more than the negatives of Joey Saputo (Montreal Impact), Bill McGuire (Minnesota United), or City Football Group/Abu Dhabi United Group/China Media Capital/CITIC Capital (New York City FC) stopped those teams from joining MLS. If you don't know what those negatives are, Google it. When Bill Edwards announces his additional #MLS2StPete investors, who may very well be extremely wealthy and respectable, I think people will finally realize that this is another non-issue.
2) Don Garber has made it very clear that Orlando City's MLS territorial rights are not going to stop the Rowdies from joining MLS, and the proximity of the two markets is a plus, not a minus, for Garber.
3) Florida is still, even if Miami gets into MLS, a very much underrepresented state, for its size, in MLS. Tampa Bay Rowdies would not make "too many Florida teams" in MLS.
4) The Al Lang Stadium expansion plans meet every USSF D1 and MLS requirement for professional soccer stadiums, period, full stop, end of discussion. You fan boys constantly whinging and complaining that you don't like the oddball configuration of the stadium, are clueless. This is not a valid concern and it is not a real issue.
5) Being located in St. Pete is not a negative; MLB baseball attendance for the Rays in St. Pete is not an apples-to-apples comparison to soccer due to the many weeknight games MLB plays (this is a problem for the Rays due to weeknight rush hour traffic over the bay bridges). This is an objection only raised by people who don't know the Tampa Bay Area and/or who don't seem to understand the many differences between soccer fandom and baseball fandom (demographically, culturally, etc.) in the USA in general and in Florida in particular.
6) The 2001 MLS contraction of the Florida teams has absolutely nothing to do with the current MLS expansion process, and it is simply irrelevant to what is currently going on with MLS expansion. The Tampa Bay Mutiny were NOT contracted due to poor attendance, and if you believe that they were, you are too badly misinformed to have an opinion worth listening to on this subject.
7) Gut-level feelings about which bids are "stronger" and which bids are less strong are not "objective" and MLS expansion race pundits have been proven wrong so many times you would think that they would have learned this lesson by now, but, no, apparently not.
I have no idea how things will turn out, but the Tampa Bay Rowdies case for MLS is very strong. The Miami situation is fouling things up, however, and if it drags on it could delay the MLS expansion announcements until late this year. So we probably have a lot more waiting to do.
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Also, below: I, too, remember watching a Rowdies game at the old Tampa Stadium, in the 1970s, during a rainstorm, with the rain coming down in sheets and the water flowing down the stadium terraces like a waterfall. I don't recall if there was also lightning going on at the time; but there likely was. They definitely wouldn't allow a game to be played outdoors in that kind of weather today.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/05/02/fulk-talks-rowdies-tampa-bay-united-merger/2843
Fulk Talks Rowdies, Tampa Bay United Merger
2017 May 2
by JAKE NUTTING
Like many living in Tampa Bay in the early 1980s, Keith Fulk has vivid memories of watching the Tampa Bay Rowdies during their run in the original NASL. One of those matches he attended as a University of Tampa student may have even endangered his life, but he still recalls it fondly.
“All I remember is lightning and rain and us standing on metal seats,” Fulk said. “Remember at The Big Sombrero when it was raining there was nowhere to go but down? It was just like a waterfall down the steps, man. Now I think about lightning warnings and the way society is now about covering your butt. Here I was in a metal stadium standing up, lightning going, pouring down rain and they were still playing soccer. The Rowdies and they’re green and gold hoops and the socks. I just remember how fun it was.”
Over 30 years after that memorable match, Fulk is now aiding the modern incarnation of the Rowdies in their new merger with the recently rebranded Tampa Bay United Rowdies academy. Once he started donning Rowdies gear, Fulk instantly noticed a difference in people’s reactions to him and the academy.
“The Rowdies name changes their whole mindset,” he said. “It’s hard to explain. When I first started I wore TBU stuff and now I’ve been wearing the Rowdies stuff and it’s just been like an epiphany. People react when they see it. It’s a great situation and I feel honored and excited about this opportunity for my family and to help the Rowdies build something great.”
Fulk has had a role in developing players in Tampa Bay since he joined his alma mater as an assistant coach in the early 1990s. UT claimed two national title during his time at the school as an assistant and head coach. Fulk eventually moved on to a seven-year stint as an assistant with the U.S. U-17 national team –which included coaching at four youth World Cups — before he assumed the coaching job at Sain Leo University.
He resigned from his post at Saint Leo in January and began working as the Director of Tampa Bay United Rowdies’ U.S. Soccer Development Academy program a few weeks later. Despite enjoying his time at Saint Leo, the decision to take on the challenge of helping the Rowdies build a youth development system was an easy one for Fulk.
“This is something that I’d never really done,” he said. “It’s a different kind of role for me, but it’s something that really interests me and it kind of gave me a little bit of energy and excitement. I’m a passionate person, man. I love soccer so much. When I had the opportunity to do something with the Rowdies, especially with the youth, which I’ve been involved with in college soccer and things, it was kind of a no-brainer.”
The ultimate goal of U.S. Soccer’s DA initiative is to produce players for the national team program, but the additional benefit for professional teams maintaining DA teams are able to identify and nurture players from the same pool. Currently, TBU Rowdies has DA teams for ages 12-15, though Fulk’s immediate goal is to expand that to every level in the program and grow the player numbers at the youngest age groups.
“When we were trying to get the Rowdies affiliated with Tampa Bay United I was like, ‘Wow, that differentiates us from being a normal club team, to being a professional academy in a professional environment.’ Everything from the first team down, Stuart Campbell said we want to you be modeled after what the first team does. The Rowdies coaching staff is a good bunch of people, but I also enjoy their vision and their style of play. Their style was very similar to me. It was just a win-win thing.”
Investing in player development is a necessary criteria for any group hoping to earn expansion into Major League Soccer, so the benefits of the TBU partnership to the Rowdies are obvious. However, Fulk thinks the advantages go both ways. The Rowdies name and the history in the region that comes with it offers more cache than TBU’s and the kids now wearing the same name and colors as their local team now feel a stronger connection to the players.
“When you look at a club in professional environment and you try to focus on the pathway to the pros or the pathway to colleges or the pathway to whatever kids want to do, I think it’s a great experience when they’re involved with professionals and they can emulate some of the Rowdies players,” he said.
Fulk believes there’s more than enough talent to tap into in the Tampa Bay area. His aim with the academy to is to shift focus away from winning that week’s tournament and place more priority on technical development and the needs of the individual player. The successes of the team are secondary to the interests of the player, and each player develops at a different time and in their own way.
“I think the area is very talented, and we want to give them the most options and resources for them to grow and develop instead of worrying so much about winning,” he said. “Put the fun back into football. When you see Messi play, he’s having fun. When you see Joe Cole score, he’s having fun. We’ve taken a little bit of the fun out of it, and I’m trying to put more of the fun into it and have the kids express themselves and their personalities a lot more.”
He’s only been on the job since mid-February, but Fulk is encouraged by the foundation the group has laid down so far. Changing hard-set mentalities and educating players and parents is what will take some time to achieve, though.
“We’re building from the ground up. I think it takes time. In this day and age, a lot of people don’t want change. They’re set in their ways. We have to be committed to change and put the kids’ best interest as our number one priority. If we do that, we will definitely change the focus from winning at all costs to developing players. Not only developing players, but also developing coaches and CEOs, and ultimately developing people and families to love soccer like they do in the rest of the world.”
Headline below should say ASL, not USL:
(Follow link for full article.)
https://whatahowler.com/when-a-usl-all-star-friendly-with-hakoah-set-a-u-s-attendance-record-56580c3cc21e
When a USL All-Star friendly with Hakoah set a U.S. attendance record
This day in football history
On 1 May 1926, Viennese club Hakoah, on a tour of the United States, played a match against a group of American Soccer League All-Stars at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan. The match drew a crowd of 46,000, setting a U.S. attendance record that would not be broken until after Pelé signed for the New York Cosmos in 1977.
Founded in 1909, Hakoah was an all-Jewish sports club, taking their name from the Hebrew word for “strength.” Their football squad was very successful, finishing second in the Austrian league in 1922, then winning the title in 1925. They frequently toured the world, drawing large crowds in part by attracting spectators from the local Jewish populations.
Hakoah’s 1926 U.S. tour pulled in some of the largest crowds ever to attend football matches in the U.S., with three successive matches drawing 25,000, followed by 30,000, and then 36,000, before setting the record with 46,000 on 1 May.
Hakoah’s opponents on the day were an all-star team drawing from the rosters of the New York Giants and Indiana Flooring. The goalkeeper was the Giants’ Pete Renzulli, who later described Hakoah as having the ball for 87 out of the 90 minutes in the match. The All-Stars, however, made the best of their limited possession, scoring three times off counter-attacks to win 3–0.
Despite the crowds, the tour was a financial failure for Hakoah, reportedly losing over $30,000 for the club. But Hakoah’s players enjoyed the tour so much that many chose to remain in the U.S. and eventually formed a new club named New York Hakoah, who went on to win the 1929 U.S. Open Cup.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/05/02/mls-releases-statement-after-st-petersburg-votes-soccer-stadium
MLS releases statement after St. Petersburg votes on soccer stadium
May 2, 2017
7:37PM EDT
Ben Couch
Senior Editor
Residents of St. Petersburg voted in a Tuesday referendum to advance a proposal allowing the city to pursue an agreement solidifying the Al Lang Stadium site as the future home of a potential MLS expansion team. It passed by more than 20,000 votes, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Web site.
Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards has agreed to fund the MLS expansion fee and an $80 million, 18,000-fan stadium within the footprint of the existing site. The measure was supported by the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board.
Following the final results, MLS issued the following statement on Tuesday night:
"We are pleased that the people of St. Petersburg support the Rowdies proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium. Bill Edwards personally came to our offices in January to submit his expansion application and share his vision. With the passage of the stadium vote, we look forward to working with the Rowdies as they continue to pursue a Major League Soccer team for Tampa Bay."
St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay is one of 12 cities that submitted a bid for an MLS expansion team, and hosted a watch party for Tuesday's vote. MLS plans to announce its next two expansion teams later this year, with another pair to follow, bringing the eventual total to 28 clubs.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://thefloridasqueeze.com/2017/05/02/passage-of-st-petersburg-referendum-puts-city-one-step-closer-to-mls/
Passage of St Petersburg referendum puts city one step closer to MLS
May 2, 2017 · by Kartik Krishnaiyer · in Tampa Bay Rowdies · Leave a comment
The Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Edwards Group released the following statement following the referendum results tonight in St Petersburg.
Analysis below the statement:
The Tampa Bay Rowdies took another important step towards bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, as St. Petersburg voters approved the Al Lang Stadium referendum by an overwhelming majority with 87% of the votes.
Residents of St. Petersburg came out in significant numbers to support #MLS2StPete and approve the referendum, which gives City Council the authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium.
“I am grateful to the citizens of St. Petersburg for passing this important referendum,” said Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards. “St. Petersburg is very protective of our incredibly valuable waterfront – as is appropriate. We have put together a stadium plan that enhances our downtown, is of a scale that is respectful to our waterfront and does not burden the taxpayers.”
The use agreement would allow Al Lang Stadium’s primary purpose to be the home field for a potential Major League Soccer team. The $80 million renovation and expansion will be privately funded and is contingent on being awarded an MLS franchise.
“This vote is clear confirmation that St. Petersburg wants and is ready for Major League Soccer,” said Edwards. “I want to specifically thank the City Administration and Council, the Chamber’s Rowdies Council and all of those Rowdies fans throughout our region who support this great effort.”
The Rowdies hosted a Victory Party at Al Lang Stadium on Tuesday night, where hundreds of fans showed up to celebrate another historic moment in Rowdies history.
“In approving this referendum, voters have not only expressed their support for a longer term agreement at Al Lang Stadium, but have sent a strong message that St. Pete and the entire region are excited about the prospect of the Rowdies joining MLS,” said City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. “The Rowdies’ future in the Sunshine City has never been brighter.”
After the results were made public, The Edwards Group President and former City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker took the stage to celebrate the victory.
“Today is a great day for St. Pete and Rowdies soccer,” said Baker. “The loud and clear message is that our city and region are enthused and ready for Major League Soccer.”
After receiving the positive news, St. Petersburg City Council Chairwoman Darden Rice expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of the election.
“I am thrilled with the outcome of the referendum,” said Rice. “This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our city. Our message to MLS is simple: we want you in St. Pete!”
Analysis:
The overwhelming vote will certainly please many around MLS after the recent political setbacks in St Louis and Charlotte. However, challenges still remain for the Rowdies to be one of the four new MLS clubs that will be added. Tampa Bay would be the second Florida side joining Orlando City if they were to gain MLS admission. Leaving Orlando geographically isolated is a concern for MLS, however stronger bids are present currently from two locales in California (San Diego and Sacramento) and San Antonio. At best Tampa Bay would be objectively 4th among potential expansion bids, and I have actually placed them 6th overall. Only four bids will be selected for MLS admission.
The need for a geographic rival for Orlando though does boost Tampa Bay’s chances. A second Florida team might be strategic to gaining market share in this state for MLS and also cutting into the higher television ratings in this state for European and International football than MLS. Additionally, MLS may not want to have five teams in California and just one in Florida, so it is possible Tampa Bay will jump San Diego or Sacramento on that basis.
This is a long and fluid process and tonight’s referendum does give St Petersburg a boost but as of now, they remain on the outside looking in to the MLS party.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-edwards-referendum-winning-87-percent-vote/
Bill Edwards’ Tampa Bay Rowdies referendum cruises to victory; wins with more than 87 percent support
Mitch Perry
St. Petersburg voters are well on their way to allowing city officials negotiate a 25-year lease with Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards to expand Al Lang Field capacity from its current 7,000 seating structure to 18,000.
With all 93 precincts reporting, the measure is cruising to victory, with 87 percent of residents voting “Yes” compared to 13 percent opposed.
A total of 24,589 voted in support of the measure, with only 3,628 against it; 28,217 ballots were cast in total.
Voter turnout was just under 17 percent — not shocking in a special election with just one issue on the ballot.
The soccer franchise needs that increase in seating capacity for eligibility to join Major League Soccer, the pre-eminent soccer league in America. Currently, the team plays in the United Soccer League.
The Rowdies are one of twelve soccer franchises hoping to join MLS within the next couple of years. The league is expected to announce two expansion teams before the end of 2017, and two more in the future. Construction would only move forward if the MLS chooses the Rowdies to join its league, followed up by a vote by the St. Petersburg City Council approving the expansion.
Although construction plans don’t call for expanding the stadium’s footprint, the St. Petersburg City Charter provides that any portion of the waterfront park property that is sold or leased for private use must be approved by the citizenry through a referendum.
“In approving this referendum, voters have not only expressed their support for a longer term agreement at Al Lang Stadium but have sent a strong message that St. Pete and the entire region are excited about the prospect of the Tampa Bay Rowdies joining MLS,” Mayor Rick Kriseman said minutes after polls closed.
“The Rowdies’ future in the Sunshine City has never been brighter.”
There was little-to-no organized opposition to the measure, in part because it’s not expected to cost taxpayers a cent. Edwards has said that his company would foot the entire $80 million expenditure to upgrade the stadium. Edwards also paid for the $271,000 tab for the referendum.
As part of the 11th biggest media market in the nation, the largest market currently not in the MLS, the Rowdies should get a good look from MLS officials. But Florida Squeeze editor Kartik Krishnaiyer, who writes about soccer, recently declared that Rowdies are not a slam dunk to be invited by MLS.
“On the surface, Tampa Bay is the best market for MLS to grab. But there are drawbacks,” Krishnaiyer writes. “Firstly, MLS might prefer being on the Tampa side of the bay rather than in St. Petersburg. Secondly, the Rowdies proposal for renovation and expansion of Al Lang Stadium is quite frankly substandard by MLS standards. This is despite the fact that the vista where the stadium sits would arguably be the best in the league. Thirdly, Edwards himself is a wild card, unpredictable and in a league whose image-consciousness is often over-the-top, Edwards may not be a clean fit in MLS. Fourthly, MLS would be smart to want a “war on I-4” but perhaps they are fearful the Rowdies would cut into Orlando City’s supporter base.”
That “wild-card” image of Edwards is centered around a legal case over his now-defunct mortgage company, Mortgage Investors Corp., accused of cheating veterans and the public in refinancing VA loans.
“He feels there’s no merit to it and that he’s a veteran himself and he fought in Vietnam and was wounded in the hospital for two years,” said Edwards surrogate and former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker last week at a Suncoast Tiger Bay event. “He believes he’s going to prevail.”
For more than a month, Baker has been making the rounds advocating for the referendum, a campaign that many speculate is a prelude for his own plans to challenge incumbent Kriseman for mayor later this year.
Photos of the Rowdies vote celebration, and renderings of the upgraded Al Lang, are courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rowdies:
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/bigstormbrewing/status/859552589331005440
Big Storm Brewing Co @BigStormBrewing
Cheers to the @TampaBayRowdies for getting one step closer to bringing @MLS to @StPeteFL! #Rowdies #StPete #MLS2StPete
4:38 PM - 2 May 2017
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/788104
Tampa Bay Rowdies Take Major Step in MLS Push as St. Petersburg Residents Vote In Favor of Al Lang Stadium Referendum
By Rowdies Communications, 05/02/17, 7:00PM EDT
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (May 2, 2017) – The Tampa Bay Rowdies took another important step towards bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, as St. Petersburg voters approved the Al Lang Stadium referendum by an overwhelming majority.
Residents of St. Petersburg came out in significant numbers to support #MLS2StPete and approve the referendum with 87 percent of the vote, which gives City Council the authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium.
“I am grateful to the citizens of St. Petersburg for passing this important referendum,” said Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards. “St. Petersburg is very protective of our incredibly valuable waterfront – as is appropriate. We have put together a stadium plan that enhances our downtown, is of a scale that is respectful to our waterfront and does not burden the taxpayers.”
The use agreement would allow Al Lang Stadium’s primary purpose to be the home field for a potential Major League Soccer team. The $80 million renovation and expansion will be privately funded and is contingent on being awarded an MLS franchise.
“This vote is clear confirmation that St. Petersburg wants and is ready for Major League Soccer,” said Edwards. “I want to specifically thank the City Administration and Council, the Chamber’s Rowdies Council and all of those Rowdies fans throughout our region who support this great effort.”
The Rowdies hosted a Victory Party at Al Lang Stadium on Tuesday night, where hundreds of fans showed up to celebrate another historic moment in Rowdies history.
"In approving this referendum, voters have not only expressed their support for a longer term agreement at Al Lang Stadium, but have sent a strong message that St. Pete and the entire region are excited about the prospect of the Rowdies joining MLS,” said City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. “The Rowdies’ future in the Sunshine City has never been brighter.”
After the results were made public, The Edwards Group President and former City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker took the stage to celebrate the victory.
“Today is a great day for St. Pete and Rowdies soccer,” said Baker. “The loud and clear message is that our city and region are enthused and ready for Major League Soccer.”
After receiving the positive news, St. Petersburg City Council Chairwoman Darden Rice expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of the election.
“I am thrilled with the outcome of the referendum,” said Rice. “This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our city. Our message to MLS is simple: we want you in St. Pete!”
The Tampa Bay Rowdies need your support as they continue their push to join Major League Soccer. Come out and fill the stands at our next home game on Saturday, May 13, when the Rowdies face Louisville City FC. For tickets, call (727) 222-2000 or click here.
https://www1.ticketmaster.com/event/0D005246F8BCAE84?CAMEFROM=CFC_TBROWDIES_WEB_WEBAD_ROWDIESADWEBPAGE
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/05/02/80-million-al-lang-stadium-upgrade-is-a-go-after.html
$80 million Al Lang Stadium upgrade is a go after crucial ballot win
The Tampa Bay Rowdies scored a major win in its quest to become a Major League Soccer team after St. Petersburg voters overwhelmingly approved 87 to 13 percent a referendum allowing the team to enter into a long-term lease with the city at its home, Al Lang Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://enr.votepinellas.com/FL/Pinellas/68824/186362/en/summary.html
Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections
ST. PETERSBURG
SPECIAL ELECTION REFERENDUM
MAY 2, 2017
Active Registered Voters: 168,145
Ballots Cast: 28,469
Voter Turnout: 16.93 %
Precincts Reported: 93 of 93
Website last updated 5/2/2017 7:57:32 PM EDT
Summary
Precincts Reporting
Voter Turnout
Unofficial Results
Municipality Opted out of Early Voting
Includes Mail Ballots
Does Not Include Provisional Ballots
City of St. Petersburg Referendum Question (Vote for 1)
Vote Type Summary
93 of 93 Precincts Reporting
Percent Votes
Yes
87.14% 24,750
No
12.86% 3,651
28,401
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/05/02/st-pete-voters-give-rowdies-go-ahead-to-negotiate-new-al-lang-use-agreement/2847
St Pete Voters Give Rowdies Go-Ahead to Negotiate New Al Lang Use Agreement
May 2, 2017
by JAKE NUTTING
The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ campaign to move up to Major League Soccer continued to chug along on Tuesday as St. Petersburg residents voted to allow the team and city to negotiate a new 25-year use agreement for Al Lang Stadium. A longterm deal is a necessary part of the team’s proposal to privately fund an $80 million expansion of the venue in order to bring it up to MLS’s level.
Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards missed Tuesday’s election victory party at Al Lang due to medical leave to have a pacemaker installed, but he expressed his happiness with the result in a statement.
“I am grateful to the citizens of St. Petersburg for passing this important referendum,” said Edwards. “St. Petersburg is very protective of our incredibly valuable waterfront – as is appropriate. We have put together a stadium plan that enhances our downtown, is of a scale that is respectful to our waterfront and does not burden the taxpayers.”
Early polls indicated the referendum was expected to pass, though the recent setback for St. Louis’ MLS expansion effort in which the group’s stadium proposal was shot down in a narrow vote gave pause to even the most confident backer of Tampa Bay’s plan. Unlike Edwards’ bid, St. Louis’ group was seeking public funds for its stadium.
Tuesday’s result was overwhelmingly in favor of allowing the team to seek a new use agreement and move ahead with its MLS ambitions. 87 percent of just under 28,217 ballots cast approved the referendum.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and former Mayor — and current President of the Edwards Group — Rick Baker took the stage of Tuesday’s watch party to celebrate the referendum’s approval together.
“In approving this referendum, voters have not only expressed their support for a longer term agreement at Al Lang Stadium, but have sent a strong message that St. Pete and the entire region are excited about the prospect of the Rowdies joining MLS,” said Kriseman. “The Rowdies’ future in the Sunshine City has never been brighter.”
St. Petersburg’s City Council will still need to sign off on whatever deal the Rowdies and the Mayor’s office produces. Any deal reached would also be contingent on the team being awarded an MLS franchise. If the Rowdies are not one of the four expansion contenders selected, the planned renovations will not materialize and the use agreement will be nullified.
“I am thrilled with the outcome of the referendum,” said City Council Chairwoman Darden Rice. “This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our city. Our message to MLS is simple: we want you in St. Pete!”
A shovel ready stadium plan would give the Rowdies a leg up on many of their expansion competitors, though MLS will also evaluate other criteria when selecting its next two teams this year and then two more next year. The structure of the ownership group and a market’s dynamics to support the sport will also be considered. Edwards mentioned in January that he has held talks with a handful of investors — both local and out of state — about joining the ownership group, but the team has been quiet about the issue since. Edwards has stated that no matter who comes on board, he intends to remain the team’s principal owner.
MLS released the following stadium shortly after the referendum’s passage was official.
“We are pleased that the people of St. Petersburg support the Rowdies proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium. Bill Edwards personally came to our offices in January to submit his expansion application and share his vision. With the passage of the stadium vote, we look forward to working with the Rowdies as they continue to pursue a Major League Soccer team for Tampa Bay.”
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/02/rebecca-lowe-nbc-sports-premier-league
How Rebecca Lowe went from England to become the US's face of football
The TV presenter, who fronts NBC’s Premier League coverage, tells Dave Caldwell about the challenges and rewards of her move across the Atlantic
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2017/5/1/st_petersburg_voters.html
St. Petersburg voters approve Al Lang Stadium expansion
By Al Ruechel, Anchor
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 02, 2017, 7:29 PM EDT
ST. PETERSBURG --
Voters in St. Petersburg approved a deal to expand downtown's Al Lang Stadium in hopes of attracting Major League Soccer.
Residents to vote on expansion for Al Lang Stadium
Those behind effort hope to land MLS team
Noise, traffic could be concern for some
City of St. Petersburg Special Election Referendum
For soccer fans, the vote is a no-brainer. An expanded stadium could be a life-line to join MLS. Rick Baker, former mayor and president of the Edwards Group, said it’s a win - win for the city.
"We've got the ownership group, we have an incredible media market, we've got a lot of fan support," he said. "And to go forward, you need a stadium and this is all about trying to get permission so that we can lease that space and build that stadium."
Voters approved a 25-year lease for Al Lang Stadium that would allow Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards and his group of investors to spend $80 million of their own money to renovate and increase seating for the former baseball stadium to 18,000.
Not everyone is a soccer fan, however, and some are worried about noise, traffic, even the ownership group.
"I'd love to see the expansion of that stadium, especially at someone else's expense and not taxpayers, but I have very limited faith in this ownership group," said resident Vince Cocks.
Under the proposal, Al Lang Stadium's capacity would increase to 18,000.
That's why the Edwards Group has pushed so hard to win over the skeptics.
“Once people have the opportunity to see the plan, to hear us talk about it and respond to the plan, as I said before, the vast majority of the people will be for it," Baker said.
Edwards won't be taking part, at least immediately, in any celebration. He is taking medical leave for a pacemaker operation. He said he hopes to be back and ready to push for MLS expansion soon.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/05/02/one-of-st-petes-most-popular-downtown-restaurants.html
One of St. Pete's most popular downtown restaurants expands across the bay
May 2, 2017, 11:23am EDT Updated May 2, 2017, 11:26am EDT
Industries & Tags
Food & Lifestyle
Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Senior Reporter
Tampa Bay Business Journal
A downtown St. Petersburg restaurant known for its creative menu and avant garde cocktails is planning a second location in suburban Tampa.
The Mill, which opened on St. Pete's Central Avenue in 2015, will open in Brandon later this summer. The restaurant is taking 4,000 square feet at 109 W. Bloomingdale Ave., in a strip center end cap that has been home to a number of shuttered restaurants, including Sluggers Neighborhood Bar & Grill and Big Belly Burgers.
The restaurant will have 180 seats, with 150 inside and 30 outside.
“When people talk about good restaurants in the Bay area, they mention South Tampa, St. Petersburg and Seminole Heights," Jason Griffin, The Mill managing partner, said in a statement. "However, we think that Brandon and their rapidly expanding population deserve the very best and we plan on bringing our passion for food and craft cocktails there."
Griffin and chef Ted Dorsey describe their menu as "rustic Americana," with a focus on seasonal ingredients and craft cocktails. The restaurant was honored by Florida Trend's Golden Spoon awards.
Its current dinner menu features appetizers like southern fried frog legs and a made-in-house charcuterie plate that features octopus bacon and espresso venison pastrami. (There are less adventurous choices as well, like watermelon and feta bruschetta and blue crab croquettes.)
“People instantly bond over food, and when they go out to a restaurant, they want all their senses to come alive," Dorsey said. "I love when I step out of the kitchen and see the smiles and good times from all our patrons in the dining room. It is the connection between people and food that keeps us motivated to do what we do every day."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/bill-edwards%E2%80%99-tampa-bay-rowdies-referendum-cruises-victory-wins-more-87-percent-support
Bill Edwards’ Tampa Bay Rowdies referendum cruises to victory; wins with more than 87 percent support
SaintPetersBlog
May 2, 2017 - 7:06pm
St. Petersburg voters are well on their way to allowing city officials negotiate a 25-year lease with Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards to expand Al Lang Field capacity from its current 7,000 seating structure to 18,000.
With all 93 precincts reporting, the measure is cruising to victory, with 87 percent of residents voting “Yes” compared to 13 percent opposed.
Full Story: http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-edwards-referendum-winning-87-percent-vote/
(Follow link for full article.)
http://saintpetersblog.com/tampa-bay-rowdies-hosting-referendum-watch-party-al-lang/
Tampa Bay Rowdies hosting Referendum Watch Party at Al Lang
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.newstalkflorida.com/featured/rowdies-hope-for-a-win-at-the-polls-tonight-then-maybe-mls-expansion-soon/
Rowdies hope for a win at the polls tonight then maybe MLS expansion soon
(Follow link for full article.)
http://wfla.com/2017/05/02/st-pete-voting-on-rowdies-stadium-expansion-tuesday/
St. Pete voting on Rowdies stadium expansion Tuesday
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/turnout-very-light-for-rowdies-vote-in-st-pete/2322436
Turnout very light for Rowdies vote in St. Pete
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tbreporter.com/sports-and-recreation/rowdies-score-victory-st-pete-voters/
Rowdies Score Victory with St. Pete Voters
A whopping 87 percent of voters agreed to allow the Tampa Bay Rowdies to renovate and expand Al Lang Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://wfla.com/2017/05/02/al-lang-stadium-to-be-expanded-after-referendum-vote-passes/
Voters approve Al Lang Stadium referendum, Rowdies take step toward MLS franchise bid
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2017/05/02/voters-approve-rowdies-mls-stadium-referendum/101221838/
Voters approve Rowdies' MLS stadium referendum
Vote totals below:
City of St. Petersburg Referendum Question
93 of 93 Precincts Reporting
Percent Votes
Yes 87.14% 24,589
No 12.86% 3,628
This is good news, and an even better percentage of the 'yes' vote than was initially predicted.
It does not guarantee that the Tampa Bay Rowdies will get into MLS as an expansion team, but it is a necessary first step. I am slightly irritated, however, by the many loud and skeptical voices counter-signalling this victory by claiming that the Rowdies are still not in the likely group of potential MLS expansion teams. Most of the reasons cited against the Rowdies chances are bogus.
Pros:
1) Tampa/St. Pete is largest (#11) TV market not yet in MLS. MLS is not going to want to ignore the big, unrepresented TV markets for much longer (Tampa/St. Pete #11, Phoenix #12, Detroit #13).
2) Tampa Bay Area is fastest growing market of the 13 markets (including Miami) currently trying to get into MLS.
3) Tampa Bay Area has a long history of supporting pro soccer (much more so than Miami).
4) Tampa Bay Rowdies are an iconic brand with a 42 year history, still recognized internationally. This helps in many ways that can't be quantified; ask the San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, and Vancouver Whitecaps about that.
5) Tampa Bay Area in general, and St. Pete in particular, is rapidly growing with the young Millennial demographic that is particularly desired by MLS. St. Petersburg, over the past 10 years, has become a hipster-burg comparable in many ways (except for the weather) to Portland and Seattle.
6) Al Lang Stadium is located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, within easy walking distance from a huge selection of bars, restaurants, shops, cinemas, theaters, music venues, museums, and other recreation and nightlife. This is EXACTLY the type of downtown, walkable, urban soccer stadium situation that MLS has been trying to get in many other cities (and often failing miserably; see for instance Miami and New England).
7) With this vote, and the soon to be negotiated extended lease agreed to by the Rowdies and St. Pete government (which WILL happen; St. Pete city government has shown itself entirely on the side of #MLS2StPete), Tampa Bay Rowdies will join Sacramento Republic as the only teams in the MLS expansion race to have both stadium situation and financing all lined up; i.e. both are shovel ready and ready to go as soon as MLS gives the word. There are a few other markets that may be close to doing this, but they are not quite there yet; at the moment, only Tampa Bay and Sacramento are.
8) Bill Edwards has not yet announced who his additional investors are, but they will be big and they will enhance his case for #MLS2StPete.
9) The Tampa Bay Rowdies #MLS2StPete project has the overwhelming support of local St. Pete politicians, neighborhood groups, local businesses, the chamber of commerce, local corporate sponsors, and politicians and businesses and corporate sponsors from other Tampa Bay Area cities such as Tampa and Clearwater. Like Sacramento, political and business support for the local MLS bid is overwhelming and unequivocal. That's more than you can say for a lot of the other MLS bids.
Anti-Cons:
1) Bill Edwards' negatives aren't going to stop #MLS2StPete any more than the negatives of Joey Saputo (Montreal Impact), Bill McGuire (Minnesota United), or City Football Group/Abu Dhabi United Group/China Media Capital/CITIC Capital (New York City FC) stopped those teams from joining MLS. If you don't know what those negatives are, Google it. When Bill Edwards announces his additional #MLS2StPete investors, who may very well be extremely wealthy and respectable, I think people will finally realize that this is another non-issue.
2) Don Garber has made it very clear that Orlando City's MLS territorial rights are not going to stop the Rowdies from joining MLS, and the proximity of the two markets is a plus, not a minus, for Garber.
3) Florida is still, even if Miami gets into MLS, a very much underrepresented state, for its size, in MLS. Tampa Bay Rowdies would not make "too many Florida teams" in MLS.
4) The Al Lang Stadium expansion plans meet every USSF D1 and MLS requirement for professional soccer stadiums, period, full stop, end of discussion. You fan boys constantly whinging and complaining that you don't like the oddball configuration of the stadium, are clueless. This is not a valid concern and it is not a real issue.
5) Being located in St. Pete is not a negative; MLB baseball attendance for the Rays in St. Pete is not an apples-to-apples comparison to soccer due to the many weeknight games MLB plays (this is a problem for the Rays due to weeknight rush hour traffic over the bay bridges). This is an objection only raised by people who don't know the Tampa Bay Area and/or who don't seem to understand the many differences between soccer fandom and baseball fandom (demographically, culturally, etc.) in the USA in general and in Florida in particular.
6) The 2001 MLS contraction of the Florida teams has absolutely nothing to do with the current MLS expansion process, and it is simply irrelevant to what is currently going on with MLS expansion. The Tampa Bay Mutiny were NOT contracted due to poor attendance, and if you believe that they were, you are too badly misinformed to have an opinion worth listening to on this subject.
7) Gut-level feelings about which bids are "stronger" and which bids are less strong are not "objective" and MLS expansion race pundits have been proven wrong so many times you would think that they would have learned this lesson by now, but, no, apparently not.
I have no idea how things will turn out, but the Tampa Bay Rowdies case for MLS is very strong. The Miami situation is fouling things up, however, and if it drags on it could delay the MLS expansion announcements until late this year. So we probably have a lot more waiting to do.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, below: I, too, remember watching a Rowdies game at the old Tampa Stadium, in the 1970s, during a rainstorm, with the rain coming down in sheets and the water flowing down the stadium terraces like a waterfall. I don't recall if there was also lightning going on at the time; but there likely was. They definitely wouldn't allow a game to be played outdoors in that kind of weather today.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/05/02/fulk-talks-rowdies-tampa-bay-united-merger/2843
Fulk Talks Rowdies, Tampa Bay United Merger
2017 May 2
by JAKE NUTTING
Like many living in Tampa Bay in the early 1980s, Keith Fulk has vivid memories of watching the Tampa Bay Rowdies during their run in the original NASL. One of those matches he attended as a University of Tampa student may have even endangered his life, but he still recalls it fondly.
“All I remember is lightning and rain and us standing on metal seats,” Fulk said. “Remember at The Big Sombrero when it was raining there was nowhere to go but down? It was just like a waterfall down the steps, man. Now I think about lightning warnings and the way society is now about covering your butt. Here I was in a metal stadium standing up, lightning going, pouring down rain and they were still playing soccer. The Rowdies and they’re green and gold hoops and the socks. I just remember how fun it was.”
Over 30 years after that memorable match, Fulk is now aiding the modern incarnation of the Rowdies in their new merger with the recently rebranded Tampa Bay United Rowdies academy. Once he started donning Rowdies gear, Fulk instantly noticed a difference in people’s reactions to him and the academy.
“The Rowdies name changes their whole mindset,” he said. “It’s hard to explain. When I first started I wore TBU stuff and now I’ve been wearing the Rowdies stuff and it’s just been like an epiphany. People react when they see it. It’s a great situation and I feel honored and excited about this opportunity for my family and to help the Rowdies build something great.”
Fulk has had a role in developing players in Tampa Bay since he joined his alma mater as an assistant coach in the early 1990s. UT claimed two national title during his time at the school as an assistant and head coach. Fulk eventually moved on to a seven-year stint as an assistant with the U.S. U-17 national team –which included coaching at four youth World Cups — before he assumed the coaching job at Sain Leo University.
He resigned from his post at Saint Leo in January and began working as the Director of Tampa Bay United Rowdies’ U.S. Soccer Development Academy program a few weeks later. Despite enjoying his time at Saint Leo, the decision to take on the challenge of helping the Rowdies build a youth development system was an easy one for Fulk.
“This is something that I’d never really done,” he said. “It’s a different kind of role for me, but it’s something that really interests me and it kind of gave me a little bit of energy and excitement. I’m a passionate person, man. I love soccer so much. When I had the opportunity to do something with the Rowdies, especially with the youth, which I’ve been involved with in college soccer and things, it was kind of a no-brainer.”
The ultimate goal of U.S. Soccer’s DA initiative is to produce players for the national team program, but the additional benefit for professional teams maintaining DA teams are able to identify and nurture players from the same pool. Currently, TBU Rowdies has DA teams for ages 12-15, though Fulk’s immediate goal is to expand that to every level in the program and grow the player numbers at the youngest age groups.
“When we were trying to get the Rowdies affiliated with Tampa Bay United I was like, ‘Wow, that differentiates us from being a normal club team, to being a professional academy in a professional environment.’ Everything from the first team down, Stuart Campbell said we want to you be modeled after what the first team does. The Rowdies coaching staff is a good bunch of people, but I also enjoy their vision and their style of play. Their style was very similar to me. It was just a win-win thing.”
Investing in player development is a necessary criteria for any group hoping to earn expansion into Major League Soccer, so the benefits of the TBU partnership to the Rowdies are obvious. However, Fulk thinks the advantages go both ways. The Rowdies name and the history in the region that comes with it offers more cache than TBU’s and the kids now wearing the same name and colors as their local team now feel a stronger connection to the players.
“When you look at a club in professional environment and you try to focus on the pathway to the pros or the pathway to colleges or the pathway to whatever kids want to do, I think it’s a great experience when they’re involved with professionals and they can emulate some of the Rowdies players,” he said.
Fulk believes there’s more than enough talent to tap into in the Tampa Bay area. His aim with the academy to is to shift focus away from winning that week’s tournament and place more priority on technical development and the needs of the individual player. The successes of the team are secondary to the interests of the player, and each player develops at a different time and in their own way.
“I think the area is very talented, and we want to give them the most options and resources for them to grow and develop instead of worrying so much about winning,” he said. “Put the fun back into football. When you see Messi play, he’s having fun. When you see Joe Cole score, he’s having fun. We’ve taken a little bit of the fun out of it, and I’m trying to put more of the fun into it and have the kids express themselves and their personalities a lot more.”
He’s only been on the job since mid-February, but Fulk is encouraged by the foundation the group has laid down so far. Changing hard-set mentalities and educating players and parents is what will take some time to achieve, though.
“We’re building from the ground up. I think it takes time. In this day and age, a lot of people don’t want change. They’re set in their ways. We have to be committed to change and put the kids’ best interest as our number one priority. If we do that, we will definitely change the focus from winning at all costs to developing players. Not only developing players, but also developing coaches and CEOs, and ultimately developing people and families to love soccer like they do in the rest of the world.”
Headline below should say ASL, not USL:
(Follow link for full article.)
https://whatahowler.com/when-a-usl-all-star-friendly-with-hakoah-set-a-u-s-attendance-record-56580c3cc21e
When a USL All-Star friendly with Hakoah set a U.S. attendance record
This day in football history
On 1 May 1926, Viennese club Hakoah, on a tour of the United States, played a match against a group of American Soccer League All-Stars at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan. The match drew a crowd of 46,000, setting a U.S. attendance record that would not be broken until after Pelé signed for the New York Cosmos in 1977.
Founded in 1909, Hakoah was an all-Jewish sports club, taking their name from the Hebrew word for “strength.” Their football squad was very successful, finishing second in the Austrian league in 1922, then winning the title in 1925. They frequently toured the world, drawing large crowds in part by attracting spectators from the local Jewish populations.
Hakoah’s 1926 U.S. tour pulled in some of the largest crowds ever to attend football matches in the U.S., with three successive matches drawing 25,000, followed by 30,000, and then 36,000, before setting the record with 46,000 on 1 May.
Hakoah’s opponents on the day were an all-star team drawing from the rosters of the New York Giants and Indiana Flooring. The goalkeeper was the Giants’ Pete Renzulli, who later described Hakoah as having the ball for 87 out of the 90 minutes in the match. The All-Stars, however, made the best of their limited possession, scoring three times off counter-attacks to win 3–0.
Despite the crowds, the tour was a financial failure for Hakoah, reportedly losing over $30,000 for the club. But Hakoah’s players enjoyed the tour so much that many chose to remain in the U.S. and eventually formed a new club named New York Hakoah, who went on to win the 1929 U.S. Open Cup.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/05/02/mls-releases-statement-after-st-petersburg-votes-soccer-stadium
MLS releases statement after St. Petersburg votes on soccer stadium
May 2, 2017
7:37PM EDT
Ben Couch
Senior Editor
Residents of St. Petersburg voted in a Tuesday referendum to advance a proposal allowing the city to pursue an agreement solidifying the Al Lang Stadium site as the future home of a potential MLS expansion team. It passed by more than 20,000 votes, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Web site.
Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards has agreed to fund the MLS expansion fee and an $80 million, 18,000-fan stadium within the footprint of the existing site. The measure was supported by the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board.
Following the final results, MLS issued the following statement on Tuesday night:
"We are pleased that the people of St. Petersburg support the Rowdies proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium. Bill Edwards personally came to our offices in January to submit his expansion application and share his vision. With the passage of the stadium vote, we look forward to working with the Rowdies as they continue to pursue a Major League Soccer team for Tampa Bay."
St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay is one of 12 cities that submitted a bid for an MLS expansion team, and hosted a watch party for Tuesday's vote. MLS plans to announce its next two expansion teams later this year, with another pair to follow, bringing the eventual total to 28 clubs.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://thefloridasqueeze.com/2017/05/02/passage-of-st-petersburg-referendum-puts-city-one-step-closer-to-mls/
Passage of St Petersburg referendum puts city one step closer to MLS
May 2, 2017 · by Kartik Krishnaiyer · in Tampa Bay Rowdies · Leave a comment
The Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Edwards Group released the following statement following the referendum results tonight in St Petersburg.
Analysis below the statement:
The Tampa Bay Rowdies took another important step towards bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, as St. Petersburg voters approved the Al Lang Stadium referendum by an overwhelming majority with 87% of the votes.
Residents of St. Petersburg came out in significant numbers to support #MLS2StPete and approve the referendum, which gives City Council the authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium.
“I am grateful to the citizens of St. Petersburg for passing this important referendum,” said Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards. “St. Petersburg is very protective of our incredibly valuable waterfront – as is appropriate. We have put together a stadium plan that enhances our downtown, is of a scale that is respectful to our waterfront and does not burden the taxpayers.”
The use agreement would allow Al Lang Stadium’s primary purpose to be the home field for a potential Major League Soccer team. The $80 million renovation and expansion will be privately funded and is contingent on being awarded an MLS franchise.
“This vote is clear confirmation that St. Petersburg wants and is ready for Major League Soccer,” said Edwards. “I want to specifically thank the City Administration and Council, the Chamber’s Rowdies Council and all of those Rowdies fans throughout our region who support this great effort.”
The Rowdies hosted a Victory Party at Al Lang Stadium on Tuesday night, where hundreds of fans showed up to celebrate another historic moment in Rowdies history.
“In approving this referendum, voters have not only expressed their support for a longer term agreement at Al Lang Stadium, but have sent a strong message that St. Pete and the entire region are excited about the prospect of the Rowdies joining MLS,” said City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. “The Rowdies’ future in the Sunshine City has never been brighter.”
After the results were made public, The Edwards Group President and former City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker took the stage to celebrate the victory.
“Today is a great day for St. Pete and Rowdies soccer,” said Baker. “The loud and clear message is that our city and region are enthused and ready for Major League Soccer.”
After receiving the positive news, St. Petersburg City Council Chairwoman Darden Rice expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of the election.
“I am thrilled with the outcome of the referendum,” said Rice. “This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our city. Our message to MLS is simple: we want you in St. Pete!”
Analysis:
The overwhelming vote will certainly please many around MLS after the recent political setbacks in St Louis and Charlotte. However, challenges still remain for the Rowdies to be one of the four new MLS clubs that will be added. Tampa Bay would be the second Florida side joining Orlando City if they were to gain MLS admission. Leaving Orlando geographically isolated is a concern for MLS, however stronger bids are present currently from two locales in California (San Diego and Sacramento) and San Antonio. At best Tampa Bay would be objectively 4th among potential expansion bids, and I have actually placed them 6th overall. Only four bids will be selected for MLS admission.
The need for a geographic rival for Orlando though does boost Tampa Bay’s chances. A second Florida team might be strategic to gaining market share in this state for MLS and also cutting into the higher television ratings in this state for European and International football than MLS. Additionally, MLS may not want to have five teams in California and just one in Florida, so it is possible Tampa Bay will jump San Diego or Sacramento on that basis.
This is a long and fluid process and tonight’s referendum does give St Petersburg a boost but as of now, they remain on the outside looking in to the MLS party.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-edwards-referendum-winning-87-percent-vote/
Bill Edwards’ Tampa Bay Rowdies referendum cruises to victory; wins with more than 87 percent support
Mitch Perry
St. Petersburg voters are well on their way to allowing city officials negotiate a 25-year lease with Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards to expand Al Lang Field capacity from its current 7,000 seating structure to 18,000.
With all 93 precincts reporting, the measure is cruising to victory, with 87 percent of residents voting “Yes” compared to 13 percent opposed.
A total of 24,589 voted in support of the measure, with only 3,628 against it; 28,217 ballots were cast in total.
Voter turnout was just under 17 percent — not shocking in a special election with just one issue on the ballot.
The soccer franchise needs that increase in seating capacity for eligibility to join Major League Soccer, the pre-eminent soccer league in America. Currently, the team plays in the United Soccer League.
The Rowdies are one of twelve soccer franchises hoping to join MLS within the next couple of years. The league is expected to announce two expansion teams before the end of 2017, and two more in the future. Construction would only move forward if the MLS chooses the Rowdies to join its league, followed up by a vote by the St. Petersburg City Council approving the expansion.
Although construction plans don’t call for expanding the stadium’s footprint, the St. Petersburg City Charter provides that any portion of the waterfront park property that is sold or leased for private use must be approved by the citizenry through a referendum.
“In approving this referendum, voters have not only expressed their support for a longer term agreement at Al Lang Stadium but have sent a strong message that St. Pete and the entire region are excited about the prospect of the Tampa Bay Rowdies joining MLS,” Mayor Rick Kriseman said minutes after polls closed.
“The Rowdies’ future in the Sunshine City has never been brighter.”
There was little-to-no organized opposition to the measure, in part because it’s not expected to cost taxpayers a cent. Edwards has said that his company would foot the entire $80 million expenditure to upgrade the stadium. Edwards also paid for the $271,000 tab for the referendum.
As part of the 11th biggest media market in the nation, the largest market currently not in the MLS, the Rowdies should get a good look from MLS officials. But Florida Squeeze editor Kartik Krishnaiyer, who writes about soccer, recently declared that Rowdies are not a slam dunk to be invited by MLS.
“On the surface, Tampa Bay is the best market for MLS to grab. But there are drawbacks,” Krishnaiyer writes. “Firstly, MLS might prefer being on the Tampa side of the bay rather than in St. Petersburg. Secondly, the Rowdies proposal for renovation and expansion of Al Lang Stadium is quite frankly substandard by MLS standards. This is despite the fact that the vista where the stadium sits would arguably be the best in the league. Thirdly, Edwards himself is a wild card, unpredictable and in a league whose image-consciousness is often over-the-top, Edwards may not be a clean fit in MLS. Fourthly, MLS would be smart to want a “war on I-4” but perhaps they are fearful the Rowdies would cut into Orlando City’s supporter base.”
That “wild-card” image of Edwards is centered around a legal case over his now-defunct mortgage company, Mortgage Investors Corp., accused of cheating veterans and the public in refinancing VA loans.
“He feels there’s no merit to it and that he’s a veteran himself and he fought in Vietnam and was wounded in the hospital for two years,” said Edwards surrogate and former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker last week at a Suncoast Tiger Bay event. “He believes he’s going to prevail.”
For more than a month, Baker has been making the rounds advocating for the referendum, a campaign that many speculate is a prelude for his own plans to challenge incumbent Kriseman for mayor later this year.
Photos of the Rowdies vote celebration, and renderings of the upgraded Al Lang, are courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rowdies:
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/bigstormbrewing/status/859552589331005440
Big Storm Brewing Co @BigStormBrewing
Cheers to the @TampaBayRowdies for getting one step closer to bringing @MLS to @StPeteFL! #Rowdies #StPete #MLS2StPete
4:38 PM - 2 May 2017
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http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/788104
Tampa Bay Rowdies Take Major Step in MLS Push as St. Petersburg Residents Vote In Favor of Al Lang Stadium Referendum
By Rowdies Communications, 05/02/17, 7:00PM EDT
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (May 2, 2017) – The Tampa Bay Rowdies took another important step towards bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, as St. Petersburg voters approved the Al Lang Stadium referendum by an overwhelming majority.
Residents of St. Petersburg came out in significant numbers to support #MLS2StPete and approve the referendum with 87 percent of the vote, which gives City Council the authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium.
“I am grateful to the citizens of St. Petersburg for passing this important referendum,” said Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards. “St. Petersburg is very protective of our incredibly valuable waterfront – as is appropriate. We have put together a stadium plan that enhances our downtown, is of a scale that is respectful to our waterfront and does not burden the taxpayers.”
The use agreement would allow Al Lang Stadium’s primary purpose to be the home field for a potential Major League Soccer team. The $80 million renovation and expansion will be privately funded and is contingent on being awarded an MLS franchise.
“This vote is clear confirmation that St. Petersburg wants and is ready for Major League Soccer,” said Edwards. “I want to specifically thank the City Administration and Council, the Chamber’s Rowdies Council and all of those Rowdies fans throughout our region who support this great effort.”
The Rowdies hosted a Victory Party at Al Lang Stadium on Tuesday night, where hundreds of fans showed up to celebrate another historic moment in Rowdies history.
"In approving this referendum, voters have not only expressed their support for a longer term agreement at Al Lang Stadium, but have sent a strong message that St. Pete and the entire region are excited about the prospect of the Rowdies joining MLS,” said City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. “The Rowdies’ future in the Sunshine City has never been brighter.”
After the results were made public, The Edwards Group President and former City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker took the stage to celebrate the victory.
“Today is a great day for St. Pete and Rowdies soccer,” said Baker. “The loud and clear message is that our city and region are enthused and ready for Major League Soccer.”
After receiving the positive news, St. Petersburg City Council Chairwoman Darden Rice expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of the election.
“I am thrilled with the outcome of the referendum,” said Rice. “This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our city. Our message to MLS is simple: we want you in St. Pete!”
The Tampa Bay Rowdies need your support as they continue their push to join Major League Soccer. Come out and fill the stands at our next home game on Saturday, May 13, when the Rowdies face Louisville City FC. For tickets, call (727) 222-2000 or click here.
https://www1.ticketmaster.com/event/0D005246F8BCAE84?CAMEFROM=CFC_TBROWDIES_WEB_WEBAD_ROWDIESADWEBPAGE
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/05/02/80-million-al-lang-stadium-upgrade-is-a-go-after.html
$80 million Al Lang Stadium upgrade is a go after crucial ballot win
The Tampa Bay Rowdies scored a major win in its quest to become a Major League Soccer team after St. Petersburg voters overwhelmingly approved 87 to 13 percent a referendum allowing the team to enter into a long-term lease with the city at its home, Al Lang Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://enr.votepinellas.com/FL/Pinellas/68824/186362/en/summary.html
Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections
ST. PETERSBURG
SPECIAL ELECTION REFERENDUM
MAY 2, 2017
Active Registered Voters: 168,145
Ballots Cast: 28,469
Voter Turnout: 16.93 %
Precincts Reported: 93 of 93
Website last updated 5/2/2017 7:57:32 PM EDT
Summary
Precincts Reporting
Voter Turnout
Unofficial Results
Municipality Opted out of Early Voting
Includes Mail Ballots
Does Not Include Provisional Ballots
City of St. Petersburg Referendum Question (Vote for 1)
Vote Type Summary
93 of 93 Precincts Reporting
Percent Votes
Yes
87.14% 24,750
No
12.86% 3,651
28,401
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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/05/02/st-pete-voters-give-rowdies-go-ahead-to-negotiate-new-al-lang-use-agreement/2847
St Pete Voters Give Rowdies Go-Ahead to Negotiate New Al Lang Use Agreement
May 2, 2017
by JAKE NUTTING
The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ campaign to move up to Major League Soccer continued to chug along on Tuesday as St. Petersburg residents voted to allow the team and city to negotiate a new 25-year use agreement for Al Lang Stadium. A longterm deal is a necessary part of the team’s proposal to privately fund an $80 million expansion of the venue in order to bring it up to MLS’s level.
Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards missed Tuesday’s election victory party at Al Lang due to medical leave to have a pacemaker installed, but he expressed his happiness with the result in a statement.
“I am grateful to the citizens of St. Petersburg for passing this important referendum,” said Edwards. “St. Petersburg is very protective of our incredibly valuable waterfront – as is appropriate. We have put together a stadium plan that enhances our downtown, is of a scale that is respectful to our waterfront and does not burden the taxpayers.”
Early polls indicated the referendum was expected to pass, though the recent setback for St. Louis’ MLS expansion effort in which the group’s stadium proposal was shot down in a narrow vote gave pause to even the most confident backer of Tampa Bay’s plan. Unlike Edwards’ bid, St. Louis’ group was seeking public funds for its stadium.
Tuesday’s result was overwhelmingly in favor of allowing the team to seek a new use agreement and move ahead with its MLS ambitions. 87 percent of just under 28,217 ballots cast approved the referendum.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and former Mayor — and current President of the Edwards Group — Rick Baker took the stage of Tuesday’s watch party to celebrate the referendum’s approval together.
“In approving this referendum, voters have not only expressed their support for a longer term agreement at Al Lang Stadium, but have sent a strong message that St. Pete and the entire region are excited about the prospect of the Rowdies joining MLS,” said Kriseman. “The Rowdies’ future in the Sunshine City has never been brighter.”
St. Petersburg’s City Council will still need to sign off on whatever deal the Rowdies and the Mayor’s office produces. Any deal reached would also be contingent on the team being awarded an MLS franchise. If the Rowdies are not one of the four expansion contenders selected, the planned renovations will not materialize and the use agreement will be nullified.
“I am thrilled with the outcome of the referendum,” said City Council Chairwoman Darden Rice. “This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our city. Our message to MLS is simple: we want you in St. Pete!”
A shovel ready stadium plan would give the Rowdies a leg up on many of their expansion competitors, though MLS will also evaluate other criteria when selecting its next two teams this year and then two more next year. The structure of the ownership group and a market’s dynamics to support the sport will also be considered. Edwards mentioned in January that he has held talks with a handful of investors — both local and out of state — about joining the ownership group, but the team has been quiet about the issue since. Edwards has stated that no matter who comes on board, he intends to remain the team’s principal owner.
MLS released the following stadium shortly after the referendum’s passage was official.
“We are pleased that the people of St. Petersburg support the Rowdies proposal to renovate Al Lang Stadium. Bill Edwards personally came to our offices in January to submit his expansion application and share his vision. With the passage of the stadium vote, we look forward to working with the Rowdies as they continue to pursue a Major League Soccer team for Tampa Bay.”
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/02/rebecca-lowe-nbc-sports-premier-league
How Rebecca Lowe went from England to become the US's face of football
The TV presenter, who fronts NBC’s Premier League coverage, tells Dave Caldwell about the challenges and rewards of her move across the Atlantic
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http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2017/5/1/st_petersburg_voters.html
St. Petersburg voters approve Al Lang Stadium expansion
By Al Ruechel, Anchor
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 02, 2017, 7:29 PM EDT
ST. PETERSBURG --
Voters in St. Petersburg approved a deal to expand downtown's Al Lang Stadium in hopes of attracting Major League Soccer.
Residents to vote on expansion for Al Lang Stadium
Those behind effort hope to land MLS team
Noise, traffic could be concern for some
City of St. Petersburg Special Election Referendum
For soccer fans, the vote is a no-brainer. An expanded stadium could be a life-line to join MLS. Rick Baker, former mayor and president of the Edwards Group, said it’s a win - win for the city.
"We've got the ownership group, we have an incredible media market, we've got a lot of fan support," he said. "And to go forward, you need a stadium and this is all about trying to get permission so that we can lease that space and build that stadium."
Voters approved a 25-year lease for Al Lang Stadium that would allow Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards and his group of investors to spend $80 million of their own money to renovate and increase seating for the former baseball stadium to 18,000.
Not everyone is a soccer fan, however, and some are worried about noise, traffic, even the ownership group.
"I'd love to see the expansion of that stadium, especially at someone else's expense and not taxpayers, but I have very limited faith in this ownership group," said resident Vince Cocks.
Under the proposal, Al Lang Stadium's capacity would increase to 18,000.
That's why the Edwards Group has pushed so hard to win over the skeptics.
“Once people have the opportunity to see the plan, to hear us talk about it and respond to the plan, as I said before, the vast majority of the people will be for it," Baker said.
Edwards won't be taking part, at least immediately, in any celebration. He is taking medical leave for a pacemaker operation. He said he hopes to be back and ready to push for MLS expansion soon.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/05/02/one-of-st-petes-most-popular-downtown-restaurants.html
One of St. Pete's most popular downtown restaurants expands across the bay
May 2, 2017, 11:23am EDT Updated May 2, 2017, 11:26am EDT
Industries & Tags
Food & Lifestyle
Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Senior Reporter
Tampa Bay Business Journal
A downtown St. Petersburg restaurant known for its creative menu and avant garde cocktails is planning a second location in suburban Tampa.
The Mill, which opened on St. Pete's Central Avenue in 2015, will open in Brandon later this summer. The restaurant is taking 4,000 square feet at 109 W. Bloomingdale Ave., in a strip center end cap that has been home to a number of shuttered restaurants, including Sluggers Neighborhood Bar & Grill and Big Belly Burgers.
The restaurant will have 180 seats, with 150 inside and 30 outside.
“When people talk about good restaurants in the Bay area, they mention South Tampa, St. Petersburg and Seminole Heights," Jason Griffin, The Mill managing partner, said in a statement. "However, we think that Brandon and their rapidly expanding population deserve the very best and we plan on bringing our passion for food and craft cocktails there."
Griffin and chef Ted Dorsey describe their menu as "rustic Americana," with a focus on seasonal ingredients and craft cocktails. The restaurant was honored by Florida Trend's Golden Spoon awards.
Its current dinner menu features appetizers like southern fried frog legs and a made-in-house charcuterie plate that features octopus bacon and espresso venison pastrami. (There are less adventurous choices as well, like watermelon and feta bruschetta and blue crab croquettes.)
“People instantly bond over food, and when they go out to a restaurant, they want all their senses to come alive," Dorsey said. "I love when I step out of the kitchen and see the smiles and good times from all our patrons in the dining room. It is the connection between people and food that keeps us motivated to do what we do every day."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/bill-edwards%E2%80%99-tampa-bay-rowdies-referendum-cruises-victory-wins-more-87-percent-support
Bill Edwards’ Tampa Bay Rowdies referendum cruises to victory; wins with more than 87 percent support
SaintPetersBlog
May 2, 2017 - 7:06pm
St. Petersburg voters are well on their way to allowing city officials negotiate a 25-year lease with Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards to expand Al Lang Field capacity from its current 7,000 seating structure to 18,000.
With all 93 precincts reporting, the measure is cruising to victory, with 87 percent of residents voting “Yes” compared to 13 percent opposed.
Full Story: http://saintpetersblog.com/rowdies-edwards-referendum-winning-87-percent-vote/
(Follow link for full article.)
http://saintpetersblog.com/tampa-bay-rowdies-hosting-referendum-watch-party-al-lang/
Tampa Bay Rowdies hosting Referendum Watch Party at Al Lang
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.newstalkflorida.com/featured/rowdies-hope-for-a-win-at-the-polls-tonight-then-maybe-mls-expansion-soon/
Rowdies hope for a win at the polls tonight then maybe MLS expansion soon
(Follow link for full article.)
http://wfla.com/2017/05/02/st-pete-voting-on-rowdies-stadium-expansion-tuesday/
St. Pete voting on Rowdies stadium expansion Tuesday
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/turnout-very-light-for-rowdies-vote-in-st-pete/2322436
Turnout very light for Rowdies vote in St. Pete
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tbreporter.com/sports-and-recreation/rowdies-score-victory-st-pete-voters/
Rowdies Score Victory with St. Pete Voters
A whopping 87 percent of voters agreed to allow the Tampa Bay Rowdies to renovate and expand Al Lang Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://wfla.com/2017/05/02/al-lang-stadium-to-be-expanded-after-referendum-vote-passes/
Voters approve Al Lang Stadium referendum, Rowdies take step toward MLS franchise bid
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2017/05/02/voters-approve-rowdies-mls-stadium-referendum/101221838/
Voters approve Rowdies' MLS stadium referendum
Monday, May 1, 2017
Stadium issues goes to voters
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/251978012-story
Stadium issues goes to voters
By: FOX 13 News staff
Posted:May 01 2017 06:29PM EDT
Updated:May 01 2017 06:29PM EDT
ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - People living in St. Petersburg will help decide whether Major League Soccer will make its way to the bay area.
A special city wide election will be held Tuesday to allow city council to negotiate a 25 year lease for the Tampa Bay Rowdies to control and renovate Al Lang Stadium.
It would modernize and more than double the size of the current stadium.
Rowdies owner Bill Edwards has a lot on the line, he’s even covering the cost of tomorrow’s special election—which costs $280,000.
Stadium renovations, which will cost a lot more than that, will also be paid for by the team – and not tax payers.
MLS is looking to expand two four new cities and Tampa Bay is the largest television market MLS isn’t already in.
People living in St. Pete can vote at their normal polling location tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihwkiXTU-eg
Rowdies' Celebrity Lookalikes
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on May 1, 2017
Find out which famous celebrities the Rowdies think they look like!
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/787534
USL Power Rankings – Week 6
Undefeated San Antonio retains top spot, Louisville sits close behind
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https://www.facebook.com/Unusedsubspod/photos/a.358253711006015.1073741829.356617531169633/774290486069000/?type=3&theater
The Unused Substitutes
NEWS: Tampa Bay Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards has taken a medial leave to have a pacemaker installed. Will miss tomorrow night's referendum watch party.
"I'm very sad to miss the election night celebration," Edwards said. "But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly; ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://thetacomaledger.com/opinion-soccers-rise-popularity-exciting-watch/
Opinion: Soccer’s rise in popularity is exciting to watch
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http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/05/01/fc-cincinnati-moves-up-the-charts-in-mls-expansion.html
FC Cincinnati moves up the charts in MLS expansion race
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http://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2017/5/1/15510484/when-will-we-see-division-alignment
When will we see division alignment?
Some ideas for how the MLS will be revamped into separate divisions
(Follow link for full article.)
https://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/05/01/atlanta-united-surpasses-seattle-sounders-kings-mls-home-attendances/
Atlanta United surpasses Seattle Sounders as kings of MLS attendances
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http://www.caltimes.org/3545/opinion/does-the-mls-have-a-chance-in-pittsburgh/
Does the MLS have a chance in Pittsburgh?
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2017/5/1/15495294/2017-usl-eastern-conference-elo-power-rankings-week-6-charleston-battery-top-team-ratings
2017 USL Eastern Conference Elo Power Rankings — Week 6
It’s that time again, folks! We’re here to tell you which teams are hot and which are not.
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/morning-watch-live-coverage-of-paul-mccartney-ticket-sales-trump-touts-his/2322250
Morning watch: Live coverage of Paul McCartney ticket sales; Trump touts his new health plan; SpaceX launches spy satellite; food editor gives Instacart a spin
FLORIDA GOP COULD PICK OFF HIGH PROFILE MAYOR
Bill Edwards Group president Rick Baker spoke to the Tampa Bay Tiger Bay Club luncheon last week, promoting Tuesday's election asking voters to let city leaders negotiate a long-term lease for an expanded waterfront stadium if the Tampa Bay Rowdies become a Major League Soccer franchise. The former mayor would not bite on questions about running for mayor again, but he is receiving loads of encouragement and many of his allies expect he will decide to take on incumbent Rick Kriseman.
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/tampa-bay-rowdies-owner-bill-edwards-takes-medical-leave-before-tuesdays/2322295
Tampa Bay Rowdies' owner Bill Edwards takes medical leave before Tuesday's vote
Times staff
Monday, May 1, 2017 2:21pm
ST. PETERSBURG — Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards announced Monday that he will take a "brief" medical leave of absence to have a pacemaker installed. That news came a day before city voters were to vote on a measure that could bolster the Rowdies' chances of landing a Major League Soccer expansion franchise.
"I'm very sad to miss the election night celebration," said Edwards in a statement released Monday by the Rowdies organization. "But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly — ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort."
ROWDIES REFERENDUM: Tampa Bay Rowdies' vote breaks mold of past waterfront spats in St. Petersburg
Edwards Group president Rick Baker, a former mayor of St. Petersburg, said Edwards voted via the mail once ballots were available. Baker said he did not know how long Edwards will be out.
Edwards is hoping that when St. Petersburg voters go to the polls they will vote to allow city officials to negotiate a 25-year lease with the Rowdies. Edwards and his investors, in turn, would then spend up to $80 million to expand and upgrade Al Lang Stadium, more than doubling its capacity to 18,000 seats.
This effort is being done with an eye toward convincing MLS to award an expansion franchise to St. Petersburg either this year or in the coming years. MLS is looking to add two expansion franchises this year and two more in the coming years. The City Council would have final say over any agreement the city makes with the Rowdies.
The polls open to residents at 7 a.m. Tuesday at 60 locations and close at 7 p.m. No early voting was offered. To find your polling place, go online to votepinellas.com.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-st-petersburg-voters-should-back-soccer-referendum/2322321
Editorial: St. Petersburg voters should back soccer referendum
Monday, May 1, 2017 5:07pm
More than 23,000 St. Petersburg voters already have cast ballots in today's referendum on allowing the city to negotiate a long-term lease for a new waterfront stadium if the Tampa Bay Rowdies win a Major League Soccer franchise. Rowdies owner Bill Edwards would pay for the expansion franchise and an 18,000-seat stadium on the Al Lang Stadium site, and there is no downside to allowing this effort to move forward. City voters who have yet to cast ballots should go to the polls today and send a strong signal that St. Petersburg wants an MLS franchise.
Even with a favorable vote, MLS in Tampa Bay isn't a lock. St. Petersburg is competing with about a dozen cities for four new franchises, and a "yes'' vote on the stadium would strengthen the Rowdies' bid. Edwards proposes building an $80 million stadium on the existing footprint of Al Lang using only private money. The design preserves open views of the water, does not disrupt existing streets and is similar in height to neighboring Mahaffey Theater. The ballot language guarantees no public money would go toward the new stadium or the purchase of an MLS franchise, estimated at $150 million. As required by the City Charter for long-term leases on public waterfront land, voters are being asked to authorize the city to enter into an agreement of up to 25 years to make Al Lang the home field for an MLS team. If St. Petersburg is not awarded a franchise, no stadium would be built.
Edwards and his staff ran an inclusive campaign to win residents' support and address concerns in the run-up to the vote. Parking, noise and light pollution from games and other events at the new stadium are genuine quality of life issues to downtown residents. The team has cited a parking study that identified nearly 5,000 public parking spaces available downtown after the stadium fills up during a home game. The stadium design uses directional lighting and sound technology to limit the impact on neighbors. Popular events like the Saturday Morning Market and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg would be protected. There is no significant organized opposition to this idea, only some questions, such as how many non-soccer events would be held in the stadium. Fine-tuning those and other details will fall to city officials in negotiating the lease, another crucial step in this process that would need approval by six of eight City Council members.
Edwards' plans for the Rowdies are ambitious but viable. Home games now draw about 5,500 fans per game, and attendance has risen steadily since Edwards bought the team in 2013. The Rowdies have carved a niche among Tampa Bay sports fans whose attention and dollars are already in high demand with three other major league sports franchises in the area.
Now part of the United Soccer League, the Rowdies are vying to join the top tier of U.S. professional soccer. Their potential move also presents an exciting opportunity for St. Petersburg that would enhance the city's treasured downtown waterfront. Voter approval would send a strong signal that the region is ready for Major League Soccer.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sportstalkflorida.com/soccer/tampa-bay-rowdies/rowdies-mls-status-may-get-boost-voters/
Rowdies MLS Status May Get A Boost From Voters
By Evan Weiner -
May 1, 2017
St. Petersburg voters may have a big say in the future of the soccer team.
Soccer is now a part of the permanent sports landscape of the United States with leagues and national teams and in fact, the American women’s team is one of the strongest squads in the world. But there is still a state of flux as soccer seeks a niche. Major League Soccer seems firmly established but none of the individual franchise owners have made any money on their teams. Jonathan Kraft, the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has turned his attention to the family’s other business, Major League Soccer and that league’s expansion process. Jonathan Kraft, whose family owns the New England Revolution, is reviewing now 11 applications that Major League Soccer has received to see if any of the proposals work well enough to fill four slots that have been allocated for the expansion. That would take the number of teams in a league in its two-decade existence to 28.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://saintpetersblog.com/eve-tampa-bay-rowdies-vote-owner-bill-edwards-announces-hes-getting-pacemaker/
On eve of Tampa Bay Rowdies vote, owner Bill Edwards announces he’s getting a pacemaker
Peter Schorsch
During his presentation to the Suncoast Tiger Bay club last week, former Mayor Rick Baker was asked what would happen to the Tampa Bay Rowdies aggressive plans for the future if ‘Bill Edwards died?”
It was meant to be rhetorical.
Yet on the eve of the crucial vote to give Al Lang Field an extended lease with the Rowdies – essential for St. Petersburg to attract a Major League Soccer franchise – Edwards announced he will be undergoing surgery to install a pacemaker.
“I’m very sad to miss the election night celebration,” Edwards said in a brief statement Monday. “But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly – ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort.”
If (or when) the referendum passes – the measure faces nearly universal support, and scant opposition – Edwards would pick up the tab for construction and expansion of Al Lang, which is estimated at around $80 million.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://malden.wickedlocal.com/news/20170501/photos-boston-city-fc-opens-season-with-draw
PHOTOS: Boston City FC opens season with draw
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http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/sports/2017/05/01/tim-dibisceglie-mine-hill-gill-st-bernards/101049206/
DiBisceglie finding his way in pro soccer
Jim Hague, Correspondent 5:56 a.m. ET May 1, 2017
Although he finished his collegiate soccer career at the University of Scranton last fall, Tim DiBisceglie was certain that his career was not over.
The Mine Hill resident was determined to prove that he was destined for a life in professional soccer.
After "a couple of good years" with the Electric City Shock, the 22-year-old DiBisceglie kept the faith and believed that some professional team would offer him an opportunity to play.
That opportunity came in the form of a tryout with the expansion Philadelphia Atoms of the American Soccer League.
The Atoms were a fixture in the old North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1973 through 1976, but folded after the before the 1977 season. In honor of the 40th anniversary of that team, owners decided to bring back the Atoms for this season in the ASL and start fresh with newcomers like DiBisceglie, a former defender at Scranton.
“I went to the tryout and made the first cut, then the second cut,” said DiBisceglie, who played high school soccer at Gill St. Bernard’s. “Once I made it through the second cut, we were down to about 30 players. I felt pretty confident and comfortable that I was going to make the team.”
The Atoms, who train in Pitman and play their home games at Arcadia University just outside of Philadelphia, lost their first two games of the season to Massachusetts United and Maryland.
“I felt good to be out there,” DiBisceglie said. “I felt comfortable and relaxed. It felt like any other game for me. I had fun out there.”
About a third of the team is players fresh from college, like DiBisceglie, who helped Scranton win the Landmark Conference championship last fall and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. There are only two players over the age of 30.
“It’s exciting to be out there with a new team and a new coach (George Gunn),” said DiBisceglie, who can play both center midfield and center back. “I didn’t have any expectations. I just went out there to have fun and I did. It was a lot of fun being part of a new team.”
Gunn, a 26-year-old from England, also serves as the team’s general manager. He saw DiBisceglie at a tryout and came away impressed.
“He had good technique,” Gunn said. “His ability on the ball was good. He was a little part of the puzzle that we could work with. ... His size and composure on the ball helps him tremendously. The league’s mission statement is to help young American soccer players to get a chance to play at a higher level. It was up to us to find them and give them experience. That’s what we wanted with Tim.”
DiBisceglie has to complete two more semesters to earn his degree in early and primary teacher education, with a minor in coaching. He aspires to become a first- or second-grade teacher and coach.
“Hopefully, I’ll have a few offers,” DiBisceglie said. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. ... It’s awesome being able to continue my career. I’m able to keep playing at a high level and I plan on doing that for as long as I can.”
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/05/01/cheat-sheet-verything-you-need-to-know-about.html
Cheat sheet: Everything you need to know about Tuesday's Rowdies vote
St. Petersburg voters will decide Tuesday whether or not to let the city move forward on long-term lease negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rowdies to accommodate an $80 million renovation to the team’s home at Al Lang Stadium.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2017/05/01/orlando-city-is-quickly-becoming-one-of-the-top-sides-in-mls/
Orlando City is quickly becoming one of the top sides in MLS
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https://twitter.com/UnusedSubsPod/status/859064755012685824
Unused Substitutes
@UnusedSubsPod
NEWS: #Rowdies Owner Bill Owner is taking medical leave to have pacemaker installed.
8:19 AM - 1 May 2017
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/68mk11/game_5_rowdies_home_attendance_thread_429_vs/
Game 5: Rowdies Home Attendance Thread [4/29 vs. Richmond] (self.TampaBayRowdies)
Hello all. Many of you know...I'm a total attendance nerd. I post on a few subreddits and on Twitter. It's just always been interesting to me, as it is one of the most public gauges of relevance and financial stability.
This is the only place that I track it a little differently. For the others I just focus on averages, but here I look at game by game to see how we are tracking. For this particular season, it's going to present a bit of an issue. Historically, because of the NASL split season we would experience a bump in the Spring Finale and the Home Opener. Game 5 would have been our Spring Finale last year. Game 6 is going to look even worse as it was our 4th of July Flo-Rida game in 2016 and in 2017 it's going to be a run of the mill mid-season game. We are also accumulating home games at a rapid clip (probably due to our nice weather in the Spring vs. those in colder climates) - our schedule is very much front loaded compared to prior years (perhaps leading to some level of schedule fatigue).
All of that said, comparison to last year is going to probably look rough for a bit, and I actually do think we are behind the pace even with those considerations in play. Will a successful referendum and increased media coverage help us out? Here's hoping.
Gm Date Opp '17 Attn USL Avg % vs USL '16 Attn % Cml Growth
1 3/25 OCB 7,710 *4,806 +60.4% 5,740 +34.3%
2 4/1 TFC2 4,326 *3,923 +10.3% 4,429 +18.4%
3 4/8 OTT 5,310 *4,311 +23.2% 5,948 +7.6%
4 4/22 CHS 5,016 *3,451 +45.4% 6,702 -2.0%
5 4/29 RIC 4,829 *4,829 0.0% 6,078 -5.9%
Avg 5,438 4,273 5,779
Total 27,191 371,720 28,897
% Cml Growth: Year-over-year running season total growth (cumulative)
*Average-to-date, not all teams have played comp home games
TEAM AVERAGES (YTD)
Rnk Team HGP Avg Attn High Low
1 FCC 3 19,608 23,144 15,244
2 SAC 2 11,569 11,569 11,569
3 LOU 3 8,038 9,074 6,758
4 SAFC 3 6,898 8,074 6,217
5 PHX 3 6,794 7,162 6,330
6 OTT 1 6,502 6,502 6,502
7 RGV 4 6,378 7,820 5,481
8 RIC 4 5,541 8,021 1,567
9 TBR 5 5,438 7,710 4,326
10 RNO 3 5,001 5,691 4,430
11 STL 3 4,827 5,566 4,107
12 OKC 2 4,466 5,899 3,032
13 TUL 3 4,242 4,952 3,015
14 CHS 4 3,464 6,563 2,421
15 BTS 4 3,042 3,102 2,976
16 PIT 4 2,884 3,352 2,513
17 ROC 2 2,700 3,459 1,941
18 HAR 2 2,639 3,264 2,013
19 COS 3 2,254 3,249 1,482
20 SLC 3 *2,044 2,316 1,771
21 T2 4 2,043 2,602 1,226
22 OCB 4 1,590 2,741 1,008
23 LAG2 3 1,573 2,225 977
24 CLT 2 1,539 2,048 1,030
25 S2 4 1,003 1,115 952
26 SPR 3 878 1,060 572
27 NYRB2 3 641 806 396
28 TFC2 1 525 525 525
29 WFC2 3 516 738 403
30 OCSC 0 – – –
*Missing information, not all games reported as of yet
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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/04/30/tbrvric-player-ratings/2833
#TBRvRIC Player Ratings
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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/04/29/the-bench-volume-2-issue-5/2796
The Bench: Volume 2 Issue 5
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https://www.soccernation.com/soccernation-exclusive-ziggy-korytoski-and-albion-pros-back-on-track-part-1/
SoccerNation Exclusive: Ziggy Korytoski and Albion Pros back on track (Part 1)
Oh how strange this beautiful game can be.
Albion Pros, the San Diego based National Premier Soccer League side in their second year of competitive operations, breezed through 2016 with barely a dent notched against them on their way to the national quarterfinals. 2017 has been a little different.
Through six league matches, Albion Pros had won just two and lost four, this after not losing a single regular season contest in 2016. Their record saw them in 7th place in the nine team Southwestern Conference, just above perennial doormats Corinthians USA and City of Angels FC.
But it wasn’t just the wins and losses that were troubling. Albion had scored just seven goals in those six matches, finding the back of the net proving to be a mighty struggle for a team loaded with attacking talent. Four of those goals came in a season opening win against Oxnard Guerreros! In the subsequent five NPSL matches, Albion won just once and scored a measly three goals.
These numbers were drawing quite a bit of attention, and certainly had to be on the minds of players and coaches anxious to turn the tides and get the club back to meeting expectations.
This past Saturday, it was just what the doctor orderes, as Albion Pros got off the schneid with a hard fought 2-1 victory over SoCal SC in San Bernardino. The win sees the Pros shoot back up to 5th place in the conference on nine points, just one point back of Temecula in the fourth and final playoff spot with 11 matches to go.
Upon the team’s return to San Diego, we caught up with Albion Pros Head Coach Ziggy Korytoski, discussing the much needed win, the early season struggles, and the upcoming US Open Cup match against Chula Vista FC.
Here’s Part 1 of the conversation.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/04/29/most-watched-soccer-games-on-us-tv-for-april-17-23-2017/
Most-watched soccer games on US TV for April 17-23, 2017
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/tampa-bay-rowdies-major-league-soccer-hopes-rest-with-st-petersburg-voters/2322337
Tampa Bay Rowdies' Major League Soccer hopes rest with St. Petersburg voters
Charlie Frago, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 4:25am
ST. PETERSBURG — Voters on Tuesday will head to their local precincts and vote on a referendum that could bolster the chances that Major League Soccer comes to the city, and the Tampa Bay region.
The special referendum is being held to determine whether city officials should negotiate a 25-year lease with Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards to operate the iconic Al Lang Stadium on the city's waterfront.
Edwards wants the longterm lease so that he and his partners can launch an $80 million upgrade and expansion of the stadium, enlarging it to 18,000 seats, to help bring an MLS team to the city. The lease would be executed if MLS awards a franchise to St. Petersburg. The City Council would have final approval of the deal.
MLS is expected to add two expansion franchises this year and then two more next year. St. Petersburg is one of a dozen cities vying to join the soccer league.
Edwards and former mayor Rick Baker, who has acted as spokesman for the effort, say they wanted an early vote to signal the city's support for the MLS bid before league officials make their decision. Edwards announced Monday that he will take a "brief" medical leave of absence to have a pacemaker installed.
"I'm very sad to miss the election night celebration," said Edwards in a statement released Monday by the Rowdies organization. "But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly — ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort."
No organized opposition has emerged. Downtown residents mostly like the fact that the stadium will keep the same footprint with added seating section no higher than the neighboring Mahaffey Theater. And the fact that Edwards promises to pay tens of millions out of his own pocket for the stadium upgrades has also received a warm welcome.
Others fear a parking crunch and light and noise problems. Baker has said a city study shows ample parking downtown and the team plans to use LED lights to minimize glare.
The MLS bid has received strong support from businesses and Mayor Rick Kriseman, who might well face Baker in a mayoral election this year, has also said an MLS team would be a boost for the city.
To find your precinct, go to votepinellas.com. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. As of Monday evening, voters had turned in 23,902 mail ballots, or 34 percent of all the mail ballots that had gone out, for the special referendum.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-south-pinellas/st-petersburg/st-pete-voters-set-to-decide-on-rowdies-stadium-expansion
St. Pete voters set to decide on Rowdies stadium expansion
First step towards Major League Soccer
Rodney Dunigan
5:46 AM, May 2, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - One local minor league sports team is hoping to be added to Major League Soccer. The first step however is in the hands of local voters.
The owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Bill Edwards spent nearly 300-thousand dollars of his own money for Tuesday's special referendum vote.
Edwards is pushing for a 25-year lease to expand and upgrade the stadium.
He and investors would spend 80-million dollars to make those improvements, including doubling seating capacity.
It's all being done in the hope that Major League Soccer will award St. Pete an expansion team in the next few years.
If this were to happen it could be a big plus for the city and businesses to have another pro sports team in town, especially considering the future of the Tampa Bay Rays is still up in the air.
There's still a question on the Rays will be moving to Hillsborough county or possibly somewhere else in Pinellas.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://stpetedna.org/spdna-letter-major-league-soccer-supporting-mls2stpete/
St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association
SPDNA Letter to Major League Soccer Supporting #MLS2STPETE
By SPDNA - Site Editor March 10, 2017 News & Views
mls2stpete
The St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association Board of Directors, representing one of the largest and fastest growing downtown districts in all of Florida, wishes to express our enthusiastic support for the #MLS2STPETE campaign.
Download the full letter:
DNA Rowdies MLS Letter[278]
About #MLS2STPETE:
http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/mls2stpete
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have applied for a Major League Soccer franchise for St. Petersburg. Their proposal includes an upgrade and expansion of Al Lang Field to be financed with no public money. The Tampa Bay Times story has more details. (http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/kriseman-rowdies-mls-proposal-a-better-fit-for-st-petersburg-waterfront/2308396)
The City Charter requires that any lease/use agreement of waterfront property longer than five years be subject to a referendum. On May 2 the voters of St. Petersburg will be asked to approve the Mayor negotiating such a lease/use agreement with the Rowdies. Please note that this vote is simply to allow the negotiations to begin; it is not a vote on either the Rowdies proposal or the lease/use agreement itself. Mail ballots will be distributed late-March/early-April. We support a YES vote on the referendum.
The SPDNA has made it clear to the Rowdies and the Mayor and Council that any lease/use agreement must recognize the legitimate concerns of the downtown residents regarding potential noise, parking issues, etc. The lease/use agreement will be subject to public comment and will require Council approval.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://saintpetersblog.com/new-morean-arts-ceo-says-st-petersburg-hidden-gem-american-arts-world/
New Morean Arts CEO says St. Petersburg ‘hidden gem’ in American arts world
Mitch Perry
Michael Killoren, new CEO of the Morean Arts Center
Michael Killoren can’t wait to begin his gig as new CEO of the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg. The six-year veteran of the National Endowment for the Arts starts at the community-based arts organization June 1.
Killoren’s appointment was announced in March, right around the time President Donald Trump called to eliminate the NEA in his first federal budget plan (as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and 16 other federal agencies).
“It’s a dynamic environment, and administrations come and go and change and have different priorities,” says Killoren, adding that he is still very much employed with the NEA. “More to the point, I think the agency does great work, and has great impact across the country, and we’ll just have to see how this plays out.”
As Killoren notes, different administrations have different priorities when it comes to funding the arts in America.
In 1981, Ronald Reagan hoped to eliminate the NEA, and Newt Gingrich attempted to kill it again in 1995 after the Republicans took over both the U.S. House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. Although neither were successful, on both occasions the NEA’s budget was slashed.
Over its history, the NEA has seen a varying range of annual budgets — from just under $3 million in 1966 to $176 million in 1992. Currently, the Endowment’s annual appropriation is just under $148 million.
In 2017, the Morean Arts Center celebrates its 100th anniversary in St. Petersburg, with yearlong celebrations. The organization offers adult programs, kids’ programs, family programs, early childhood programs, and summer camp programs and outreach programs geared toward youth, many at risk.
“It does amazing work,” says Killoren on how the Morean connects people in the community with arts, printmaking, drawing, photography, glass blowing, writing and ceramics.
“I think organizations like this are more important than ever because I think everyone should have access to an opportunity to engage in an expressive life, and that’s what this organization does,” says Killoren, who says that in a way it’s a return to his roots in “hyper-localism.”
Before his 2010 hire at the NEA, Killoren worked in Seattle as director of the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Prior to that, he spent three and a half years as part of the programming staff at the Sheldon Arts Foundation in St. Louis.
He has a B.A. in Media Arts from Webster University in St. Louis, and completed graduate studies in telecommunications at Indiana University, Bloomington.
Killoren loves St. Pete, and considers it a “hidden gem.”
Regarding the city’s seven different art districts, he’s not sure the story is widely known “what a great arts city this is.”
Until a few years ago Killoren didn’t know much about the city, he says, when he visited St. Petersburg with his husband: “We were just blown away by what we saw.”
http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/251978012-story
Stadium issues goes to voters
By: FOX 13 News staff
Posted:May 01 2017 06:29PM EDT
Updated:May 01 2017 06:29PM EDT
ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - People living in St. Petersburg will help decide whether Major League Soccer will make its way to the bay area.
A special city wide election will be held Tuesday to allow city council to negotiate a 25 year lease for the Tampa Bay Rowdies to control and renovate Al Lang Stadium.
It would modernize and more than double the size of the current stadium.
Rowdies owner Bill Edwards has a lot on the line, he’s even covering the cost of tomorrow’s special election—which costs $280,000.
Stadium renovations, which will cost a lot more than that, will also be paid for by the team – and not tax payers.
MLS is looking to expand two four new cities and Tampa Bay is the largest television market MLS isn’t already in.
People living in St. Pete can vote at their normal polling location tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihwkiXTU-eg
Rowdies' Celebrity Lookalikes
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on May 1, 2017
Find out which famous celebrities the Rowdies think they look like!
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http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/787534
USL Power Rankings – Week 6
Undefeated San Antonio retains top spot, Louisville sits close behind
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https://www.facebook.com/Unusedsubspod/photos/a.358253711006015.1073741829.356617531169633/774290486069000/?type=3&theater
The Unused Substitutes
NEWS: Tampa Bay Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards has taken a medial leave to have a pacemaker installed. Will miss tomorrow night's referendum watch party.
"I'm very sad to miss the election night celebration," Edwards said. "But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly; ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort."
(Follow link for full article.)
http://thetacomaledger.com/opinion-soccers-rise-popularity-exciting-watch/
Opinion: Soccer’s rise in popularity is exciting to watch
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http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/05/01/fc-cincinnati-moves-up-the-charts-in-mls-expansion.html
FC Cincinnati moves up the charts in MLS expansion race
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http://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2017/5/1/15510484/when-will-we-see-division-alignment
When will we see division alignment?
Some ideas for how the MLS will be revamped into separate divisions
(Follow link for full article.)
https://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/05/01/atlanta-united-surpasses-seattle-sounders-kings-mls-home-attendances/
Atlanta United surpasses Seattle Sounders as kings of MLS attendances
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.caltimes.org/3545/opinion/does-the-mls-have-a-chance-in-pittsburgh/
Does the MLS have a chance in Pittsburgh?
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http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2017/5/1/15495294/2017-usl-eastern-conference-elo-power-rankings-week-6-charleston-battery-top-team-ratings
2017 USL Eastern Conference Elo Power Rankings — Week 6
It’s that time again, folks! We’re here to tell you which teams are hot and which are not.
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/morning-watch-live-coverage-of-paul-mccartney-ticket-sales-trump-touts-his/2322250
Morning watch: Live coverage of Paul McCartney ticket sales; Trump touts his new health plan; SpaceX launches spy satellite; food editor gives Instacart a spin
FLORIDA GOP COULD PICK OFF HIGH PROFILE MAYOR
Bill Edwards Group president Rick Baker spoke to the Tampa Bay Tiger Bay Club luncheon last week, promoting Tuesday's election asking voters to let city leaders negotiate a long-term lease for an expanded waterfront stadium if the Tampa Bay Rowdies become a Major League Soccer franchise. The former mayor would not bite on questions about running for mayor again, but he is receiving loads of encouragement and many of his allies expect he will decide to take on incumbent Rick Kriseman.
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/tampa-bay-rowdies-owner-bill-edwards-takes-medical-leave-before-tuesdays/2322295
Tampa Bay Rowdies' owner Bill Edwards takes medical leave before Tuesday's vote
Times staff
Monday, May 1, 2017 2:21pm
ST. PETERSBURG — Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards announced Monday that he will take a "brief" medical leave of absence to have a pacemaker installed. That news came a day before city voters were to vote on a measure that could bolster the Rowdies' chances of landing a Major League Soccer expansion franchise.
"I'm very sad to miss the election night celebration," said Edwards in a statement released Monday by the Rowdies organization. "But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly — ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort."
ROWDIES REFERENDUM: Tampa Bay Rowdies' vote breaks mold of past waterfront spats in St. Petersburg
Edwards Group president Rick Baker, a former mayor of St. Petersburg, said Edwards voted via the mail once ballots were available. Baker said he did not know how long Edwards will be out.
Edwards is hoping that when St. Petersburg voters go to the polls they will vote to allow city officials to negotiate a 25-year lease with the Rowdies. Edwards and his investors, in turn, would then spend up to $80 million to expand and upgrade Al Lang Stadium, more than doubling its capacity to 18,000 seats.
This effort is being done with an eye toward convincing MLS to award an expansion franchise to St. Petersburg either this year or in the coming years. MLS is looking to add two expansion franchises this year and two more in the coming years. The City Council would have final say over any agreement the city makes with the Rowdies.
The polls open to residents at 7 a.m. Tuesday at 60 locations and close at 7 p.m. No early voting was offered. To find your polling place, go online to votepinellas.com.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-st-petersburg-voters-should-back-soccer-referendum/2322321
Editorial: St. Petersburg voters should back soccer referendum
Monday, May 1, 2017 5:07pm
More than 23,000 St. Petersburg voters already have cast ballots in today's referendum on allowing the city to negotiate a long-term lease for a new waterfront stadium if the Tampa Bay Rowdies win a Major League Soccer franchise. Rowdies owner Bill Edwards would pay for the expansion franchise and an 18,000-seat stadium on the Al Lang Stadium site, and there is no downside to allowing this effort to move forward. City voters who have yet to cast ballots should go to the polls today and send a strong signal that St. Petersburg wants an MLS franchise.
Even with a favorable vote, MLS in Tampa Bay isn't a lock. St. Petersburg is competing with about a dozen cities for four new franchises, and a "yes'' vote on the stadium would strengthen the Rowdies' bid. Edwards proposes building an $80 million stadium on the existing footprint of Al Lang using only private money. The design preserves open views of the water, does not disrupt existing streets and is similar in height to neighboring Mahaffey Theater. The ballot language guarantees no public money would go toward the new stadium or the purchase of an MLS franchise, estimated at $150 million. As required by the City Charter for long-term leases on public waterfront land, voters are being asked to authorize the city to enter into an agreement of up to 25 years to make Al Lang the home field for an MLS team. If St. Petersburg is not awarded a franchise, no stadium would be built.
Edwards and his staff ran an inclusive campaign to win residents' support and address concerns in the run-up to the vote. Parking, noise and light pollution from games and other events at the new stadium are genuine quality of life issues to downtown residents. The team has cited a parking study that identified nearly 5,000 public parking spaces available downtown after the stadium fills up during a home game. The stadium design uses directional lighting and sound technology to limit the impact on neighbors. Popular events like the Saturday Morning Market and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg would be protected. There is no significant organized opposition to this idea, only some questions, such as how many non-soccer events would be held in the stadium. Fine-tuning those and other details will fall to city officials in negotiating the lease, another crucial step in this process that would need approval by six of eight City Council members.
Edwards' plans for the Rowdies are ambitious but viable. Home games now draw about 5,500 fans per game, and attendance has risen steadily since Edwards bought the team in 2013. The Rowdies have carved a niche among Tampa Bay sports fans whose attention and dollars are already in high demand with three other major league sports franchises in the area.
Now part of the United Soccer League, the Rowdies are vying to join the top tier of U.S. professional soccer. Their potential move also presents an exciting opportunity for St. Petersburg that would enhance the city's treasured downtown waterfront. Voter approval would send a strong signal that the region is ready for Major League Soccer.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sportstalkflorida.com/soccer/tampa-bay-rowdies/rowdies-mls-status-may-get-boost-voters/
Rowdies MLS Status May Get A Boost From Voters
By Evan Weiner -
May 1, 2017
St. Petersburg voters may have a big say in the future of the soccer team.
Soccer is now a part of the permanent sports landscape of the United States with leagues and national teams and in fact, the American women’s team is one of the strongest squads in the world. But there is still a state of flux as soccer seeks a niche. Major League Soccer seems firmly established but none of the individual franchise owners have made any money on their teams. Jonathan Kraft, the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has turned his attention to the family’s other business, Major League Soccer and that league’s expansion process. Jonathan Kraft, whose family owns the New England Revolution, is reviewing now 11 applications that Major League Soccer has received to see if any of the proposals work well enough to fill four slots that have been allocated for the expansion. That would take the number of teams in a league in its two-decade existence to 28.
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http://saintpetersblog.com/eve-tampa-bay-rowdies-vote-owner-bill-edwards-announces-hes-getting-pacemaker/
On eve of Tampa Bay Rowdies vote, owner Bill Edwards announces he’s getting a pacemaker
Peter Schorsch
During his presentation to the Suncoast Tiger Bay club last week, former Mayor Rick Baker was asked what would happen to the Tampa Bay Rowdies aggressive plans for the future if ‘Bill Edwards died?”
It was meant to be rhetorical.
Yet on the eve of the crucial vote to give Al Lang Field an extended lease with the Rowdies – essential for St. Petersburg to attract a Major League Soccer franchise – Edwards announced he will be undergoing surgery to install a pacemaker.
“I’m very sad to miss the election night celebration,” Edwards said in a brief statement Monday. “But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly – ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort.”
If (or when) the referendum passes – the measure faces nearly universal support, and scant opposition – Edwards would pick up the tab for construction and expansion of Al Lang, which is estimated at around $80 million.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://malden.wickedlocal.com/news/20170501/photos-boston-city-fc-opens-season-with-draw
PHOTOS: Boston City FC opens season with draw
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http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/sports/2017/05/01/tim-dibisceglie-mine-hill-gill-st-bernards/101049206/
DiBisceglie finding his way in pro soccer
Jim Hague, Correspondent 5:56 a.m. ET May 1, 2017
Although he finished his collegiate soccer career at the University of Scranton last fall, Tim DiBisceglie was certain that his career was not over.
The Mine Hill resident was determined to prove that he was destined for a life in professional soccer.
After "a couple of good years" with the Electric City Shock, the 22-year-old DiBisceglie kept the faith and believed that some professional team would offer him an opportunity to play.
That opportunity came in the form of a tryout with the expansion Philadelphia Atoms of the American Soccer League.
The Atoms were a fixture in the old North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1973 through 1976, but folded after the before the 1977 season. In honor of the 40th anniversary of that team, owners decided to bring back the Atoms for this season in the ASL and start fresh with newcomers like DiBisceglie, a former defender at Scranton.
“I went to the tryout and made the first cut, then the second cut,” said DiBisceglie, who played high school soccer at Gill St. Bernard’s. “Once I made it through the second cut, we were down to about 30 players. I felt pretty confident and comfortable that I was going to make the team.”
The Atoms, who train in Pitman and play their home games at Arcadia University just outside of Philadelphia, lost their first two games of the season to Massachusetts United and Maryland.
“I felt good to be out there,” DiBisceglie said. “I felt comfortable and relaxed. It felt like any other game for me. I had fun out there.”
About a third of the team is players fresh from college, like DiBisceglie, who helped Scranton win the Landmark Conference championship last fall and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. There are only two players over the age of 30.
“It’s exciting to be out there with a new team and a new coach (George Gunn),” said DiBisceglie, who can play both center midfield and center back. “I didn’t have any expectations. I just went out there to have fun and I did. It was a lot of fun being part of a new team.”
Gunn, a 26-year-old from England, also serves as the team’s general manager. He saw DiBisceglie at a tryout and came away impressed.
“He had good technique,” Gunn said. “His ability on the ball was good. He was a little part of the puzzle that we could work with. ... His size and composure on the ball helps him tremendously. The league’s mission statement is to help young American soccer players to get a chance to play at a higher level. It was up to us to find them and give them experience. That’s what we wanted with Tim.”
DiBisceglie has to complete two more semesters to earn his degree in early and primary teacher education, with a minor in coaching. He aspires to become a first- or second-grade teacher and coach.
“Hopefully, I’ll have a few offers,” DiBisceglie said. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. ... It’s awesome being able to continue my career. I’m able to keep playing at a high level and I plan on doing that for as long as I can.”
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http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/05/01/cheat-sheet-verything-you-need-to-know-about.html
Cheat sheet: Everything you need to know about Tuesday's Rowdies vote
St. Petersburg voters will decide Tuesday whether or not to let the city move forward on long-term lease negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rowdies to accommodate an $80 million renovation to the team’s home at Al Lang Stadium.
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http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2017/05/01/orlando-city-is-quickly-becoming-one-of-the-top-sides-in-mls/
Orlando City is quickly becoming one of the top sides in MLS
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https://twitter.com/UnusedSubsPod/status/859064755012685824
Unused Substitutes
@UnusedSubsPod
NEWS: #Rowdies Owner Bill Owner is taking medical leave to have pacemaker installed.
8:19 AM - 1 May 2017
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/68mk11/game_5_rowdies_home_attendance_thread_429_vs/
Game 5: Rowdies Home Attendance Thread [4/29 vs. Richmond] (self.TampaBayRowdies)
Hello all. Many of you know...I'm a total attendance nerd. I post on a few subreddits and on Twitter. It's just always been interesting to me, as it is one of the most public gauges of relevance and financial stability.
This is the only place that I track it a little differently. For the others I just focus on averages, but here I look at game by game to see how we are tracking. For this particular season, it's going to present a bit of an issue. Historically, because of the NASL split season we would experience a bump in the Spring Finale and the Home Opener. Game 5 would have been our Spring Finale last year. Game 6 is going to look even worse as it was our 4th of July Flo-Rida game in 2016 and in 2017 it's going to be a run of the mill mid-season game. We are also accumulating home games at a rapid clip (probably due to our nice weather in the Spring vs. those in colder climates) - our schedule is very much front loaded compared to prior years (perhaps leading to some level of schedule fatigue).
All of that said, comparison to last year is going to probably look rough for a bit, and I actually do think we are behind the pace even with those considerations in play. Will a successful referendum and increased media coverage help us out? Here's hoping.
Gm Date Opp '17 Attn USL Avg % vs USL '16 Attn % Cml Growth
1 3/25 OCB 7,710 *4,806 +60.4% 5,740 +34.3%
2 4/1 TFC2 4,326 *3,923 +10.3% 4,429 +18.4%
3 4/8 OTT 5,310 *4,311 +23.2% 5,948 +7.6%
4 4/22 CHS 5,016 *3,451 +45.4% 6,702 -2.0%
5 4/29 RIC 4,829 *4,829 0.0% 6,078 -5.9%
Avg 5,438 4,273 5,779
Total 27,191 371,720 28,897
% Cml Growth: Year-over-year running season total growth (cumulative)
*Average-to-date, not all teams have played comp home games
TEAM AVERAGES (YTD)
Rnk Team HGP Avg Attn High Low
1 FCC 3 19,608 23,144 15,244
2 SAC 2 11,569 11,569 11,569
3 LOU 3 8,038 9,074 6,758
4 SAFC 3 6,898 8,074 6,217
5 PHX 3 6,794 7,162 6,330
6 OTT 1 6,502 6,502 6,502
7 RGV 4 6,378 7,820 5,481
8 RIC 4 5,541 8,021 1,567
9 TBR 5 5,438 7,710 4,326
10 RNO 3 5,001 5,691 4,430
11 STL 3 4,827 5,566 4,107
12 OKC 2 4,466 5,899 3,032
13 TUL 3 4,242 4,952 3,015
14 CHS 4 3,464 6,563 2,421
15 BTS 4 3,042 3,102 2,976
16 PIT 4 2,884 3,352 2,513
17 ROC 2 2,700 3,459 1,941
18 HAR 2 2,639 3,264 2,013
19 COS 3 2,254 3,249 1,482
20 SLC 3 *2,044 2,316 1,771
21 T2 4 2,043 2,602 1,226
22 OCB 4 1,590 2,741 1,008
23 LAG2 3 1,573 2,225 977
24 CLT 2 1,539 2,048 1,030
25 S2 4 1,003 1,115 952
26 SPR 3 878 1,060 572
27 NYRB2 3 641 806 396
28 TFC2 1 525 525 525
29 WFC2 3 516 738 403
30 OCSC 0 – – –
*Missing information, not all games reported as of yet
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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/04/30/tbrvric-player-ratings/2833
#TBRvRIC Player Ratings
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http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2017/04/29/the-bench-volume-2-issue-5/2796
The Bench: Volume 2 Issue 5
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https://www.soccernation.com/soccernation-exclusive-ziggy-korytoski-and-albion-pros-back-on-track-part-1/
SoccerNation Exclusive: Ziggy Korytoski and Albion Pros back on track (Part 1)
Oh how strange this beautiful game can be.
Albion Pros, the San Diego based National Premier Soccer League side in their second year of competitive operations, breezed through 2016 with barely a dent notched against them on their way to the national quarterfinals. 2017 has been a little different.
Through six league matches, Albion Pros had won just two and lost four, this after not losing a single regular season contest in 2016. Their record saw them in 7th place in the nine team Southwestern Conference, just above perennial doormats Corinthians USA and City of Angels FC.
But it wasn’t just the wins and losses that were troubling. Albion had scored just seven goals in those six matches, finding the back of the net proving to be a mighty struggle for a team loaded with attacking talent. Four of those goals came in a season opening win against Oxnard Guerreros! In the subsequent five NPSL matches, Albion won just once and scored a measly three goals.
These numbers were drawing quite a bit of attention, and certainly had to be on the minds of players and coaches anxious to turn the tides and get the club back to meeting expectations.
This past Saturday, it was just what the doctor orderes, as Albion Pros got off the schneid with a hard fought 2-1 victory over SoCal SC in San Bernardino. The win sees the Pros shoot back up to 5th place in the conference on nine points, just one point back of Temecula in the fourth and final playoff spot with 11 matches to go.
Upon the team’s return to San Diego, we caught up with Albion Pros Head Coach Ziggy Korytoski, discussing the much needed win, the early season struggles, and the upcoming US Open Cup match against Chula Vista FC.
Here’s Part 1 of the conversation.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/04/29/most-watched-soccer-games-on-us-tv-for-april-17-23-2017/
Most-watched soccer games on US TV for April 17-23, 2017
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/tampa-bay-rowdies-major-league-soccer-hopes-rest-with-st-petersburg-voters/2322337
Tampa Bay Rowdies' Major League Soccer hopes rest with St. Petersburg voters
Charlie Frago, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 4:25am
ST. PETERSBURG — Voters on Tuesday will head to their local precincts and vote on a referendum that could bolster the chances that Major League Soccer comes to the city, and the Tampa Bay region.
The special referendum is being held to determine whether city officials should negotiate a 25-year lease with Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards to operate the iconic Al Lang Stadium on the city's waterfront.
Edwards wants the longterm lease so that he and his partners can launch an $80 million upgrade and expansion of the stadium, enlarging it to 18,000 seats, to help bring an MLS team to the city. The lease would be executed if MLS awards a franchise to St. Petersburg. The City Council would have final approval of the deal.
MLS is expected to add two expansion franchises this year and then two more next year. St. Petersburg is one of a dozen cities vying to join the soccer league.
Edwards and former mayor Rick Baker, who has acted as spokesman for the effort, say they wanted an early vote to signal the city's support for the MLS bid before league officials make their decision. Edwards announced Monday that he will take a "brief" medical leave of absence to have a pacemaker installed.
"I'm very sad to miss the election night celebration," said Edwards in a statement released Monday by the Rowdies organization. "But I expect a full recovery and to be back in shape and fully charged quickly — ready and excited for the continued MLS expansion effort."
No organized opposition has emerged. Downtown residents mostly like the fact that the stadium will keep the same footprint with added seating section no higher than the neighboring Mahaffey Theater. And the fact that Edwards promises to pay tens of millions out of his own pocket for the stadium upgrades has also received a warm welcome.
Others fear a parking crunch and light and noise problems. Baker has said a city study shows ample parking downtown and the team plans to use LED lights to minimize glare.
The MLS bid has received strong support from businesses and Mayor Rick Kriseman, who might well face Baker in a mayoral election this year, has also said an MLS team would be a boost for the city.
To find your precinct, go to votepinellas.com. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. As of Monday evening, voters had turned in 23,902 mail ballots, or 34 percent of all the mail ballots that had gone out, for the special referendum.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-south-pinellas/st-petersburg/st-pete-voters-set-to-decide-on-rowdies-stadium-expansion
St. Pete voters set to decide on Rowdies stadium expansion
First step towards Major League Soccer
Rodney Dunigan
5:46 AM, May 2, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - One local minor league sports team is hoping to be added to Major League Soccer. The first step however is in the hands of local voters.
The owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Bill Edwards spent nearly 300-thousand dollars of his own money for Tuesday's special referendum vote.
Edwards is pushing for a 25-year lease to expand and upgrade the stadium.
He and investors would spend 80-million dollars to make those improvements, including doubling seating capacity.
It's all being done in the hope that Major League Soccer will award St. Pete an expansion team in the next few years.
If this were to happen it could be a big plus for the city and businesses to have another pro sports team in town, especially considering the future of the Tampa Bay Rays is still up in the air.
There's still a question on the Rays will be moving to Hillsborough county or possibly somewhere else in Pinellas.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://stpetedna.org/spdna-letter-major-league-soccer-supporting-mls2stpete/
St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association
SPDNA Letter to Major League Soccer Supporting #MLS2STPETE
By SPDNA - Site Editor March 10, 2017 News & Views
mls2stpete
The St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association Board of Directors, representing one of the largest and fastest growing downtown districts in all of Florida, wishes to express our enthusiastic support for the #MLS2STPETE campaign.
Download the full letter:
DNA Rowdies MLS Letter[278]
About #MLS2STPETE:
http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/mls2stpete
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have applied for a Major League Soccer franchise for St. Petersburg. Their proposal includes an upgrade and expansion of Al Lang Field to be financed with no public money. The Tampa Bay Times story has more details. (http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/kriseman-rowdies-mls-proposal-a-better-fit-for-st-petersburg-waterfront/2308396)
The City Charter requires that any lease/use agreement of waterfront property longer than five years be subject to a referendum. On May 2 the voters of St. Petersburg will be asked to approve the Mayor negotiating such a lease/use agreement with the Rowdies. Please note that this vote is simply to allow the negotiations to begin; it is not a vote on either the Rowdies proposal or the lease/use agreement itself. Mail ballots will be distributed late-March/early-April. We support a YES vote on the referendum.
The SPDNA has made it clear to the Rowdies and the Mayor and Council that any lease/use agreement must recognize the legitimate concerns of the downtown residents regarding potential noise, parking issues, etc. The lease/use agreement will be subject to public comment and will require Council approval.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://saintpetersblog.com/new-morean-arts-ceo-says-st-petersburg-hidden-gem-american-arts-world/
New Morean Arts CEO says St. Petersburg ‘hidden gem’ in American arts world
Mitch Perry
Michael Killoren, new CEO of the Morean Arts Center
Michael Killoren can’t wait to begin his gig as new CEO of the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg. The six-year veteran of the National Endowment for the Arts starts at the community-based arts organization June 1.
Killoren’s appointment was announced in March, right around the time President Donald Trump called to eliminate the NEA in his first federal budget plan (as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and 16 other federal agencies).
“It’s a dynamic environment, and administrations come and go and change and have different priorities,” says Killoren, adding that he is still very much employed with the NEA. “More to the point, I think the agency does great work, and has great impact across the country, and we’ll just have to see how this plays out.”
As Killoren notes, different administrations have different priorities when it comes to funding the arts in America.
In 1981, Ronald Reagan hoped to eliminate the NEA, and Newt Gingrich attempted to kill it again in 1995 after the Republicans took over both the U.S. House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. Although neither were successful, on both occasions the NEA’s budget was slashed.
Over its history, the NEA has seen a varying range of annual budgets — from just under $3 million in 1966 to $176 million in 1992. Currently, the Endowment’s annual appropriation is just under $148 million.
In 2017, the Morean Arts Center celebrates its 100th anniversary in St. Petersburg, with yearlong celebrations. The organization offers adult programs, kids’ programs, family programs, early childhood programs, and summer camp programs and outreach programs geared toward youth, many at risk.
“It does amazing work,” says Killoren on how the Morean connects people in the community with arts, printmaking, drawing, photography, glass blowing, writing and ceramics.
“I think organizations like this are more important than ever because I think everyone should have access to an opportunity to engage in an expressive life, and that’s what this organization does,” says Killoren, who says that in a way it’s a return to his roots in “hyper-localism.”
Before his 2010 hire at the NEA, Killoren worked in Seattle as director of the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Prior to that, he spent three and a half years as part of the programming staff at the Sheldon Arts Foundation in St. Louis.
He has a B.A. in Media Arts from Webster University in St. Louis, and completed graduate studies in telecommunications at Indiana University, Bloomington.
Killoren loves St. Pete, and considers it a “hidden gem.”
Regarding the city’s seven different art districts, he’s not sure the story is widely known “what a great arts city this is.”
Until a few years ago Killoren didn’t know much about the city, he says, when he visited St. Petersburg with his husband: “We were just blown away by what we saw.”
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