🎥 FULL HIGHLIGHTS of tonight's 4-1 @opencup victory over @TheVillagesSC. Mohamed Kone, Zach Steinberger, Brandon Allen and Leon Taylor all scored in the win. #USOC2019
New Tudors’ boss Moore acting quickly to bring in fresh faces
New Tudors' boss Sammy Moore's first signing Tosan Popo, right, with Hemel Hempstead Town chairman Dave Boggins.
Hemel Hempstead Town’s new manager Sammy Moore has wasted no time in bringing in fresh blood to the club.
The Tudors installed a new management team after the poor second-half of the season under now-ex-boss Joe Deeney.
Just a week after the 2018/19 season came to an end a fortnight ago, the club announced that Deeney would be leaving Vauxhall Road by mutual consent.
Hemel have replaced Deeney with the former Concord Rangers boss Sammy Moore, who is also bringing with him player-assistant manager Jack Midson.
And Moore has moved quickly to re-shape the set-up at Hemel, with one new player and an addition to the backroom staff brought to Vauxhall Road in his first week at the helm.
Joining Hemel from Concord Rangers is 26-year-old Tosan Popo, who is equally at home either as a full back or midfielder.
Popo’s previous clubs include Charlton Athletic, where he signed his first professional contract, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies during a spell in the US in 2017.
Rowdies offer free admission for fans to begin U.S. Open Cup play
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - The Tampa Bay Rowdies opening match in the nationwide Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will be free for fans to attend tonight
The match against The Villages SC takes place tonight at 7 p.m.
Gates at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg will open at 6 p.m. No reserved tickets are necessary to attend. Fans should enter at the midfield gate on 1st Street southeast. All other gates will be closed.
Seating is based on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The U.S. Open Cup features all leagues and levels of professional teams in the United States, including Major League Soccer. In 2013, the Rowdies stunned the Seattle Sounders of MLS, 1-0 in the tournament's fourth round.
Reno 1868 FC's Hertzog Voted to USL Team of the Week
Reno 1868 FC forward Corey Hertzog has been voted to the USL Team of the Week for the second week in a row.
D – Pape Diakite, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Diakite recorded four interceptions and seven clearances and won 8 of 9 duels and 7 of 7 aerials as the Rowdies posted a shutout road win against Nashville SC.
City commissions update to 2011 sports study for guidance on moving forward
SAN ANTONIO - By this fall, local officials should have an updated version of a pro sports study to help guide them as they consider pursuing new franchises and stadiums.
A 2011 study showed Major League Soccer and Triple A baseball were San Antonio's best options, ahead of the NFL and Major League Baseball. The window for obtaining an MLS franchise appears to have closed with Austin landing a franchise. Meanwhile, the Missions are playing their first year in Triple A, although their quest for a new stadium continues.
"Our economy is rolling. Wages are rising. The strength of what would bring professional sports to San Antonio has grown," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. "We want to see the landscape of what professional sports means to San Antonio. what our prospects are in terms of how this community would be able to support different sports leagues."
Speedway Motorsports makes public $60M pitch to bring NASCAR to Fairgrounds
Speedway Motorsports went public Tuesday on a potential $60 million renovation project at the Nashville Fairground to bring NASCAR back to the historic racetrack.
The group has been courting Mayor David Briley's administration for months to clear a way for Nashville to hold a NASCAR race on the fairground campus, which is also the home of the new Major League Soccer stadium. Talks have gone on behind closed doors, keeping the public and the Metro Board of Fair Commissioners in the dark.
After a terse request last month from commissioners for Speedway Motorsports to "bring a real proposal to the table," the group made its first public pitch Tuesday, showing initial insight on renovation ideas.
"We're not here to sell you guys on racing in Nashville. We just believe we can help take the racing to the next level," said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president of Bristol Motor Speedway.
“We believe we can create a guest experience like nowhere else in the country with soccer and racing co-existing and offer an unparalleled experience."
EL PASO NEEDS AN OUTDOOR STADIUM AND NOT A DOWNTOWN ARENA
I was having a conversation this morning with an expert in the sports and entertainment world. We discussed some local topics and then, I brought up the downtown arena. There has been little movement in 2019 on the $180 million project, which passed in the 2012 Quality of Life Bond Election. That is when this expert suggested to me that we replace the downtown arena with an outdoor multipurpose facility. I was intrigued, to say the least. The more we talked, the more it made sense for all the right reasons.
Summer is right around the corner and the El Paso Locomotive FC are two months into their inaugural season in the United Soccer League. The team is playing its home matches at Southwest University Park, the home of the El Paso Chihuahuas. The stadium's grounds crew has done a magnificent job getting it ready for both baseball and soccer. However, the Locomotive's home is supposed to be temporary until a new soccer specific stadium is built. Instead of hassling over the location, cost, and completion date of the new stadium, El Paso's political difference makers can do something smart to solve these problems and at the same time, address a separate dilemma that has plagued the city for years.
2019 USOC Pick'em: On the Eve of Round 2 (DEADLINE: Tue 5/14 6 PM ET)
Alright, this is /u/WJMorris3 speaking on behalf of the US Open Pick'em.
Unlike the U.S. Soccer Federation, when we have an announcement about the Open Cup Pick'em, we do not decide to delay it by a day because we're too busy polishing our trophy.
As of right now, we have 102 people who have submitted their picks for Round 2, 79 of which have admitted to playing the first round. That means we have a few stragglers who haven't submitted their entries yet. (Don't make me have to invoke picking the house way, I'd rather you submit your picks!)
23 players have stated that they are new. Welcome! New players are always welcome! We don't want new players to start from scratch, so we're scoring them "the house way" for Round 1. What this means is that we give credit for the 4 USL League One teams to win, as well as the 7 Open Division teams that beat other Open Division teams at home, at 5 points per (half credit). That's 55 points, so all new players start with 55 points.
The subreddit competition might be getting fiercer in the coming days; I'm hearing rumors that at least one subreddit has committed to offering a prize to their top entrant when all is said and done.
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to leave a message on the post in /r/USOC_PickEm - I'll be sure to catch it there.
One last catch: the deadline. Pick'em rules dictate that picks have to be in by one hour before the first game of the round. For Round 1, that's TUESDAY, MAY 14 at 6:00 PM ET. Entries will not be accepted after that time.
Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
DANNY SZETELA WAS TOUTED AS A STAR-IN-THE-MAKING EVEN BEFORE HE SIGNED WITH A PRO TEAM. NOW, AFTER FIGHTING BACK FROM SERIOUS INJURIES THAT THREATENED HIS CAREER, THIS SON OF POLISH IMMIGRANTS TALKS TO USSOCCER.COM ABOUT THE OPEN CUP & SECOND CHANCES.
AN EVANGELIST FOR THE U.S. OPEN CUP & ITS UNDERDOG OPPORTUNITIES, ERIC WYNALDA NOW FINDS HIMSELF ON THE SIDE OF THE FAVORITE, WHEN HIS NEW CLUB LAS VEGAS LIGHTS PLAY HOST TO CAL FC, THE AMATEUR TEAM HE INSPIRED TO GLORIOUS GIANT-KILLING HEIGHTS IN 2012.
A humbling loss helped lead to Rowdies hot start to this season
(WFLA) The Tampa Bay Rowdies enter Tuesday night's second round U.S. Open Cup match as the favorite to beat The Villages SC of USL League Two. If the Rowdies are victorious in their next two cup matches, they will enter the stage with clubs from Major League Soccer.
But through ten games of the USL Championship without a defeat, the Rowdies will take nothing for granted. It was nearly one year ago to the day that a favored Rowdies team travelled to Jacksonville to face lower division NPSL team, the Jacksonville Armada, in round two. The Rowdies were sent home with a 1-0 defeat.
"Last year, how the team was, we were kind of broken." forward Sebastian Guenzatti said. " We were still trying to fix our team together, new players."
The Rowdies were in the midst of a downward spiral in the first half of their regular season. The loss to Jacksonville marked a moment of sudden change. Head Coach Stuart Campbell was dismissed the following day. And two days after playing in the loss, defender Neill Collins was taken from the field and promoted to head coach.
"That's not the way you want to finish your career," Collins said. "Definitely wasn't the most enjoyable night. But again, what it did was put me in this position."
The position Collins is in, is architect of a complete turnaround. The Rowdies made mulitple roster moves to finish the 2018 season on a positive note, just missing a playoff spot in the USL Eastern Conference. This year, five wins and five draws to start the 2019 campaign. The Rowdies are the lone unbeaten team in the league's top division, the USL Championship.
On Tuesday, the Rowdies will face a team from USL League Two, the third division. The Villages advanced last week with a thrilling first round victory over another League Two opponent, the Lakeland Tropics. They know what happened to the Rowdies in this game last year as well. And Al Lang Stadium will be on upset alert.
"We know we have a very highly motivated team coming here tomorrow night," Colins said. "One that we'll pay our respect."
"As we showed the first ten games of the league, we've been doing very good," Guenzatti said. "We have something special going on and I think that the U.S. Open Cup is our chance to prove what kind of team we are."
Tuesday's game at Al Lang Stadium is free to attend. Gates open at 6:00 pm and is is not necessary to print out or pick up tickets. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm.
Has MLS expansion come at the expense of the league's established teams?
The league is spreading its reach across North America. But some believe MLS and its owners have forgotten about clubs who helped build the league in the first place
Joe Henderson: Mayor Castor has a big-picture view of Rays stadium issue
If the Rays are serious about staying, stop playing both sides of the bay against each other and get this done.
People in the stands during the sixth inning of the Tampa Bay Rays game against the Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field in April.
The success the Tampa Bay Rays enjoy on the field doesn’t translate at the box office. That’s not exactly stop-the-presses news. As we know — and man, do we know — the Rays are in their normal...
The 1-0 victory pulls Tampa Bay into a first-place tie in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference.
Tampa Bay Rowdies fans cheer on their team before the start of the first half at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday, March 24, 2018.
NASHVILLE -- The Rowdies moved into a tie for first place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference and tied a club record with a 1-0 road victory over Nashville SC on Wednesday night.
Alright, this is /u/WJMorris3 speaking on behalf of the US Open Pick'em.
162 people entered the Pick'em in the first round. Now, the second round is on us, and the USL Championship teams have entered the tournament.
Because there are 25 teams in USL Championship, for "star team" purposes we've divided them into the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. So you'll be picking two teams as stars. Same rules apply as for the Open Division - 250 for being the last standing in the conference; 500 for being the last USL Championship team standing.
22 games this time around; at 20 points per, that's 440 points available. We've got four bonus paths available: USL East, USL West, USL League One/Two, and NPSL/LQ. (We've combined because there are only 4 League One teams left and 4 NPSL teams left, and by rule, there has to be at least five teams in a grouping to qualify for bonuses.) They collect at 40/70/100 points, so the highest possible score is 840 points for the round.
New players are always welcome! We don't want new players to start from scratch, so we're scoring them "the house way" for Round 1. What this means is that we give credit for the 4 USL League One teams to win, as well as the 7 Open Division teams that beat other Open Division teams at home, at 5 points per (half credit). That's 55 points, so all new players start with 55 points. "The house way" will also be used to score players who forget to submit for this week: All "star teams" get picked at full score; then we're picking the USL Championship team to win at half score (home team if they're both USL-C teams.)
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to leave a message on the post in /r/USOC_PickEm - I'll be sure to catch it there.
One last catch: the deadline. Pick'em rules dictate that picks have to be in by one hour before the first game of the round. For Round 1, that's TUESDAY, MAY 14 at 6:00 PM ET. Entries will not be accepted after that time.
Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
There were a lot of great overall performances from key impact players on the Rowdies against a talented Nashville club. A less focused club would've been torn up by Belmar's playmaking on the right side but having Fernandes who plays a lot of quality defense was instrumental in earning another shutout. If Fernandes wasn't making stops, Diakite had the box covered so that McCarthy one again only had to face limited action. Most shots that came at McCarthy came outside the box.
One point of emphasis in this game that the Rowdies really zeroed in on was winning balls in the air. Instead of getting outmuscled and outdueled on long balls, the Rowdies were the domineering force in winning balls in the air, in their own box, and winning 50/50 balls throughout the game. Positioning was a big factor where the Rowdies were cutting off passing lanes and not allowing Nashville to make any consistent possession on offense.
The Rowdies offense had moments that looked promising but outside of Guenzatti winning a 50/50 ball and passing off to Fernandes who missed a close shot, the Rowdies best offensive chances came off of set pieces. The goal obviously came off a well-designed set piece and Fernandes put a shot on target.
Fernandes continues to be the point man on offense so it's no surprise his dribbling impact remains a negative as his many attempts to create space to pass will end in turnovers on several occasions. His passing ability, while not elite, is still the heart and soul of the Rowdies offense and he's been one of the few guys who can create multiple chances per game even if he didn't create many against Nashville.
Tinari and Guenzatti were also quietly productive. The focus for those two going forward is to turn their positive passing and dribbling plays into goals.
I've also been impressed by Richards who has been very sound defensively. He's also been reeling it in on offense working on escaping pressure. He's still passing into too many turnovers but that'll be fixed with experience.
Congratulations to Stephen Cundiff for being named Rowdies Fan of the Year at this year's Tampa Bay Sports Commission's Sneaker Soiree. Thank you for all of your passion and support.
Can't wait for Birmingham, that's gonna be a great trip. The bonus is that I'm going to hit Barber Motorsports Park cause it's fkn motorcycle mecca in the States! And then the plan is to CHOO CHOO TRAIN for Charleston baby! We'll post details regarding that ASAP. I personally may not make it up for Louisville, but would be a fun trip as well I'm sure. Let's get a good turn out y'all!!! #MobFam
2019 USOC Pick'em: Round 1 Results! (We’re in 6th place...)
Currently sitting in sixth...we’ve had 9 entries from this sub. You can still enter in the later rounds (there’s more points at stake as we go on). So if you missed out on the first round, keep your eyes open for the next one!
ew rank 51 ugh lol
My bad, I was already on my way out to Auburndale when I saw the reminder thread
I posted it late, because I totally forgot. You can catch up though!
Tampa Bay Food Trucks
4901 W Rio Vista Ave,
Tampa, Florida 33634
Join us at our first ever Rowdies Game! We will have food trucks both inside and outside the stadium to help you pregame - and feed you during the game! Check out the food truck line up below -
Tampa Bay Rowdies May 18th
5pm-7:30pm Outside
Spontaneous Consumption
The Cheesesteak Truck
Lolis Mexican Food Truck
6:30pm-End of Match Inside
The Melt Machine Gourmet Grilled Cheese Food Truck
Tampa Bay Food Trucks
4901 W Rio Vista Ave,
Tampa, Florida 33634
Join us at our first ever Rowdies Game! We will have food trucks both inside and outside the stadium to help you pregame - and feed you during the game! Check out the food truck line up below -
Tampa Bay Rowdies May 18th
5pm-7:30pm Outside
Spontaneous Consumption
The Cheesesteak Truck
Lolis Mexican Food Truck
6:30pm-End of Match Inside
The Melt Machine Gourmet Grilled Cheese Food Truck
Egypt Lake-Leto › Tampa Bay Food Trucks › Food Trucks at Tampa Rowdies
Food Trucks at Tampa Rowdies
Last update 14/04/2019
RECURRING EVENT
May 18 Saturday 5:00 PM
Join us at our first ever Rowdies Game! We will have food trucks both inside and outside the stadium to help you pregame - and feed you during the game! Check out the food truck line up below -
Tampa Bay Rowdies VS Louiseville City April 13th TBA
Bryan Adams turns in youthful rock and roll celebration in St. Petersburg
You didn’t have to be a kid to rock at Al Lang Stadium.
Playing on a wide-open, expansive stage at the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer club, Adams and his solid four-piece band filled the stadium with good vibes while delivering a shot of mid-week rock and roll that obviously came as a welcome jolt to the many who sang, danced and savored the experience.
AUBURNDALE — Sukrija Dudic’s penalty kick got past Lakeland’s Joel Serrano as the Lakeland Tropics fell 2-1 (8-7) in penalty kicks, to the Villages SC in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matchup played at Lake Myrtle Sports Park.
The 105-year-old national soccer tournament pitting the country’s top amateur and pro teams against one another came to Polk for the first time Tuesday.
After 90 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods the game was knotted in a 1-1 tie.
Lakeland had actually dominated much of the game controlling the tempo and ball movement throughout, generating 18 corner kicks.
The Villages SC got on the scoreboard first when Danilo Suarez Seglio scored on a rebound shot at the 15:56 mark of the first half.
Serrano had stopped the first shot, but the rebound bounced directly to Seglio and he instinctively nailed the rebound into the net.
The Tropics had appeared to score at 22:02 but offsides was called nullifying the goal.
Lakeland then responded when Raheem Taylor-Parkes scored at 36:43 tying the game 1-1.
“The second half was very tough on the boys; you could really see the fatigue on both teams coming in,” said Lakeland coach Eoghan Conlon. The level and quality really dropped off on both sides in the end. We really had our chances to score tonight. To lose in penalty kicks; that is the way the sport goes and we just have to learn to deal with it. I am very happy with my players in how they worked their socks off. Their attitude, their desire was there. They will be disappointed but I am pleased with their effort.”
The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament with a field of 84 teams from amateur club level to Major League Soccer. According to U.S. Soccer, there are 52 professional teams in this year’s tournament and 32 Open Division amateur teams. The Tropics and The Villages are part of the USL League Two, a professional-development league for top amateur players.
It was the fourth straight year The Villages SC has qualified for the Cup, and the second year for Lakeland. The team lost its first-round 2018 game 3-0 in Midland, Texas.
The Villages will now advance to play the Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 14. The Rowdies are part of the USL Championship league, one step below Major League Soccer.
Alright, this is /u/WJMorris3 speaking on behalf of the US Open Pick'em.
This is our fourth year doing the Pick'em and when I say we've updated the prize list, I'm not kidding. $200 worth of Amazon gift cards are available for prizes ($75 for first, $50 for second, $25 for third; $10 each for the subreddit prize.)
Now the question is who is going to join /u/phat7deuce (2016), /u/kcdiamondback (2017), and /u/house352 (2018) in the Pantheon of Winners. And will another subreddit knock off /r/FCCincinnati, the two time defending champion of the subreddit contest?
So here's how this is going to work. Each round of the tournament, you'll submit your picks. To make things a bit interesting, we ask that you pick "star" teams along the way. These are the teams that you think will go furthest along the way. They're worth big points (up to 500 points each), but the catch is that you're not allowed to pick against them without permission.
Which brings us to the first round of the tournament. 19 games on the docket; each one's worth 10 points to start with, so 190 points available there. In addition, there are four bonus pools available, for picking correct answers in each of the four qualifying paths (USL1, USL2, NPSL, LQ). Picking 60%/80%/100% of the games available to each path is worth an additional 20/35/50 points, so the highest possible Round 1 score is 390 points.
Four "star" teams have to be picked this round too - one each from USL1, USL2, NPSL, and local qualifiers. For the latter three, having the last team left standing from those path is worth 250 points, with the last amateur team left worth a big 500 points. As for the USL1 teams, since that's the only group in Division III, last team standing is worth 500 points.
While I do plan on posting this thread in /r/MLS, /r/USLPRO, /r/USL1, /r/NPSL, /r/PDL, and /r/usopencup, that by no means is the only place that this thread is welcome. Bring it to your own team-related subreddits! Play as a team, and maybe you can bring glory to your subreddit!
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to leave a message on the post in /r/USOC_PickEm - I'll be sure to catch it there.
One last catch: the deadline. Pick'em rules dictate that picks have to be in by one hour before the first game of the round. For Round 1, that's TUESDAY, MAY 8 at 6:00 PM ET. Entries will not be accepted after that time.
Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
/u/WJMorris3
ROUND 1 FORM
OFFICIAL RULES
DAMMIT...I JUST SAW THIS...GET YOUR PICKS IN!!!!!!!
Picks are locked in. I made my decisions based on which team's name sounded cooler.
I don’t understand this reality we are living in, but I love it
I'm fairly perplexed myself. I don't feel at all confident like I did with Schaeffer, Cole, Collins, Hristov and Pickens (ahh the days....) But here we are... Unbeaten in first 10, and tied for highest point total in the Championship. (Most games as well so ties may come back to bite us, and Charlotte went on to lose to tie Hartford (just sayin)).
We're finally winning on the road, but I live in constant that we're still in the shitter....
So here's to the overachievers! Here's to the 2019 Rowdies!!
Set Piece Magic- The Rowdies have yet again found success in a gritty road game against a tough opponent. It's not a pretty formula or beautiful soccer by any judgment, but it's certainly effective. The Rowdies didn't have much an offensive flow all night long with a primarily defensive lineup on the pitch. Najem did a good job to earn a set piece in a dangerous position. Guenzatti who was the heart of the team offensively tonight played a beautiful headed pass across and Tejada took advantage. For a Rowdies team that's struggled to execute set piece plays through the years this was promising. This Rowdies team is more disciplined and reliant on their strategy and tactics rather than individual skill.
Nashville a team of individuals- There's much to be made about Nashville bringing in a number of prolific goal scorers including Rios, Lancaster, and Belmar. Having talent is always better than not, but getting that talent on the same page especially when there have been health struggles is tough. Belmar appeared to run most of the offense but struggled to create enough space to get a defensive breakdown. Belmar had the best chance at net and just couldn't put his early header on target. Rios couldn't even really get a play to set him up for a great chance.
A full 90 for the young guys- It's a testament to the team discipline and fitness and maturity that Collins can run Tejada, Richards, and Doherty for a full 90 and trust them to keep their energy up to hold a competitive squad to a 0 spot. Doherty doesn't play like an 18-year-old defensive midfielder. Watching him play, you imagine he's 27 and well within a holding midfielder role. He's not flashy or someone trying to do too much when on or off the ball. So far, he's played more composed than Oduro who's been more chaotic offensively and defensively. Oduro obviously more of an athletic presence has a leg up there.
Poku sighting and it wasn't promising- Kwadwo Poku made his first appearance of the season in mop-up duty. He quickly showed why he hasn't seen any playing time by botching some of his first touches, dribbling like a wooden block, and then playing an awful pass across the field that Guenzatti had to chase into the corner just to reach. Poku may be much more physically imposing than Tinari, but size doesn't matter if you can't dribble and pass the ball. Tinari also has bounds of energy. Poku's best chance to see significant playing time will be in the second round of the Open Cup.
Baby Bulls up next- After dispatching the Villages on Tuesday, the Rowdies will have their hands full with the surging Baby Bulls on the 18th. Top scorer Barlow was moved up to the first team so that's a positive.
After Opponents Withdraw Legal Challenge, Beckham Group Demolishes Lockhart Stadium
The Inter Miami CF Major League Soccer club hosted a demolition ceremony Wednesday to start tearing down Fort Lauderdale’s long-abandoned Lockhart Stadium.
Per this report, the Chicago Fire are paying $60.5 million to get out of the lease with Bridgeview. I will have a story later today with analysis. Obviously builds on previous reporting and is huge news.
If you think MLS 1.0 is dead I defy you to watch this video of Fernando Fiore screaming at the top of his lungs as an excavator destroys a modest plywood ticket shed while smoke bombs get popped in the foreground.
Major League Soccer faces challenges that mean it is unlikely to ever rival the European leagues for international interest, according to AS Roma’s American owner James Pallotta.
Speaking at the Sports Decision Makers Summit in Miami today, the Roma president and chairman said there were “limitations” on the league and that he would “probably be dead” before MLS emerged as a major global player.
While praising the work of Don Garber, Pallotta described MLS as a “nice local league”, whose fans prefer watching Premier League and Serie A matches during the day – and as such, he noted the threat of a possible European Super League to MLS’s growth.
“If we end up with a super league – and there are clearly discussions going on – a lot of those games will be played on weekends and I think that will make it difficult for MLS.”
Judge rules Beckham group can knock down Fort Lauderdale stadium
The ruling is a blow to losing bidder FXE Futbol, represented by Miami attorney David Winker
A judge denied a motion to stop David Beckham and his partners from demolishing Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and redeveloping it as a training facility and a temporary stadium for Inter Miami, their Major League Soccer team.
The order by Broward Circuit Judge Raag Singhal late Friday paved the way for demolition of the city-owned Lockhart Stadium by Miami Beckham United LLC, the owner of Inter Miami. Starting in 2020, the soccer team plans to play home games during its first two seasons at a new stadium on the site, next to the city-owned Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
The judge denied a motion for a temporary injunction filed by FXE Futbol LLC, a company that proposed spending $35 million to renovate the stadium for a professional soccer team in the United States Soccer Federation, or USS, a lesser league than the top-level MLS.
“I respect Judge Singhal very much, but disagree with his conclusions as to our right to temporary injunction, and will be appealing. We also look forward to continuing to pursue our underlying case,” David Winker, an attorney for FXE Futbol, said in a statement. Winker has also pursued legal action against the city of Miami over how it handled the Melreese stadium deal with Miami Beckham United.
Miami Beckham United made an unsolicited offer on Jan. 28 to design, build and occupy a replacement for Lockhart Stadium that would remain city-owned property and would serve as a temporary home stadium for the Inter Miami soccer team, also known as Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami.
Fort Lauderdale city commissioners voted Feb. 5 to issue a public notice that detailed the unsolicited proposal by Miami Beckham United and invited competing proposals for Lockhart Stadium. In a conference meeting on March 16, the commissioners unanimously rated Miami Beckham United’s proposal superior to one by FXE Futbol, which submitted the sole competing proposal.
At a commission meeting on April 2, Fort Lauderdale commissioners unanimously approved an interim agreement to allow Miami Beckman United to start redeveloping Lockhart Stadium while negotiating a comprehensive agreement.
John Shubin, Miami Beckham United’s lawyer, said in a statement that the judge’s decision confirms that the process “was both lawful and fair” and that the ownership group hopes “that we have seen the end of this meritless litigation.”
FXE Futbol sued April 15 to undo the city’s deal with Miami Beckham United, then filed a motion April 23 for a temporary injunction to prevent demolition of the stadium.
The company claimed in its lawsuit that the city of Fort Lauderdale skipped steps required by state law in selecting the stadium reconstruction plan by Miami Beckham United as its preferred proposal. For example, the city did not arrange for a third-party, professional review of the competing proposals.
But in his order denying the injunction, Judge Singhal wrote that FXE Futbol failed to provide “evidence of the likelihood that its proposal would have been ranked first if any such ‘professional review’ had been performed on the proposals.”
Miami Beckham United has been trying to build a permanent 25,000-seat stadium for Inter Miami as part of a $1 billion commercial complex called Miami Freedom Park, which would replace the city-owned Melreese golf course in Miami.
In late March, a ruling by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz preserved the outcome of a referendum last November, when 60 percent of Miami voters authorized the city government to negotiate a 99-year lease of the Melreese property to Miami Beckham United.
The Tampa Bay Rays are off to one of their best starts in franchise history. The one big issue is their lack of attendance at Tropicana Field. The Rays during the offseason made some upgrades to Tropicana Field. Of course, we know that baseball games are trying to turn into social events along with sporting. The Rays added some social gathering places like the one that was added in center field a year ago. This is still not helping the low attendance.
The Rays also finished last year with 90 wins. They have a very young fan base but a passionate one. I hear on local Tampa Bay radio just how much they love their team. Now is their loyalty being taken to lightly? Owner Stu Sternberg must figure out what to do about this. We all know as baseball fans that attendance is down league-wide. With technology, most fans can now watch the games at home on television or on a device of their choice. They can also pause those devices to go and use the restroom or grab food.
This is one aspect to make a fan stay home instead of making the trip to the ballpark. The issue with the Rays is this is a winning team as of late. They should not be having attendance issues. Sternberg lost his deal with Hillsborough County. Maybe he should investigate a place in St. Petersburg. The Rays as an organization just purchase the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Rowdies currently play in Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg.
This is a perfect location for a stadium that both teams can play in. Most fans do like the location of where Tropicana Field is located. There is not much around as far as entertainment. For example, across the bay, the Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik is rebuilding Channelside Drive the road that Amalie Arena is on. He wants to keep the fans entertain prior, during and after the Lightning games. Nevertheless, the attendance for the Tampa Bay Rays is now a severe problem with no solution. There will have to be something done soon than later.
What can the Tampa Bay Rays do to improve attendance? Leave a comment below.
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I lived in St. Pete for years. Great town. Still hard to keep bars and restaurants afloat on centraC.
The tickets are to expensive to good seats for a family.
First off, background I'm a big Montreal Impact fan from Ottawa and I'm in Florida for the next few years(I go to UCF). Anyways, I was there during preseason and it was great and I'm coming back in June to see my hometown team Ottawa Fury play y'all in probably their last USL season ;( But I have a few questions, sorry but maybe you could answer some:
Can I bring a 3 x 5 foot Canadian flag in? And could I bring it in on a 5 foot plastic pvc pole w zipties?
Best places to visit near Tampa area before game? (Beaches, themeparks, museums, fishing, anything cool really)
Where to tailgate/can I tailgate with the Mob? (I can bring cheese curds, all dressed chips and maybe even vegemite for the really adventurous.
Where is your away section/area where I can stand and chant and yell all game?
Good nightclubs or pubs for after the game?
Sorry for the long post, hopefully I get some help, good luck with your season and see y'all in June!
No guarantees right now, but I'll try and find out - should be okay though
Can't go wrong with any beach, Busch Gardens is in Tampa, The Dali Museum is right down the street from Al Lang - there's a ton to do in the area!
Best tailgating is in Lot A out front of the stadium - meet up with the Mob and Skyway Casuals there (and as the son of a woman from Sault Ste. Marie, definitely bring the all dressed chips!)
There really isn't a designated away section, unfortunately, but do all the standing/chanting/yelling wherever - 300-302 are across the pitch from the benches though
Just go for a stroll up Central Ave, you'll find a ton of spots!
For #1 - this is how the flags I’ve always brought in the past in are constructed. Usually you have a better chance of security not giving you grief if you use the Mob entrance, but I haven’t tested our flags on this new breed of security.
Yeah, haven't been to Dali Museum that looks awesome and very close, thanks. And I can definitely bring the Canadian foods, I'd bring Molson and some Labatt beer(but I'm 20 :/ ). Alright, no worries I guess I'll just sit at the top of a section far from the home supporters area. So central Ave is the big spot? Thanks, I only asked the pubs/club question because I'm trying to convince my girlfriend to go to a soccer game(she only likes hockey and rugby).
Tried a Vegemite sandwich in the Outback once.... It was saltier than Tampa Bay itself!
Is it a thing in Montreal??? Bring everything else!
Well, actually vegemite is an Ozzie thing and I have a ton of family in Australia
We have several of these types of queries that come from visiting fans every year; here's one from two years ago:
There's tons of things to do, places to visit; "near Tampa" is very broad; you have Busch Gardens and Lowry Park in Tampa and the various cigar-related things in Ybor City, but it's a half hour drive over the bridge from downtown Tampa to downtown St. Pete if there are no traffic delays, so that might not fit into your schedule.
In St. Pete/Pinellas County you have Fort De Soto Park if you like old coastal fortifications; there's the beaches on the Gulf side in St. Pete and Clearwater, there's Sunken Gardens in St. Pete just north of downtown, there's a ton of museums in downtown St. Pete, including the Salvador Dali Museum next to Al Lang Stadium, the Chihuly Collection on Central Avenue if you like art glass (also the Hot Shop across the street from the Chihuly Collection if you like watching glass blowing). There's the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, just north of Al Lang, also in the same area is the St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts and the St. Pete Museum of History.
In terms of food, there's a ton of places on Central Avenue and around Central Avenue; I like Bodega for Cuban/Caribbean food (their Cuban sandwich is good, but it isn't a traditional Tampa Cuban sandwich - no salami!); Central Melt for grilled cheese sandwiches and hand cut french fries; 2nd & Second for breakfast and lunch; Kahwa Coffee for coffee; lots of other recommended places I have not visited (Urban Comfort, King's Street Food, Red Mesa Mercado, Red Mesa Cantina, Engine Rose, Engine #9, Rococo Steak, The Avenue, Hofbrauhaus, etc.).
Lots and lots of brew pubs on and around Central Avenue: Green Bench, Three Daughters, St. Pete Brew Co., Cycle Brewery, Urban Comfort, etc. Way too many bars to mention: Thirsty First (Ralph's Mob pre-match bar), MacDinton's, Courigan's, Park & Rec., Ruby's Elixir (which also has bands/singers and Central Cigars if you like smoking cigars), Five Bucks Drinkery, etc. Beach bars on St. Pete beach: Hurricanes, Caddies, Post Card Inn.
Don't know much about nightclubs; Ruby's Elixir and Jannus Live are in the area around Central Avenue near Al Lang.
The Rowdies have now consistently struggled against teams who've made it a point to play strategically defensively. This can be seen in the impact results in the games against Loudoun, Louisville, and now Indy. This Rowdies club seems to thrive in games that are more chaotic and when they can impose defensive pressure through the high press. When the game slows down and it comes down to beating defenders one-on-one or making pinpoint accurate passes, there aren't many players on this roster who excel in each area. Tinari, Guenzatti, and Fernandes definitely have their bright spots but each has their set of weaknesses.
I've been looking at some of the passing numbers for the team this season and they haven't been all that surprising. Fernandes has done the lions share of the crosses and key passes. Tinari has contributed to the key passes as well. A lot of our best offensive players have low passing in opponents half percentages and that's not too great but sometimes it's risk-reward passing. The Rowdies really need this to become more rewarding than risky to be more efficient offensively.
Richards and Morad have fairly low aerial duel numbers which makes sense considering their sizes and frame. This is a legitimate concern on set piece defense when Diakite is really the only player you can trust to get up and win an aerial duel. I think that's why we're seeing so many teams shade corners away from Diakite and trying to slip an attacker on the opposite side to get one-on-one with anybody else.
Most of our team has good tackles to tackles won numbers which is a testament to the great defense the Rowdies have played all season. There's not a lot of flailing or missing bad tackles unless it's Oduro swinging away to get himself another yellow.
Dominic Oduro has taken 9 shots. 1 has been on target. Oduro has the second most shots on the team.
The Indy Blockade match- It's definitely going to be a concern and a formal weak point for the Rowdies going forward. When teams decide to pack the box and play tight compact defense, the Rowdies offense can find no answer. We saw hints of this becoming a major issue in the Loudoun match. There's definitely no question now that the Rowdies are lacking explosive attackers in the box. Let's take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of style and players and really get down to why the Rowdies are having trouble scoring.
Crossing accuracy and header accuracy- One of my big takeaways from last night was that the Rowdies are struggling to put two of these major components of the game together at the same time. If the cross is accurate, the attempt at a header isn't or is just whiffed. There have also been some struggles for players to put accurate crosses in the box. Fernandes has been the point of emphasis on the team for playing crossed balls in, but he's not as lethal as say an Oscar Jiminez or what we saw out of Marcel Schafer in 2017. Tinari plays good long passes but he's a central midfielder so he's more apt to play a direct ball than go out to the corner and cross it in. Tejada hasn't developed touch on his crosses yet and neither has Richards.
Banking on underperforming forwards- This was the most minutes we've seen from Leon Taylor and he was bad. The one thing we've seen him do well is a brief stretch of games where he had some goals on close shots on net, usually headers. His presence in the box was lacking in this game and he doesn't play well with the ball at his feet. Allen came in late and has also underperformed which Nashville fans made a point of when he left the team. Allen hasn't been dangerous yet either.
Hoppenot is a curious case. He seems like he has the tools to be a go to offensive guy and he has the pedigree. He hasn't contributed much yet to the Rowdies offensively. Guenzatti has been the beneficiary of two penalties and two goals against the worst team in the league. His goal this weekend was good but he's still privy to my theory that he struggles to score against top teams. Part of it is that while he has good touches and passing skills, he doesn't have the speed to create separation. He's also not the type to beat defenders in one-on-one's like you'll see Fernandes do from time to time. Guenzatti isn't a threat in the box and he whiffed what would've been the game winning header last night on a ball that was played perfectly to him from Hoppenot.
The problem is Guenzatti is no doubt the best forward in form for the team. With Siaj and Johnson injured, there's no other options at the position.
If I'm being brutally honest, Tejada and Taylor each had an awful game against Indy. Oduro was frustrating in the usual ways (turnovers, dumb shots) but his defensive presence is still impactful enough to make up for some of his faults.
Where was Steinberger?- Maybe I'm oversimplifying but I'm curious as to why the guy who played in Indy on the Lucas Oil turf isn't playing minutes in a game where his team needs a calming presence in the midfield. Tinari was really lacking for a running partner. Tinari and Steinberger as a combo would've been more likely to see some buildup play where the Rowdies could try some more creative approaches rather than pass the ball around the channel and play a cross into a sea of defenders. Steinberger has played well in almost every game he's played. He may not have made the difference, but having a composed passing midfielder would've added some value to the attack versus a bunch of forwards lacking chemistry. The better halftime substitution would've been Steinberger for Oduro. This keeps Oduro from taking terrible shots and giving up bad turnovers. Doherty can hang back as the holding midfielder and Steinberger and Tinari could go to work.
Dane Kelly is TERRIFYING- There were a few moments over the course of the game where Diakite was loosely marking Kelly and that could've ended the Rowdies on multiple occasions. Kelly has a cannon for a leg and speed for days. Diakite's rational confidence usually keeps the Rowdies defensively superior but Diakite isn't perfect. He's subject to getting beaten on through balls if they're timed well. Teams also do a solid job of avoiding Diakite on corners and taking him out of the play to get a good header opportunity. Without the red card, I would be shocked if Dane Kelly didn't score last night.
3 matches in quick succession- As much as the Indy match sucked, the results from this three game stretch are positive. No tallies in the loss column. Now the critical factor is the Rowdies must regroup and catch their breath before heading out to future MLS side Nashville and then hosting the ever-threatening Baby Bulls. The opponents are not getting any easier as we progress here in the early season. If Indy can hold off Tampa with 10, other teams are going to have a mental note on that.
Weekly Reminder: John McCarthy for USL MVP. Dude is a warrior.
At this point I would put Steinberger up top as someone who can score and create chances. It’s sad to watch all these young players move to different positions with seasoned players in the bench being wasted. Steinberger and Poku can score and have proven themselves. The others are just young and growing but we shouldn’t lose games this way.
Well Steinberger is an attacking midfielder but has good defensive effort making him perfect for the center midfield role.
The problem with Poku is that he really didn’t show flashes of any above average quality in his game. Wasn’t delivering key passes and his ball at the feet game was pretty bad. I think Collins hasn’t seen any indication in practice that Poku has been anything different than what we saw from him last season.
Over an hour up a man and we could barely put a shot on target. Don’t know why Tejada is on the wing. Love the kid but he is not a winger and can’t cross. Bravo to Mcarthy who somehow made more saves than Indy elevens keeper. We need someone that can finish or attack a back line. Never attacked their middle. Did not test the keeper directly inside the box.
Point are always good. But geez, we need to take advantage of an early red card.
I agree a point away is good but over 70+ up a man? I just don’t know why “cross it in and hope for the best” was the game plan. Make the keeper make a save. Drive into the middle and shoot. Maybe they were tired. 3 games in a week or so is a lot. Hope Collins finds a solution
Agree on all of this. Tejada is way better up top than on the wing...it just doesn’t use his natural talents.
(Wonder how long Barry is out for? Also miss Ekra a lot.)
Turf is why “cross it over and hope for the best”. A lot of people are overlooking the quality of the pitch on this one. We know Indy are good on counters and on their home field. We pass on the ground and it doesn’t move as intended? Free giveaway and possible break for them. Passing on the ground into the box on a field where almost every pass for both teams are a % inaccurate was too risky against them.
Edit: to add onto this, once we know we have to get it in the box in the air, what’s where their park the bus came in. They always had more men back then we had forward. They gave up basically the hope of scoring a goal to secure the tie and it worked well for them.
I know the turf was shit (and ugly as fuck, hate playing on painted pitches) but still. Yes Indy parked the bus, but play was still focused to the outside. Why are you trying to break a bunker over the top if we are out classed for size and heading ability? I just wished Leo or Sebastian would have had some bravery, tried to dribble, be creative, and make the defense do something other than body Leon all day.
And shit if that is the plan to go over the top, flip Diakite to the damn 9 with 10 minutes left. Man is a tree!!! Being up a man we did not earn a point we dropped 2. I’m very concerned for this teams ability to score
No poku or Steinberger to bring some creativity out there. Put Steinberger in as a tucked in winger. He did it at Jax and NCFC and scored and can attack middle with purpose and play an accurate end line pass to the center of the box. Poku can win in the middle. Not playing our more experienced players is crazy.
I think it’s clear at this point that Poku is not in Collins plans. I don’t doubt his talent but I don’t ever expect him to get on the field.
I agree with the Steinberger point. Once Indy went down to 10, Tejada needed to come out. Breaking a bunker isn’t his game.
Anyone know if either Malik Johnson or Siaj are fit? They may bring a different option in attack. Also I don't know why Poku isn't even getting a chance. He is probably one of our highest paid players yet all he does is warm the bench.
Every midfielder on our team has seen more than 100 minutes. Except Poku. Who has seen zero. Our highest paid player is our lowest rated player.
Johnson was injured...not sure if he still is or not.
What about Siaj?
Not sure about him...he’s probably behind Allen and Taylor, in terms of big man center forward...hard to crack that.
The long of the short is that Morad got crushed. Most of the negative damage was done in the first half before he regained some of his composure in the second half.
The Allen play is starting to become a concern of mine. He's not scoring or even really being dangerous on the chances he gets. He doesn't have any other great offensive qualities so Hoppenot is looking like the better option despite his lack of finishing ability either but at least he's putting shots in the direction of the net.
This was a big Guenzatti game. Great touches all night.
Oh and out of nowhere Caleb Richards had a defensive stalwart night. Fernandes had a good passing night but if anyone deserved team of the week it would be Richards. With Morad off, Richards had the left side of the field on lockdown.
Overall this wasn't a standout performance for the Rowdies but I can't imagine that playing a physical game on the heels of a midweek game was going to be pretty.
Ex-Rowdie Georgi Hristov plans Sunday soccer league for Tampa Bay youths
The Rowdies’ all-time scoring leader isn’t idle in retirement, with nine sites secured to host teams ranging from under 9 to under 19.
When Georgi Hristov retired from professional soccer in January, he was the Rowdies’ all-time career goals leader with 60. Since the Rowdies are a second-division team where players are either...
LAKELAND — 105-year-old national soccer tournament pitting the country’s top amateur and pro teams against one another comes to Polk for the first time Tuesday.
The Lakeland Tropics play The Villages SC at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The game takes place at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale.
The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament with a field of 84 teams from amateur club level to Major League Soccer. According to U.S. Soccer, there are 52 professional teams in this year’s tournament and 32 Open Division amateur teams. The Tropics and The Villages are part of the USL League Two, a professional-development league for top amateur players.
“This game is one of the biggest opportunities for the Polk community to see high level soccer,” said Eoghan Conlon, the Lakeland Tropics’ head coach since 2017.
This is the fourth straight year The Villages SC has qualified for the Cup. It’s the second year for Lakeland. The team lost its first-round 2018 game 3-0 in Midland, Texas.
Conlon, a former Florida Southern College midfielder and assistant coach, as well as Webber University JV coach, recalls that loss and is eager to see his team do better on home turf.
“We’re looking forward to many local residents coming to help and support our team,” he said. “And if we win, we then get to travel and play the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second round. But we will focus on this game first.”
The Rowdies, based in St. Petersburg, are part of the USL Championship league, one step below Major League Soccer.
Victor Parreiras, who has played three seasons for the Florida Tropics in the Major Arena Soccer League, suffered a knee injury in 2018 that required surgery and three months’ recovery. Consequently, he missed the Tropics’ first-round game in the 2018.
“I am looking forward to Tuesday night. This is exciting,” Parreiras, 27, said. “I am so happy to represent Polk County. I expect to win and make all of our fans happy.”
Parreiras, who was born in Brazil, was in the Rio De Janeiro airport in 2011, when he met Ricardo Diegues. Both were in route to play on scholarship at the University of Texas-Brownsville.
The two were four-year teammates. And in their final season, Diegues the leading scorer and Parreiras the assists leader, the team enjoyed an undefeated season before losing in the NAIA championship game.
They played a season for the Brownsville Barracudas, then were playing for the Ocala Stampede when both met Florida Tropics indoor and Southeastern University coach Clay Roberts.
Roberts asked if they might like to join the Tropics, and three years later, Parreiras and Diegues have now been teammates eight consecutive years.
Other Tropics with Polk County ties are Chase Hovious, who played for Auburndale High School and then Liberty University. Ben-Avir Espinal played at Southeastern University.
Chris Economides, who now serves as the Tropics’ chief operating officer, was one of the co-owners of the 1999 U.S. Open Cup champion Rochester (NY) Raging Rhinos.
Economides’ Rhinos were the last non-MLS team to win the Cup, when they defeated four MLS teams on their way to the national title.
For ticket information, call the Tropics front office at 863-340-010.
Gallery: Indy Eleven draw North Carolina FC on night Brad Ring honored
INDIANAPOLIS — On an evening in which retired club legend Brad Ring was honored at halftime by Mayor Joe Hogsett and team owner Ersal Ozdemir, the Indy Eleven battled North Carolina FC to a 0-0 draw. For Indy, the result duplicated Wednesday’s scoreless affair at home against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Gallery: Eleven, Rowdies share points at Lucas Oil
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indy Eleven and Tampa Bay Rowdies, both currently well above the playoff line in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, dueled to a scoreless draw Wednesday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
A 20th-minute second yellow card to Eleven defender Paddy Barrett caused the hosts have to cope with a potent Rowdies attack down a man for the vast majority of the match. Ultimately, however, Tampa Bay proved unable to crack a stingy Indy defense.
Judge Weighs Temporary Halt to Beckham's Lockhart Stadium Demolition
Judge Raag Singhal promised to issue an order Friday on a request to temporarily stop David Beckham's soccer group from demolishing Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Judge to Consider Temporary Halt to Beckham's Lockhart Stadium Demolition
Broward Circuit Judge Raag Singhal said he will issue an order on Friday as he needs more time to review the arguments presented by each side at a two-hour hearing held on Wednesday evening.
