Rowdies Bucking For Support As MLS Considers Expansion Teams

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — As the Tampa Bay Rowdies continue a mission to gain enough fan support to capture the attention of Major League Soccer, a time table for naming national expansion teams has been announced by the league.

MLS on Thursday said it will announce which cities will play host to the league's 25th and 26th teams during the second or third quarter of 2017. Each team's ownership group will be responsible for paying an expansion fee of $150 million and will begin MLS play by 2020. Teams 27 and 28 are also under consideration, but just when they will be announced remains unclear.

“There is tremendous interest in professional soccer across the United States and Canada,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “Since announcing plans to expand to 28 clubs late last year, many potential ownership groups have contacted us, and numerous public officials have stated their desire to bring an MLS expansion team to their city. We look forward to reviewing expansion applications in the coming months and conducting formal meetings in 2017 with possible team owners.”

The Rowdies kicked off the #MLS2StPete campaign earlier this month. The effort is meant to “drive local support to show Major League Soccer that the club is ready to be the next expansion team,” the Rowdies’ website explains. In addition, efforts are under way to obtain private funding to renovate and expand Al Lang Stadium.

“We are committed to expanding the world’s game right here in downtown St. Petersburg, and we feel strongly that joining Major League Soccer is the next logical step,” said Rowdies chairman and CEO Bill Edwards. “We have met with MLS executives, including Commissioner Don Garber, and it is clear that they are looking at cities that have demonstrated their support for soccer via season ticket memberships, single game ticket sales and sponsorships.”

The Rowdies have a long history in the Tampa Bay area. They first began playing here more than four decades ago. Fan support is needed now more than ever, Edwards said.

“We need the people of St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon, Sarasota, Bradenton and our entire region to get behind this effort,” Edwards said. “We need to show MLS leadership that we are the next great MLS city.”

Fans can help the Rowdies by purchasing 2017 season tickets, according to the team. Tickets are available by calling 727-222-2000.

MLS acknowledged 10 markets that have expressed an interest in fielding expansion teams. In addition to Tampa/St. Petersburg, those markets are Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, Raleigh/Durham, Sacramento, St. Louis, San Antonio and San Diego.

Potential expansion owners have until Jan. 31, 2017, to submit applications to MLS.

For more information about the Rowdies’ 2017 season, visit the team’s website. To see renderings of the proposed Al Lang renovation, check out the video below:

Screenshot and video courtesy of The Rowdies’ YouTube channel