Are the Rowdies connected to the new MLS group?

Discussion in 'Tampa Bay Rowdies' started by Luis_Rancagua, Nov 28, 2012.

  1. Luis_Rancagua

    Luis_Rancagua Member

    Apr 16, 2000
    I'm curious to know whether the Tampa Bay Rowdies are connected to the new group bidding for an MLS license? Has anyone here bother to find out this information by contacting the Rowdies head office?
     
  2. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have a meeting with them tomorrow, want me to ask? :)
     
    Soccer Budgie and Luis_Rancagua repped this.
  3. Luis_Rancagua

    Luis_Rancagua Member

    Apr 16, 2000
    Yes indeed!!!!

    If the Rowdies are not involved in this venture, there's going to be a huge competition for the hearts and soul of the people from Tampa: one side you have the diehard Rowdies supporters, and on the other side you have those who want to see high quality of football/soccer.

    What I'm so concerned here is that the new group will create a huge drift with the people of Tampa. Let's face it, the people of Tampa love their Ralph/Rowdies. When the name was finally reinstated after all these years, it brought lots of jubilation. The tradition is very deep (since the 70s). Now this new MLS group want to change this. The Rowdies need to have a serious voice in these negotiations. Excluding them from the process will be an out most disrespect. It will divide us, not bring us together.
     
    WhiteStar Warriors repped this.
  4. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think you misunderstand even the diehard Rowdies supporters. We want the highest level of soccer in Tampa Bay. We also want the Rowdies to be a part of that, but I think most people realize that IF this happens the Rowdies realistically can't survive.

    IF this group follows through and puts shovels in the ground on a stadium downtown and starts talks with MLS on a franchise, the Rowdies will have a choice to make. Sell to VSI and get out while the getting is good or fight it, lose and see the Rowdies name once again snuffed out.
     
  5. Luis_Rancagua

    Luis_Rancagua Member

    Apr 16, 2000
    We fought so hard to reinstate the name ROWDIES... To see this disappear will be so disrespectful. The name ROWDIES needs to be involved here. I don't need to convince you any further in this argument by bringing out NASL examples such as: Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, San Jose Earthquakes, and yes the New York Cosmos. All these names are huge success in MLS, and I do expect the same for the Cosmos brand once they join MLS. If the name ROWDIES gets dropped-off for some artificial crap name like the FLAMES, then consider this the kiss of death. You have to respect tradition. Hey! If it worked for the Timbers, the Sounders, the Whitecaps, it is common sense that it will work for the ROWDIES.
     
  6. Kickballer

    Kickballer Member

    Nov 2, 2010
    Orlando,Fl
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Speed,
    Do you know where the land is that they are considering? Is it next to the Times Forum?
    Also, would the Mob consider going to the games against Orlando or games in general, if the Rowdies aren't playing?
     
  7. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ya, well I'm president of Ralph's Mob currently. So you are preaching to the choir.

    however, I'm also a realist.
     
  8. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I do, and I'm not telling. Sorry.

    Regarding how or if we'll support this VSI team is a question we are struggling with as I type this. It all depends on what happens in coming months, I'd say. If the bid looks like the real deal after the December 11th press conference and if the names being dropped don't come out in complete denial after the fact, I don't know that anyone has much of a choice.

    it is a pretty shit spot to be in as a supporters group, despite the obviously fantastic news that someone wants to bring MLS to Tampa Bay.
     
  9. Kickballer

    Kickballer Member

    Nov 2, 2010
    Orlando,Fl
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    You Sandbagging SoB!:D
    Yeah from what Ive been reading and looking at I could guess on where it might be.​
    And I'll pull a qoute from Vinik, probably taken out of context:​
    Vinik would only divulge that he aims to turn Channelside, and all of his new vacant properties, into a "world class facility."​
     
  10. Soccer Joe

    Soccer Joe Member

    Sep 23, 2012
    The rowdies are not connected with, VSI, PRI or any of the other companies involved in this project. Also, VSI have dropped "Flames" from their name. Next and with all do respect to the rowdies organization VSI is in a different class when it comes to developing relationships, partnerships, etc... To put together the funding to do a project like this. VSI is a soccer company that has investor, BOD and employees that have a tremendous amount of experience in soccer and the business of soccer. There are many moving parts to this project that will hopefully bring and MLS team to tampa but also many other soccer events to the area.
     
  11. WhiteStar Warriors

    Mar 25, 2007
    St.Pete/Krakow
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I will wait til Dec. 11 for the announcement.

    then it will be "official".
     
  12. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That's great, no one is disputing that. Believe us.

    What we are saying is, VSI should be looking at buying out the Rowdies and working towards moving that brand into MLS.

    The cost would be chump change compared to the sums involved in this VSI MLS bid and considering the supporter culture in Tampa Bay right now revolves around the Rowdies brand, and with the history of the Rowdies in Tampa Bay, I'd hope they are at least looking in this direction.

    If not, I sure as hell hope VSI moves extremely fast. Otherwise they will be putting hundreds of supporters and the network of people and organizations across Tampa Bay who are directly and indirectly involved with helping to build up both pro soccer support and supporter culture, in a very bad spot.

    We all want the highest possible level of soccer in Tampa, but we've all also been busting our asses for years to build support for the Rowdies and the new NASL.
     
  13. WhiteStar Warriors

    Mar 25, 2007
    St.Pete/Krakow
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sorry but after visiting their website, I can only think of this:


    Be part of the biggest soccer sport endeavor EVER
    in the Tampa Bay Area!


    After establishing a newly renovated club house in downtown Clearwater in 2006 (with over 7,000 square feet), hiring more than 10 former professional soccer players and coaches (even a soccer professor), winning better than 20 trophies in our first soccer year in 2007 and currently leading in 4 different divisions in the Florida Suncoast Soccer League (FSSL) with 4 of our Galactics soccer teams, our ambitious soccer club Galactics Clearwater International F.C. is stepping up to the next phase in 2008, expanding its soccer services into:
    • Establishing the first Women’s Soccer League in Florida.
    • Starting an Indoor League for all levels of soccer skills.
    • Making Beach Soccer available to the citizens of Pinellas County at one of the nicest beaches in the world - Clearwater Beach.
    • Being the first soccer club around offering Foot volley and Foot tennis.
    • Running an exciting 3 vs. 3 Soccer League.
    • Establishing our own Galactics Youth League starting with 4 year olds (girls and boys).
    • Hosting our own Galactics Youth and Adult Soccer Tournaments with competitive teams from Florida and out of state.
    • Offering exciting Soccer Camps throughout the year for all skill levels.
    • And hosting the highlight of the year in December with our Galactics International Soccer Festival, where we invite various professional soccer players from all over the world to compete in games for a day (including a youth tournament and other highlights).
    But this is not all...
    Beside our club aspect where we offer these great soccer programs for all citizens in the Tampa Bay area, whether young or old, beginner or somebody who wants to go pro, we are also moving into phase 2 with our matchless project of having a 40 acre, all soccer complex in the Tampa Bay area.
    We are NOW looking for investors and sponsors[​IMG].
    Don’t forget: now is the time to invest in soccer in the US. In the 80’s soccer had a boom in the United States with the famous COSMOS team in New York. Some of the best soccer players of the world at that time played on this team, such as Pele (Brazil), Beckenbauer (Germany) and Johan Cryuff (Netherlands).
    US soccer fans where so excited about seeing this team play soccer, that almost every home game drew 80,000 people to their stadium.
    Since then the sport of soccer expanded fast throughout the country. Today soccer is already in third place in youth sports activities in the US, after baseball and football. Florida even has the most successful youth soccer teams in all the US.
    At the end of the 90’s the first privately funded, all soccer stadiums appeared, and many followed. Today you can find these privately funded all soccer stadiums throughout the country and many more are in progress.
    The MLS, the Major League Soccer in the US, has started inviting soccer super stars from Europe; David Beckham from England, Ruud Gullit from the Netherlands (2 times European footballer of the year) as the coach for LA Galaxy and more to come.
    Furthermore, what many people might not know, that the biggest European soccer clubs like Real Madrid from Spain and Everton from England are already investing in US soccer clubs.
    All the above indicators proof that NOW is the time to invest in soccer; not just for business purposes, but also because this sport is for every kid, no matter their race or their social status. Soccer also has a great positive influence on the community, promoting safe environments for kids, anti-drug campaigns etc.
    Be aware that soccer is the #1 sport in the world. Soccer is bigger than baseball, American football and basketball combined on a universal level.
    [​IMG]
    Once our soccer complex in the Tampa Bay area is a reality, the real game starts:
    • We will have a PRO team playing in the highest level of soccer in the US.
    • We will invite teams from Europe and South America (Florida has no winter and a 365 day opportunity to play soccer).
    • We will host our own international youth and adult tournaments.
    • Attract the best soccer players and teams of the world…
    • and much more!
    Contact us right now to find out more about our exciting soccer project in the Tampa Bay Area and HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN IT (we can make appointments in your office and show you a video presentation and more interesting information).

    Mauricio Munoz (English and Spanish):
    Office:​
     
  14. XaviusX

    XaviusX Member

    Mar 21, 2001
    Tampa, Florida
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My gut tells me that VSI will eventually buy out the Rowdies brand. The fact that they've dropped the "Flames" from their name and have gone with the more generic sounding "VSI TAMPA BAY FC" makes me believe that they're prepping for yet another name change.

    I hate to read into things, but since this hits so close to home, I can't help it. I'm very much emotionally invested in the Rowdies, but at the same time I want Tampa Bay to be part of Top-Flight Football once again in this Country.
     
    Soccer Budgie repped this.
  15. WhiteStar Warriors

    Mar 25, 2007
    St.Pete/Krakow
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You know what the timing of Rowdies stadium lease is until 2016.
     
  16. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I just want more info. From all parties involved. December 11th needs to get here so we can hear it from the horse's mouth.
     
  17. Prosoccercdn

    Prosoccercdn Member+

    Aug 6, 2011
    Club:
    FC Edmonton
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Seems like some are getting ahead of themselves here, maybe this is bravado to get a fan base for the USL Pro Tampa team going, maybe its more than that. But I thought Garber just mentioned this week that NY2 will basically be the next expansion team in 2016. No guarantee that Tampa will get a franchise even if they have a stadium built by then, and even then not likely in 2016. Maybe 2018? 2020? or?

    Lots can happen in the coming months and years, the MOB better not even think of abandoning the Rowdies for what may be a pipe dream.
     
  18. Hunter.S.Soccer

    Apr 13, 2006
    Tampa
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    At best, we could all hope for something similar to what happened in Seattle when big money partnered with Adrian Hanauer, then managing partner of the USL's Seattle Sounders. The result was an MLS franchise, but that's a long way to go from this point.

    Regarding the Mob and it's value to any local efforts... if this IS serious and DOES happen as scripted (slim chances), then the new organization would be foolish not to pine for the support of Ralph's Mob.
     
  19. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No one is talking about abandoning the Rowdies. What we are talking about, if this is real and it happens (still BIG ifs at this point) is the reality that both clubs most likely can't exist in the same market. I didn't think an NASL team and a USLpro team could co-exist, much less an MLS team and an NASL team.

    And when I say we are talking about how or if we'll support this VSI team, in the meantime, I mean that we are trying to keep the fan base from fracturing, taking sides. We are all in this together, either way.

    When it was just a USLpro team that had barely hired a coach just months before play begins, it was an easier situation. But when it is an organization now claiming they have the funding and the balls to try and bring MLS to Tampa Bay it is quite another, especially when that is a huge threat to the existence of the Rowdies.

    Sue us for being torn and confused and upset and excited all at once.
     
    Soccer Budgie repped this.
  20. WhiteStar Warriors

    Mar 25, 2007
    St.Pete/Krakow
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  21. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If this is a marketing ploy, it is awfully elaborate. I don't think that is what it is at all. It might never happen, but I think the are at least serious about the plan.

    Garber didn't mention Tampa because he likely was as surprised as the rest of us about the news. Makes a little more sense ;)

    That OR he had gotten wind of it, but knew that mentioning Tampa the other day when he almost never mentions us would have been too suspicious and would have risked letting this cat out of the bag. Less likely than the first option, but still a possibility within the realm of reality.

    If you've read any of the leaked info or articles so far you'd know, with certainty, that the 28k stadium would be built for an MLS team. They are saying they'll build a much, much smaller 6 to 8k modular, temporary stadium for the USLpro side. What they'd do with a 28k stadium, should they not get an MLS team, is anyone's guess though. Sell it to USF?

    Considering there is only one Toronto FC in MLS, no one else even approaches their level of fail (although the fans keep coming back) I'd say its a pretty safe bet we wouldn't be "another Toronto". Although I'm still not sure what you mean by it?

    and YOU don't want MLS but I am nearly certain that the vast majority of soccer fans in Tampa Bay WOULD want it and aren't going to be thinking "gee I hope we don't become the next Toronto FC".
     
    Bluesfan repped this.
  22. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Those aren't the only two choices.

    Also, you know as well as I do you'd backtrack in 10 seconds if the Rowdies actually were in MLS.
     
  23. WhiteStar Warriors

    Mar 25, 2007
    St.Pete/Krakow
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Your right I would, but I don't think Rowdies will be part of this. They could of sold the ownership to VSI earlier.
     
  24. speedcake

    speedcake Member

    Dec 2, 1999
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    the Partners tab has been removed from the website now. Not sure if it is just being updated and edited or if something caused them to have to take it down?

    http://www.vsi-stadium.com/
     
  25. tampasteve1

    tampasteve1 Member

    Tampa Bay Rowdies and Strikers
    Jul 21, 2009
    Tampa
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They would just not build it. Any deal with MLS will leave plenty of time for them to not build the 28K seat stadium. The temp stadium would be good for a few years at USL, which gives them time to build the large stadium IF MLS approves. If they do not then they can build a smaller permanent stadium if the team is successful. For all we know the 28K stadium could be built in phasesg. So, they could start the build at a smaller USL size stadium and then add the expansion if/when MLS gives the go ahead. But they are not going to spend millions of dollars on a MLS Size stadium without a commitment from MLS.
     

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