Tampa Bay Rowdies Join the League

[VioletCrown]

There's a nice long thread (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=676224&page=13) over in the USL forum (scroll down for the first post on this announcement), but here's the news from Tampa (http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/18/new-pro-soccer-team-form-tampa/):

TAMPA - Eight years after the Tampa Bay Mutiny folded and 16 years on from the final demise of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, professional soccer is expected to return to Tampa next spring with the arrival of a United Soccer Leagues First Division club.

A news conference unveiling the team is expected to be held within the next several days, spokesperson Lisa Brock said. Brock declined to confirm any details about the name of the new club, but it is expected to called the Rowdies, use the same green and gold colors for its uniform and draw some of the same management that were with the Mutiny.

I have to say that I'm excited about this. It's a very good thing for the league we're joining. Seattle is going away next year, Austin's joining. I'm happy to see expansion after the league lost a team between '07 and '08 (California Victory).

Still curious how things are going on Oklahoma City and Phoenix.

We could really use them. With the loss of Seattle, there's only Portland and Vancouver out west. Us and Minnesota in the middle of the country. While some people are unhappy about no MLS in the southeast, the USL-1 has stepped up. Fully half the league will be in the southeast.

Thinking about this a little more, it makes me feel really good about the health of the league. With 6 teams in the southeast, it makes travel more economical for the league as as whole, and especially good for those 6 teams.

[kenntomasch]

Rowdies will begin in 2010.

From what I hear, Phoenix has stalled.

[VioletCrown]

How did my post get that icon? Weird, it wasn't intended.

I now wish I could edit this thread title.

Just found this tidbit from another blog (http://mysoccerblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/tampa-gets-pro-team-houston-dynamo.html):

Pro soccer team coming to the Valley? (http://www.kgbt4.com/sports/sports_story.aspx?id=148162)

Hey, Chapulin, looks like you might be getting some local action! (Though they clearly don't understand that PDL is NOT pro!)

The article says it won't happen for 18 months, so they're looking at a team for the 2010 season.

I'd prefer a team in San Antonio. The Valley is almost as far as El Paso. But the more 'nearby' PDL teams the better. I'm sure Laredo would appreciate it. One more team would give us a 9 team division, and all teams could play a complete home-and-home schedule. If El Paso can get talked into making the trips. But I can certainly understand their reluctance. Man, the USL could use a couple more clubs in the four corners states. That would probably be way better for El Paso.

[VioletCrown]

Rowdies will begin in 2010.

From what I hear, Phoenix has stalled.

Sorry to hear about Phoenix. But not necessarily surprised. Fuel costs will make things very difficult for Western USL teams.

[Roma_Wolves]

and for us.

[VioletCrown]

Here's the article on the USL website (http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/257458.html).

And it's official, they start in 2010.

Looks like the USL-1 expansion is going a little slower than they hoped. I guess the planned bumping up of the franchise fee isn't lighting that many fires.

Still, I guess managing to keep the same number of teams over 6 years is stability, of a sort. Let's hope that we don't lose any more teams.

[The Liquidator]

yay rowdies! hope they keep their sweet socks and logo

I heart NASL :)

[kenntomasch]

Logo will change.

Socks may come back.

[adoptedsooner]

Still curious how things are going on Oklahoma City and Phoenix.

We could really use them.

Haven't heard anything new from Phoenix in a while other than it was more likely to be around Tucson. However, I know some things are moving around here. Not trying to be a tease, but I can't say more for now.

[kenntomasch]

The Tucson bit was a while back. It was going to be Phoenix proper, but it seems to have hit a bit of a snag.

[SoccerPrime]

Logo will change.

Socks may come back.

The official word is that Ralph Rowdie, the 'mascot' on the logo, is undergoing a upgrade.

http://forumimages.footballguys.com/uploads/av-12803.jpg

[kenntomasch]

I'm thinking Ralph is history. The pornstar moustache and the hairstyle...that's 1970s.

(And it was Rowdie Ralph, BTW).

[VioletCrown]

I'm thinking Ralph is history. The pornstar moustache and the hairstyle...that's 1970s.

(And it was Rowdie Ralph, BTW).

Have you seen some of the the hipsters facial work, Kenn? I would not be shocked in the least if they brought him back as-is, and he'd be seen as cool.

[chapulincolorado]

The official word is that Ralph Rowdie, the 'mascot' on the logo, is undergoing a upgrade.

http://forumimages.footballguys.com/uploads/av-12803.jpg

I hope so. Yesterday, on E!, they had a "Behind the Story" on Rowdie....and let me tell you...Rowdie had some issues. But. He's cleaned up.


:D

[willyaddy]

Soccer history is always fun. Check this link

http://www.nasljerseys.com/Jerseys/Jerseys_NASL_Aztecs.htm

If you check the Rowdies page they have some old newspaper clippings that show a Steve Wegerle who I will assume is a relative of Roy Wegerle (he went to college at Univ of South Florida).

[kenntomasch]

Steve is Roy's older brother. There is another brother, Geoff.

[SoccerPrime]

Don't forget Steve's son Bryce, who has had stince in Europe (Werder Bremen,Udinese etc) and the Cocoa Expos of PDL.

[KillerMoth]

LA Aztecs sure seemed to have had a hard time settling on team colors.