With the USL headquarters in Tampa, you'd think we could at least get an A League franchise here. The new Pepin-Rood Stadium, or USF Soccer Stadium, while not perfect, could work as venues.
About time somebody brought that up again. I was inspired to send an e-mail to USL asking about the possibility of an A-League team for Tampa. When (If?) I get a reply, I'll post the response. I think A-League could really work here if the management made an intelligent effort to market the team. Take some pages from the Rowdies marketing book--high visibility for the players, etc. In fact, wouldn't it be beyond great if somehow a new team could convince Cornelia Corbett to part with the Rowdies name, song, etc? It's going to be a long, miserable summer without soccer!!
It would be great to resurrect, the Rowdies… but even better to resurrect the Rowdies and the Strikers, in “A” . They would go hand in hand, and the local and national exposure would be phenomenal. I also guarantee as a combo S Florida “A” teams, both would be in top attendance figures for the League, which would not surprise me to average over 5k at each location. Unfortunately the “market” image was screwed by MLS, and also there are very few visionaries, around in the “A” market , both from investor, and A management. My point again: Tampa may be good in A, Ft Lauderdale may be good, but together will make a greater impact, and the exposure to the local fans would be much greater as a pair. From the A stand point … with Charleston, Tampa, Ft Lauderdale.. proximity, would make also good sense .. But … unfortunately, I have not seen, yet any tingle of news or rumor on the subject, TO bad, to sad ! Ignorance is a malady
Don't hold your breath waiting for soccer to reappear in Tampa anytime soon, there has not even been a hint of rumor about ALeague expansion in the Sunshine state. Honestly, I would rather have no soccer here than have someone come in and run a typical rink-dink USL club anyway. Unless an owner runs the club right (ie. promotes the club well, signs good players, and builds a stadium) than forget it. The only ray of hope is the Glazers interest in the LA Dodgers. Apparently if successful, they will possess a 300 acre site in SoCal which they wish to build a football stadium for an NFL expansion club. They would then have to sell the Bucs to someone else. There are several candidates that could purchase the Bucs and then be interested in bringing MLS back, not the ALeague. Steinbrenner anyone? If only a dream, it is a good one.
For the last few years, the Tampa Bay Hawks have played in the PDL and have dominated the Southeastern division of the PDL. However, they folded this past fall when it was apparent that they had no local support. They averaged less than 50 people a game. Now, everyone knows PDL is not MLS. However, if less than 50 ppl supported the Hawks, what does that bode for any future A-League or MLS team?
I think other issues were at hand in the folding of the Hawks.....lack of support doesn't seem to be high on the list of problems.
According to Steve Clamp, director of the PDL, there should be at least another PDL team in Tampa by next year. However, I don't know when A_League might make it down here. The new PDL team will be under new management, and Clamp seemed to indicate that they make sure this new group is better managed and had better exposure.
Response from A-League Here is the response from the A-League to my query as to whether we might see an A-League team in Tampa any time soon: Thanks for your interest in USL soccer. With our headquarters located here in Tampa, obviously we would love to have an A-League team here and discussions have taken place since the departure of the Mutiny. Unfortunately, to establish a team on a national level such as the A-League, there are a lot of things that need to be in place other than facilities and that is not the case at the moment. Thanks again, Gerald Barnhart Director, USL Public Relations Me again: Not sure what "other things" he was referring to, but an owner and proven fan support must be two biggies. Doesn't sound very encouraging.
Re: Response from A-League No I would of love to hear their response, for the SE FL ????? the one positive thing left here is the PDL PB Pumas
Re: Re: Response from A-League If they are wise their response to SE Florida would be similar. South Florida will not support an A-League team, except for possibly Boca/Palm Beach. With all due respect to the A-League I will not support such a league in this area and certainly not on a consistent basis... and I am a diehard. Thanks but not thanks. The A-league is like "close but no cigar" and probably is more painfull after having the Fusion come and go. We want the US Premiership to return. Even though some of my aggogant, cocky, and irrational buddies may deny it we wand MLS to eventually return and the A-League ain't going to cut it. There is a place for A-League teams and this A-League administrator knows what he means and just doesn't want to elaborate when he tell you "a lot of things that need to be in place other than facilities." Thats an adequate response for me. I understand want he means without being more elaborate.
I would go to watch an A-League team in Miami. After all, when I first started watching the Fusion, they were absolutely terrible. I just believe in supporting my local team, regardless of how good/bad they are. Personally, I can't stand snobbish attitudes of only supporting successful teams.
Last year, I posted the home schedule of both the Hawks and the Xtreme here. There were even a few doubleheaders. The responce on this board was basically to give the team a big giant thumbs down, without even watching one game. :-( How sad... because the Hawks were a fun team to watch. Attacking soccer, and... they won! Oh well... if a new PDL team WERE to come the Tampa area... would anyone care? Or would it be the Hawks all over again.. great team, no one cares to even THINK about going??
Well from what Clamp (USL-PDL director) said, it sounds like they are taking special interest in the new Tampa PDL team, since its in their backyard. But time will tell.
oh another thing... Has there ever been an effort to get the Mutiny's and Fusion's old season-holder lists? reason being, that would provide excellent options to get the word out (about new teams). PS even though these lists are getting old...
Pipe dreams?? I am sure not going to be getting too excited about all of this... until opening day that is.. IF that ever happens. Oh well.....
Hey, everyone, don't sell the A league idea short. Some of the older posters around here remember me as a die-hard Mutiny and Rowdies fan, but I'm now having a blast as a Rhinos season ticket holder. The crowd energy and excitement level at these games is way beyond any I ever experienced at Mutiny games played in either the Sombrero or RJS (if we could only get better quality soccer). It really reminds me of the old atmoshpere at the Rowdies games, and this is in a baseball stadium. I can't wait until 2004 when our soccer only stadium is ready. Furthermore, I'm beginning to think the long-term success of a pro-soccer league in this country has to be the result of more of a more grass-roots development, rather than the somewhat artificial "lets-start-a-topflight-league-in-the-US" approach that MLS took. Plus, the A league does't have the oligarchy ownership problem, salary cap, or bizarre player distribution system. The obvious downsides are what we're experiencing now: a lower quality of play (though probably not as bad as most of you think) and a couple of rinky-dink, fly-by-night teams.