Major League Soccer is seeking to expand their list of teams from 24 to 28 by 2020, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies have made it clear that they want to be one of those teams. With an aggressive bidding process, the Rowdies will be competing with nine other cities for a place in MLS.
The Rowdies have a plan that includes renovations to their home in Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg, and an aggressive marketing campaign with their #MLS2StPete Initiative. Those improvements to Al Lang are expected to cost around $80 million, but are going to be completely privately funded by team owner Bill Edwards.
Meanwhile, youth is starting to grow in the Tampa/St. Pete region. As of 2015, millennials hold a 19% share of the population, a share that is expected to grow in the next few years. Possibly due to that expansion of youth, the Rowdies have seen an increase in average population every year the team has existed. Coupled with the fact that with the inclusions of Atlanta and Minnesota as the newest expansion teams starting next year, Tampa Bay will be the biggest market in the United States that does not have a team in MLS, and the Rowdies have a bid that should be very appealing to Major League Soccer.
It is not without challenges, however. Tampa Bay has had a team in MLS before, the Tampa Bay Mutiny, as one of the expansion teams at the start of the league in 1996. The Mutiny, playing in the much larger – and easier to get to – Raymond James Stadium, failed in five years, ceasing operations in 2001.
The Rowdies are also joining a new league this year already. Leaving the North American Soccer League for the United Soccer League for the upcoming season, the team will be trying to go from the third tier of American Soccer, to the second tier and up to the top tier in a matter of four years, something that might ruffle the feathers of some.
Also, the Rowdies have not had the type of success in the NASL that one would expect for a team that will be trying to compete with the best teams in American soccer. After winning the championship in 2012, the Rowdies have missed the playoffs every season after that, with losing records in the last three years.
Finally, Tampa Bay will face some local competition for a spot. The city of Miami is also close to joining MLS, and there will be concerns about putting three teams in one state.
This argument can be either positive or negative, depending on perspective. On the plus side, close proximity to three teams, Atlanta, Orlando and Miami, would give the Florida/Georgia region a big rivalry system that could mirror Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. These three teams compete for the Cascadia Cup, a fan made trophy that consistently provides the most exciting games and passionate fan atmospheres in any sport in the country.
Conversely, it might be better to spread the teams around to more cities in the country, not just concentrating in specific locations. St. Louis, Nashville, and Raleigh all have bids in, and would be the only teams in MLS for their respective states, and Cincinnati would be only the second team in Ohio, and give the Columbus Crew a local rival to help build both of those teams.
Whatever decision comes, soccer in the Tampa Bay area is growing in popularity. The Rowdies may not get in this time, but the team should eventually make it up to MLS.