ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (January 19, 2018) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ path to a third star has been confirmed with the United Soccer League releasing the full season schedule Friday afternoon.
Last week, the Rowdies learned they would open the season on the road against North Carolina FC on Saturday, March 17 and then host Bethlehem Steel FC in the home opener at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, March 24. Now, the dates for the remaining 32 matches in the regular season have been set.
The regular season will run from the weekend of March 15-17 to the weekend of October 12-14 with the USL Playoffs to follow.
Tampa Bay will face each of its 15 Eastern Conference opponents once at home and once away, comprising 30 of the 34 regular season matches. The remaining four matches will see the Rowdies take on Atlanta United 2, North Carolina FC and the Charleston Battery a third time, as well as a match against the Western Conference’s Real Monarchs SLC.
The Rowdies will take the field at Al Lang Stadium on a Saturday night fifteen times this season, with only two home matches falling on a Wednesday night. One of those Wednesday night matches will see the Rowdies host a game on the Fourth of July for the first time since the 2015 season, welcoming Toronto FC II to town on Independence Day.
Key matches on the home slate include visits from defending champion Louisville City FC on July 7, the Indy Eleven on July 21 and FC Cincinnati on August 25. Former Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens will return to St. Petersburg with Nashville SC on June 9. Tampa Bay will host a Western Conference opponent for the first time on April 21 when the defending Regular Season Champion Real Monarchs visit from Salt Lake City, offering new Rowdies defender Kyle Curinga a chance to face his previous team.
Single match tickets will go on sale at a later date, but the best way for fans to show their support is by purchasing season tickets for the 2018 Rowdies season. To secure the best seats at Al Lang Stadium, call (727) 222-2000.
The Rowdies’ full schedule is below.
March (1 home, 2 away)
Saturday, March 17 – @ North Carolina FC
Saturday, March 24 – vs Bethlehem Steel FC
Saturday, March 31 – @ Louisville City FC
April (2 home, 2 away)
Saturday, April 7 – vs Ottawa Fury FC
Saturday, April 14 – @ New York Red Bulls II
Saturday, April 21 – vs Real Monarchs SLC
Saturday, April 28 – @ Charleston Battery
May (1 home, 3 away)
Friday, May 4 – @ Penn FC
Saturday, May 12 – @ Richmond Kickers
Saturday, May 19 – vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Saturday, May 26 – @ Toronto FC II
June (3 home, 2 away)
Saturday, June 2 – vs Atlanta United FC 2
Saturday, June 9 – vs Nashville SC
Wednesday, June 13 – @ Indy Eleven
Saturday, June 23 – vs Penn FC
Wednesday, June 27 – @ Charlotte Independence
July (4 home, 1 away)
Wednesday, July 4 – vs Toronto FC II
Saturday, July 7 – vs Louisville City FC
Saturday, July 14 – @ FC Cincinnati
Saturday, July 21 – vs Indy Eleven
Saturday, July 28 – vs New York Red Bulls II
August (3 home, 2 away)
Friday, August 3 – @ Ottawa Fury FC
Wednesday, August 8 – vs Charleston Battery
Saturday, August 11 – vs North Carolina FC
Wednesday, August 22 – @ Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Saturday, August 25 – vs FC Cincinnati
September (2 home, 3 away)
Saturday, September 1 – @ North Carolina FC
Saturday, September 8 – @ Charleston Battery
Saturday, September 15 – vs Atlanta United FC 2
Tuesday, September 18 – @ Nashville SC
Saturday, September 22 – vs Richmond Kickers
October (1 home, 2 away)
Wednesday, October 3 – @ Atlanta United 2
Saturday, October 6 – vs Charlotte Independence
Sunday, October 14 – @ Bethlehem Steel FC
