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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 8, 2016) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies have been busy building their roster this offseason as they continue preparations for the debut season in the United Soccer League in 2017. Over the course of the coming days, the Rowdies will announce the first eight members of their 2017 roster. 

Tampa Bay’s franchise leader in goals scored is set to return in 2017, with Bulgarian forward Georgi Hristov opting to re-sign with the club pending league and USSF approval. Per club and league policy, further contract details were not disclosed.

Hristov is set to return for his fifth season with the Rowdies, having eclipsed the 100 league appearances for Tampa Bay late last year. 2016 was a resurgent year for the 2013 league MVP, scoring 11 goals and adding four assists to lead the club with 26 points. Hristov is Tampa Bay’s all-time leading scorer with 34 league goals, plus an additional four in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play.

On September 24, Hristov bagged the first hat trick in modern Rowdies history, scoring three goals in a 4-1 win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Hristov is the franchise leader in multiple goal games with six.

“I’m so happy to re-sign with the Rowdies,” Hristov said. “I’ve been with this club for a long time now and it is definitely my home. My family and I are happy that I’m able to continue on with the Rowdies and I’m looking forward to another year playing in front of our great fans.”

Since joining the Rowdies in 2013, Hristov has made 111 competitive appearances, playing nearly 9,000 minutes. He played in all but one match last season.

“Making sure Georgi came back for another year was a priority of ours this offseason,” Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. “He’s a fantastic player and a great example to have in our locker room of how a professional should act. He takes care of himself and his teammates and we’re delighted to continue on with him.”

The Tampa Bay Rowdies kick off their inaugural USL Season in March 2017 and they’ll need your support to make it a memorable one. Secure season tickets before December 30 and save money on tickets. To purchase, call (727) 222-2000 or click here.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (November 18, 2016) — With the Tampa Bay Rowdies set to make their debut in the United Soccer League in March, a new set of opponents await. To help introduce Rowdies fans to their new USL adversaries, the Rowdies are publishing a three-part primer on Tampa Bay’s Eastern Conference opponents. This is part three. Click here to see part one and part two.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

First season: 1999
2016 record: 6W-17L-7T, 25 points, -19 Goal Differential, 13th place
2016 postseason: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Dave Brandt
Stadium: Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (capacity: 3,500)

Pittsburgh’s 2016 roster featured a few former Rowdies, including Corey Hertzog, who led the team in scoring with 14 goals. The Riverhounds struggled as a team, though, finishing ahead of only last-place FC Montreal in the Eastern Conference standings. Tampa Bay fans may remember facing the Riverhounds in the Third Round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a 1-0 Pittsburgh win.

Richmond Kickers

First season: 1993
2016 record: 12W-9L-9T, 45 points, +7 Goal Differential, 7th place
2016 postseason: Eliminated 2-0 after extra time by Louisville City in quarterfinals
Head Coach: Leigh Cowlishaw
Stadium: City Stadium, Richmond, Virginia (capacity: 22,000)

Richmond is one of the oldest professional soccer in the United States still in operation, having kicked off its inaugural season in 1993. Head Coach Leigh Cowlishaw has shown remarkable longevity, coaching the Kickers since 2000. Last year, the Kickers finished as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, but were ousted in the quarterfinals.

Rochester Rhinos

First season: 1996
2016 record: 13W-5L-12T, 51 points, +13 Goal Differential, 4th place
2016 postseason: Defeated Charlotte Independence 3-1 in quarterfinals, eliminated in penalty kicks by NYRB II in semifinals
Head Coach: Robert Lilley
Stadium: Rochester Rhinos Stadium, Rochester, New York (capacity: 13,768)

Another of the Eastern Conference’s longest-running teams, Rochester is famous for winning the 1999 U.S. Open Cup, still the only non-MLS team to win it since MLS began play in 1996. The Rowdies and Rhinos have actually been in a league together before, facing off in the USSF D-II Pro League in 2010, with the Rhinos winning both games.

Toronto FC II

First season: 2015
2016 record: 7W-18L-5T, 26 points, -22 Goal Differential, 12th place
2016 postseason: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Jason Bent
Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada (capacity: 3,500)

Toronto FC II has struggled in both of its season so far, failing to earn a postseason berth in either. For the past two seasons, TFC II’s roster has featured Tampa Bay native and former USF Bull Wesley Charpie.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (November 17, 2016)– With the Tampa Bay Rowdies set to make their debut in the United Soccer League in March, a new set of opponents await. To help introduce Rowdies fans to their new USL adversaries, the Rowdies are publishing a three-part primer on Tampa Bay’s Eastern Conference opponents. This is part two. To see part one, click here.

Harrisburg City Islanders

First season: 2004
2016 record: 8W-15L-7T, 31 points, -17 Goal Differential, 10th place
2016 postseason: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Bill Becher
Stadium: FNB Field, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (capacity: 6,187)

Harrisburg City has been one of the USL’s most consistent teams since its first season in 2004. Head Coach Bill Becher is the only head coach in club history having just finished his 13th season in charge. The Islanders were in the USL Final as recently as 2014 when they lost to Sacramento.

Louisville City FC

First season: 2015
2016 record: 17W-4L-9T, 60 points, +25 Goal Differential, 2nd place
2016 postseason: Defeated Richmond Kickers 2-0 in quarterfinals, defeated Charleston Battery 1-0 in semifinals, eliminated in penalty kicks by New York Red Bulls II in conference final
Head Coach: James O’Connor
Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, Kentucky (capacity: 8,000)

Louisville City is off to a great start in its short club history, proving itself a strong organization in its first two years on the field. Louisville City has finished in second place in the Eastern Conference in both of its two seasons, but hasn’t yet reached a USL Cup final.

New York Red Bulls II

First season: 2015
2016 record: 21W-3L-6T, 69 points, +40 Goal Differential, 1st place
2016 postseason: Defeated Orlando City B 4-0 in quarterfinals, defeated Rochester Rhinos in penalty kicks in semifinals, defeated Louisville City in penalty kicks in conference final, defeated Swope Park Rangers 5-1 in USL Cup final.
Head Coach: John Wolyniec
Stadium: Pittser Soccer Complex, Montclair New Jersey (Played at Red Bull Arena in 2015 and 2016)

New York Red Bulls II will enter the 2017 season as the defending champions having dominated the USL last season en route to a title. New York’s 69 points and +40 Goal Differential were, by far, the best in the league. NYRB II needed penalty kicks to win two of its playoff matches, but cruised to a 5-1 win in the championship game.

Orlando City B

First season: 2016
2016 record: 9W-13L-8T, 35 points, -14 Goal Differential, 8th place
2016 postseason: Eliminated 4-0 by NYRB II in quarterfinals
Head Coach: Anthony Pulis
Stadium: Titan Soccer Complex, Melbourne, Florida (capacity 3,500)

Orlando City B reached the playoffs in its inaugural season in 2016, winning on the final weekend of the regular season to qualify as the No. 8 seed. OCB’s playoff run didn’t last long, being eliminated by the eventual champion NYRB II 4-0 in the conference quarterfinals.

Ottawa Fury FC

First season: 2014
2016 record (NASL): 7W-15L-10T, 31 points, -8 Goal Differential, 10th place
2016 postseason: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Paul Dalglish
Stadium: TD Place, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (capacity 24,000)

The Ottawa Fury FC will be no strangers to the Rowdies, with the teams having faced off against each other in the NASL for the past three seasons. Ottawa’s most successful season came in 2015, when the Fury FC lost in the championship match.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (November 16, 2016) — With the Tampa Bay Rowdies set to make their debut in the United Soccer League in March, a new set of opponents await. To help introduce Rowdies fans to their new USL adversaries, the Rowdies are publishing a three-part primer on Tampa Bay’s Eastern Conference opponents.

In part one, we’ll introduce the first set of five Eastern Conference foes. Check back the next two days to meet the rest of the field.

Bethlehem Steel FC

First season: 2016
2016 record: 6W-14L-10T, 28 points, -11 Goal Differential, 11th place
2016 postseason: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Brendan Burke
Stadium: Goodman Stadium, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (capacity: 16,000)

Bethlehem Steel FC is owned and operated by Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union and made its debut in the 2016 season. The name is a throwback to a legendary amateur team from the early 1900s that won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup five times, tied for the most in history.

Charleston Battery

First season: 1993
2016 record: 13W-8L-9T, 48 points, +5 Goal Differential, 6th place
2016 postseason: Defeated FC Cincinnati 2-1 in quarterfinals, eliminated by 1-0 loss to Louisville City in semifinals
Head Coach: Mike Anhaeuser
Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina (capacity: 5,113)

The Charleston Battery is one of the oldest professional soccer clubs still operating in the United States. Founded in 1993, the Battery have won league titles in four different leagues. In 1999, the Battery opened its current stadium, the first soccer-specific stadium built in the U.S. Charleston is affiliated with Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC.

Charlotte Independence

First season: 2015
2016 record: 14W-8L-8T, 50 points, +19 Goal Differential, 5th place
2016 postseason: Lost 3-1 to Rochester Rhinos in quarterfinals
Head Coach: Mike Jeffries
Stadium: Ramblewood Soccer Complex, Charlotte, North Carolina (capacity: 4,700)

The Charlotte Independence played their first season in 2015, replacing the USL’s Charlotte Eagles, which moved down to the amateur PDL level. After missing the playoffs in their inaugural season, the Independence reached the postseason for the first time this past season.

FC Cincinnati

First season: 2016
2016 record: 16W-6L-8T, 56 points, +14 Goal Differential, 3rd place
2016 postseason:  Lost 2-1 to Charleston Battery in quarterfinals
Head Coach: John Harkes
Stadium: Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio (capacity: 35,061)

FC Cincinnati had a hugely successful inaugural season in 2016, playing in front of some of the largest crowds in the United States. FC Cincinnati averaged 17,296 fans per game and drew a USL record 24,376 for a regular season match against Orlando City B. The Rowdies beat FC Cincinnati 1-0 in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup this season.

FC Montreal

First season: 2015
2016 record: 7W-21L-2T, 23 points, -22 Goal Differential, 14th place
2016 postseason: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Philippe Eullaffroy
Stadium: Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (capacity: 3,500). Occasional games at Montreal Olympic Stadium (capacity: 66,308)

FC Montreal is owned and operated by Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact and has played two seasons in the USL without qualifying for the playoffs in either year. In 2016, FC Montreal finished in last place in the Eastern Conference. The Rowdies played FC Montreal to a 1-1 draw in a preseason friendly in March of 2015.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (November 15, 2016) — With the Tampa Bay Rowdies set to make their debut in the United Soccer League in 2017, there will be an adjustment period for fans as new teams play at Al Lang Stadium and new rules come into effect.

To help with that transition, here’s a hopefully helpful guide to some of the similarities and differences between the NASL and USL. The information below are based on the 2016 USL League Manual, unless otherwise noted, and is subject to change in 2017.

The biggest differences come in the league format and scheduling departments. The USL is split into Eastern and Western Conferences, rather than a single table. The Rowdies will no longer play split Spring and Fall Seasons to determine playoff berths with an additional Combined Standings table. Tampa Bay’s 2017 schedule will be a single 32-game slate (up from 30 in 2016) to qualify for a postseason berth. There will no longer be a summer break in the Rowdies’ schedule.

The postseason format is different as well, with eight teams each from the Eastern and Western Conferences advancing to a single-legged, single-elimination playoff tournament lasting four weeks. The 2016 USL Cup was won by New York Red Bulls II over the Western Conference’s Swope Park Rangers.

Tampa Bay’s 32-game schedule figures to primarily feature Eastern Conference opponents, which we’ll be introducing to you in the coming days. The Rowdies will visit each Eastern Conference opponent once and host each Eastern Conference opponent once for a total of 30 games. The remaining four games can be against any team from either conference, provided the Rowdies do not play any team more than three times in the regular season.

But there are similarities.

A rule change coming into effect for the 2017 USL season will see the league allow up to three substitutions per team in each match, down from five allowable substitutions in past seasons.

Roster composition in the USL is the same, with the Rowdies allowed a roster of up to 30 players, including up to seven international players.

For season tickets for our exciting first season in the United Soccer League, call (727) 222-2000.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Tuesday, October 25, 2016) – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced today that the club will be joining the United Soccer League (USL) for the 2017 season.

“We are excited to join the United Soccer League in 2017,” said Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards. “I have said from the day I acquired controlling interest in this club that I wanted to make it one of the most successful teams in North America. The USL is a vibrant league, and this move is a necessary and positive step toward reaching the long-term goals and objectives of the club.”

“With our league headquartered in Tampa, we are pleased to welcome the Rowdies to the USL for next season,” said Alec Papadakis, the Chief Executive Officer of the USL. “This allows us to expand our footprint into the Southeast with a storied soccer brand while meeting our key tenets of market size, committed local ownership and stadium development. In Bill Edwards, we have a dedicated local owner who has invested heavily in the team’s stadium, front office and media efforts and is considered one of the marketplace’s top business and forward-thinking leaders. Bill is a renowned philanthropist and has donated significant money for children and veterans causes.”

The just completed 2016 season saw the USL record a total attendance of almost 1.5 million for its 29 teams, a 33 percent increase from 2015. The USL has more than doubled in size since 2014 and has built a stable, highly-competitive professional soccer league positioned for long-term success. The 2016 season featured the introduction of six teams and the League will also welcome Reno 1868 FC in 2017 and Nashville SC for 2018, with additional expansion on the horizon.

The USL’s teams are divided into two conferences – Eastern and Western – with each team playing 32 regular season games for the 2017 season that kicks-off on the weekend of March 24-26. The Rowdies are expected to be placed in the USL’s Eastern Conference.

About United Soccer League
The United Soccer League, the longest-standing professional affiliate member of U.S. Soccer, is the largest professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and the world, currently with 29 teams in 19 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces for the 2016 season.  The USL has more than doubled in size since 2014 and built a stable, highly competitive professional soccer league on a national footprint with strong ownership groups in major markets positioned for long-term success.

The 2016 season has marked the introduction of six teams – Bethlehem Steel FC, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC, San Antonio FC and Swope Park Rangers. The league has confirmed the addition of Reno 1868 FC in 2017 and Nashville FC in 2018. The USL’s teams are divided into two conferences – Eastern and Western – with each team playing 30 regular season games. In addition to league play, USL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various domestic and international exhibitions.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (October 30, 2016) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies closed their 2016 season with a wild game, surrendering a pair of late goals to lose 3-2 to the Jacksonville Armada FC at Community First Park on Sunday afternoon.

Tampa Bay lead 2-0 after 20 minutes after goals scored by Martin Vingaard and Keith Savage and still led 2-1 past the 80th minute, but two Armada FC goals within a minute of one another sent the Rowdies into the offseason with a loss.

Jacksonville’s Alhassane Keita pulled the Armada FC within one before halftime, and then had goals scored in the 82nd and 83rd minutes by Jemal Johnson and Zach Steinberger, respectively, to pull ahead.

Neither side was in postseason contention coming into the match, but the Rowdies still came in with the expectation of winning.

“We made a lot of changes, but I still expected to go out there and get the result we wanted,” Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. “We wanted to finish the season with a victory.”

The Rowdies were handcuffed by a number of key absences and also gave goalkeeper Chris Glodack his professional debut in the match. Tampa Bay’s top three offensive players this season, Joe Cole, Georgi Hristov and Eric Avila, were all unavailable for the match. Right back Darnell King was also unavailable for the Rowdies.

Tampa Bay’s goals were both well taken, including a crazy finish from distance.

Vingaard’s goal came early, in just the fourth minute, and was a sublime finish. Vingaard spotted Jacksonville goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo too far off his line and chipped from 40 yards out to put the Rowdies ahead.

Savage’s goal, his third of the season, was a perfect header from a Michael Nanchoff free kick.

“Martin’s goal was a great one,” Campbell said. “And Keith’s was a very nice header. It was about time we scored one from a set piece.”

Even with the abnormal lineup, Tampa Bay was still just eight minutes away from closing the season with a 2-1 win before the trouble started.

A Jacksonville corner kick was cleared partially by the Rowdies in the 82nd minute, but fell to the Armada FC’s Jemal Johnson 12 yards out from goal. With time to pick his spot, Johnson played a delicate chip that looped over Glodack’s head and toward the goal. Tampa Bay’s Walter Ramirez tried to clear it off the line, but was unable.

Less than a minute later, directly from the restart, the Armada FC’s Derek Gebhard cut in from near the corner flag and found a streaking Steinberger for the go-ahead goal.

“The two goals that we conceded in about a minute, that’s extremely frustrating,” Campbell said. “The second goal came from a set piece that we should have defended better and then we just didn’t click back on in time for the third goal and it cost us.”

Scoring Summary
Rowdies: Martin Vingaard – 4th minute 
Rowdies: Keith Savage – 19th minute (Assisted by Michael Nanchoff)
Jacksonville: Alhassane Keita – 29th minute (Assisted by Zach Steinberger)
Jacksonville: Jemal Johnson – 83rd minute
Jacksonville: Zach Steinberger – 84th minute (Assisted by Derek Gebhard)

Caution Summary
Rowdies: Martin Vingaard – 45th minute
Jacksonville: Alex Dixon – 59th minute

Lineups
Rowdies XI (4-2-3-1): GK Chris Glodack; D Frankie Sanfilippo, Tamika Mkandawire (c), Neill Collins, Ben Sweat; M Juan Guerra, Keith Savage; M Michael Nanchoff, Freddy Adu, Martin Vingaard (Walter Ramirez 82′); F Tommy Heinemann (Carlos Preciado 79′)

Jacksonville Armada FC XI (4-3-3): GK Miguel Gallardo; D Bryan Burke, Mechack Jerome, Tyler Ruthven, Matt Bahner; M Nicklas Maripuu (Derek Gebhard  80′), Pekka Lagerblom (c) (Jemal Johnson 69′), Kevan George; F Zach Steinberger, Alhassane Keita (Alex Dixon 45′), Charles Eloundou