United Soccer League Expansion Continues with Addition of Tampa Bay Rowdies

League Adds One of the Country’s Most-Renowned Soccer Brands

(TAMPA, Fla.) – The United Soccer League (USL) – the largest professional soccer organization under Major League Soccer (MLS) in North America with 29 teams across 19 states and three Canadian provinces – today announces the Tampa Bay Rowdies will be joining as a USL expansion team for 2017.

As one of the country’s most historic soccer brands, the Rowdies were the first professional sports franchise in the Tampa Bay area and remain one of the most recognizable teams in soccer. Originally established in 1975, they won the Soccer Bowl championship in its inaugural year then again in 2012. For the 2017 season, the Rowdies are expected to be placed in the USL’s Eastern Division.

“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 with a storied soccer brand while meeting our key tenets of market size, committed local ownership and stadium development. Today’s announcement further validates us as the most sophisticated, best organized, fastest growing and most competitive league under MLS.

Tampa Bay is the country’s 11th largest media market.

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

Situated on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, the iconic Al Lang Stadium, capacity 7,227, has transformed over the last two seasons. Edwards took over management of the city-owned facility historically known for baseball spring training and invested millions of dollars turning it into a proper soccer venue. The diamond was removed, the pitch leveled, and new turf, drainage and irrigation systems installed. The entire venue was pressure washed and painted, new seats were installed both in the stadium bowl and along the touchline, and the locker rooms were completely refurbished. A team store was added and a state-of-the-art videoboard was installed.

“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,” said Papadakis. “A renowned philanthropist, Bill has donated significant money for children and veterans causes.”

The 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 League has more than doubled in size since 2014 and has built a stable, highly-competitive professional soccer league positioned for long-term success. This year, USL introduced six teams. For 2017 along with Tampa Bay, Reno 1868 FC will enter the league as well as Nashville SC for 2018 and additional expansion on the horizon.

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, with 29 teams in 19 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces during the recent 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 marked the introduction of six teams - Bethlehem Steel FC, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC, San Antonio FC and the Swope Park Rangers. The league has confirmed the additions of Reno 1868 FC, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC in 2017 and Nashville SC in 2018. The USL's teams are divided into two conferences - Eastern and Western - with each team playing 32 regular season games starting in 2017. In addition to league play, USL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various domestic and international exhibitions. The USL is the strongest U.S. men's professional soccer league below Major League Soccer. Follow the USL at USLSoccer.com, on YouTube (www.YouTube.com/USL), and on social media via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram.

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