additionally there had been chants at the last few home games of “we want our club back” which is something we hear a lot in Europe but we never hear in the United States. Tampa Bay Rowdies fans are as sophisticated as any supporters in the United States and that chant per my interpretation can only mean one thing. And I think we know what that one thing is.
lots of moving parts here that I’m trying to piece together, but yes Brodie Brazil’s initial report was something I was able to confirm privately but I think there may have been progress between the Soccer -specific Rowdies staff and the city since then.
But still I don’t think the city is going to be that generous unless the team is sold so I do think it would be in the best interest of everybody concerned at this point especially when you consider the performance this season. What is happening thus far in 2025is a reflection in many ways of a club that has been at the very top of lower division Soccer and has more of a historic pedigree than just about any club playing this sport in this country, now being run by ownership that sees it as a secondary concern.
Also, we have to consider that the city did its part to rehabilitate Al Lang after damage from Helene. I’ve heard privately the city felt like that should engender some goodwill from the ownership and that quick rehab job allowed Tampa Bay to play this entire season in their home stadium whereas if the city had not put a priority on it, they like the Rays would’ve been forced to migrate across the bay either to Tampa or Bradenton.
Very interesting piece. The insights shared by the author and Kartik are very intriguing.
It would be very interesting if the USL ever tried to impose its will to force an ownership group to sell.
Off the top of my head, I cannot recall any previous chapter of the USL where the league has done that.
I’m not so sure how well that would go over with the other owners. I also don’t have any insights into whether or not the other owners really care what’s going on in Tampa Bay as long as the Rowdies are meeting their fixture and other league related responsibilities.
I honestly think that USL is more focused on obtaining more expansion fees and real estate “deals”.
The Rowdies situation is very different than Northern Colorado and Central Valley Fuego.
I really doubt that Mr. McDonough nor the Papadakis and company want to try to engage in hostilities with an owner that has the resources to return fire.
If MLB can make him disappear then he might get bored and put the Rowdies up for sale. Maybe a new ownership group with both the necessary capital and desire to run the team could come in and take over.
But what’s that old saying about “the devil you know…”? USL might be willing to just sit tight and see how things play out with the Rays.
additionally there had been chants at the last few home games of “we want our club back” which is something we hear a lot in Europe but we never hear in the United States. Tampa Bay Rowdies fans are as sophisticated as any supporters in the United States and that chant per my interpretation can only mean one thing. And I think we know what that one thing is.
lots of moving parts here that I’m trying to piece together, but yes Brodie Brazil’s initial report was something I was able to confirm privately but I think there may have been progress between the Soccer -specific Rowdies staff and the city since then.
But still I don’t think the city is going to be that generous unless the team is sold so I do think it would be in the best interest of everybody concerned at this point especially when you consider the performance this season. What is happening thus far in 2025is a reflection in many ways of a club that has been at the very top of lower division Soccer and has more of a historic pedigree than just about any club playing this sport in this country, now being run by ownership that sees it as a secondary concern.
Also, we have to consider that the city did its part to rehabilitate Al Lang after damage from Helene. I’ve heard privately the city felt like that should engender some goodwill from the ownership and that quick rehab job allowed Tampa Bay to play this entire season in their home stadium whereas if the city had not put a priority on it, they like the Rays would’ve been forced to migrate across the bay either to Tampa or Bradenton.
If I could like this article a thousand times I would
Very interesting piece. The insights shared by the author and Kartik are very intriguing.
It would be very interesting if the USL ever tried to impose its will to force an ownership group to sell.
Off the top of my head, I cannot recall any previous chapter of the USL where the league has done that.
I’m not so sure how well that would go over with the other owners. I also don’t have any insights into whether or not the other owners really care what’s going on in Tampa Bay as long as the Rowdies are meeting their fixture and other league related responsibilities.
I honestly think that USL is more focused on obtaining more expansion fees and real estate “deals”.
The Rowdies situation is very different than Northern Colorado and Central Valley Fuego.
I really doubt that Mr. McDonough nor the Papadakis and company want to try to engage in hostilities with an owner that has the resources to return fire.
If MLB can make him disappear then he might get bored and put the Rowdies up for sale. Maybe a new ownership group with both the necessary capital and desire to run the team could come in and take over.
But what’s that old saying about “the devil you know…”? USL might be willing to just sit tight and see how things play out with the Rays.