Michael Fitzharris

The Tampa Bay Rowdies are the professional soccer team in St. Petersburg, Florida, a part of the United Soccer League Championship (USL). Home games are played at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. The Rowdies were the first professional sports franchise in the area and remain one of the most recognizable and well-loved brands in soccer. Originally established in 1975, the team won the NASL Soccer Bowl championship in its inaugural year and created a unique, entertaining and memorable franchise with the Fannies, Wowdies and unforgettable Kick in the Grass theme song. In 2008, a group of investors announced the purchase of rights to a professional soccer franchise and the newly established team began play in 2010. In 2012, the Rowdies won the NASL Soccer Bowl Championship after a thrilling shoot-out victory in front of a sold out crowd at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. In December of 2013, St. Petersburg philanthropist Bill Edwards announced he acquired the controlling interest of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In October of 2018 the Tampa Bay Rays and Stuart Sternberg purchased the Rowdies.