http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/fc-tampa-bay-considers-playing-soccer-at-st-petersburgs-al-lang-field/1143884

The FC Tampa Bay professional soccer franchise could call downtown St. Petersburg home this season.

The team, entering its second season as part of a Division 2 league, is in talks with the city to play its 2011 home games at Al Lang Field, officials from both sides said.

"We are in discussions with the city of St. Petersburg and Al Lang Field as a potential option for 2011," said Jeff Kamis, FC Tampa Bay's executive vice president for business development. "We are also looking at other venues in the Tampa Bay area and hope to have a formal announcement soon."

St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster said the city and the club "were in discussions" over using the Rays' former spring training home.

"I have spoken with them," Foster said. "But that's all I can tell you."

He wouldn't say when the discussions started or if a deal with the club is pending.

"I'm honored to be considered," Foster said.

FC Tampa Bay played its inaugural season at Tampa's Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the Yankees and home of one of their minor-league teams. The team has been considering several options for a new home, including USF and the University of Tampa, and staying at Steinbrenner has been a possibility.

While the team would be moving to another baseball stadium, FC Tampa Bay would be Al Lang Field's primary tenant. That likely would allow it to configure a field better suited for players and fans.

Plans are in the works to cover the in-play infield dirt — which presented problems for players at Steinbrenner — with grass or artificial turf and remove the plate and mound area to create better sight lines for fans.

The layout will be similar to that of the Portland Timbers, who had great success playing at a minor-league baseball stadium before moving up to Division 1 Major League Soccer effective this season. (Its stadium currently is being converted to soccer-only.)

Playing at Al Lang still would appear to be a short-term deal. The team still plans to build a soccer-only stadium in the next few years.

FC Tampa Bay, which recently changed its name from the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the wake of an 18-month trademark infringement lawsuit with a Dallas apparel company, brought professional soccer to the bay area for the first time since 2001, when the MLS's Tampa Bay Mutiny folded.

The inaugural home game drew an announced 8,082 fans, but attendance declined as the season progressed, summer temperatures increased and the team struggled to a 7-12-11 record.

FC Tampa Bay drew 3,886 per game, which was among the leaders in the 12-team USSF Division 2. But the announced crowd topped 4,500 just four times, and none after the fifth of 15 home games.

This season, most home games will be played on Saturday nights, including the opener on April 9. Last season the team played just five home games on Saturday.

After starting 5-1-3, Tampa Bay won just twice after May 29, missing the playoffs. Coach Paul Dalglish was fired Sept. 23 with two games remaining. A new coach is expected to be hired in the next few weeks.

Times staff writer Michael Van Sickler contributed to this report.


Another article claims FC Tampa Bay could build a permanent stadium on the Al Lang site: http://www.examiner.com/sports-in-tampa-bay/soccer-anyone-is-a-second-professional-sports-team-headed-to-st-petersburg


What do you guys think of this?

I actually approve of this.

I think it's cool, but I also think it's stupid that they can't call them the Rowdies.

Meh, I doubt Al Lang would be any better in the end. They need a SSS or at least a soccer stadium without the baseball infield. Moving to St. Pete would also likely hurt their attendance, IMO.

Steve

Meh, I doubt Al Lang would be any better in the end. They need a SSS or at least a soccer stadium without the baseball infield.

Sounds like they agree:

Playing at Al Lang still would appear to be a short-term deal. The team still plans to build a soccer-only stadium in the next few years.

Al Lang has the advantage that they can better work around the baseball field. Legends Field is a baseball field first and foremost.

Meh, I doubt Al Lang would be any better in the end. They need a SSS or at least a soccer stadium without the baseball infield. Moving to St. Pete would also likely hurt their attendance, IMO.

Steve

Where does it say they have to keep the baseball infield beyond this spring when the international teams play?

Why the hell can't they get a deal with UT? Centrally located, lots of international students on campus....

Why the hell can't they get a deal with UT? Centrally located, lots of international students on campus....

The stadium has 1,500 bleacher seats and not much room for any temporary stands.

Where does it say they have to keep the baseball infield beyond this spring when the international teams play?

Good point. I suppose I assumed they would keep it, just like Legends Field. However, Legends has the Tampa Yankees in the summer so that may not be an issue at Al Land.

Steve

Why the hell can't they get a deal with UT? Centrally located, lots of international students on campus....

It is really to small, and there is the ever present issue of concessions.

Steve

I don't understand why the Glazers keep selling the area short. I guess nobody else sees it, but I swear they're as bad as Culverhouse these days.

Are they pulling more than 1500 a game? Its minor league football, err soccer. If they are so concerned about concessions, design a decent looking temp trailer/mobile unit.

Are they pulling more than 1500 a game? Its minor league football, err soccer. If they are so concerned about concessions, design a decent looking temp trailer/mobile unit.



They averaged 3,800 a game last year and that was playing in a baseball stadium with awful sight lines, and a decent amount of games falling on week days due to conflicts with the Tampa Yankees.


Here is a game by game break down.....



Game 1: Saturday, May 8 - 8,082
Game 2: Thursday, May 27 - 3,886
Game 3: Saturday, May 29 - 5,023
Game 4: Saturday, June 12 - 4,787
Game 5: Sunday, July 4 - 5,123
Game 6: Thursday, July 15 - 2,742
Game 7: Thursday, July 22 -3,882
Game 8: Sunday, July 25 - 3,226
Game 9: Saturday, July 31 - 4,417
Game 10: Thursday, Aug. 19 - 2,562
Game 11: Wednesday, Aug. 26 - 1,825
Game 12: Sunday, Aug. 29 - 3,389
Game 13: Thursday, Sept. 16 - 1,698
Game 14: Friday, Sept. 24 - 3,006
Game 15: Friday, Oct. 1 - 4,348

I thought these guys were promising to build a stadium ASAP (not in a "few years")... and now they're moving to another baseball field - in a worse location - where you can expect attendance to drop by at least a third?

FC Tampa Bay
2010 - Inaugural season
2011 - Final season

I thought these guys were promising to build a stadium ASAP (not in a "few years")... and now they're moving to another baseball field - in a worse location - where you can expect attendance to drop by at least a third?

FC Tampa Bay
2010 - Inaugural season
2011 - Final season

It takes a while to build a stadium... Their first site got turned down by the neighborhood so it was back to the drawing board.

Are they pulling more than 1500 a game? Its minor league football, err soccer. If they are so concerned about concessions, design a decent looking temp trailer/mobile unit.

I meant profits and actual item sales. Many locations suggested on other forums (and here) have suggested stadiums that would not/cannot sell alcohol. I am not sure if UT can, but I bet they cannot. That is a problem with many sites....concessions are a major money maker in the scheme of things. Hopefully they do not end up like the Aztek and move away...

Steve

Wow, 3800 isn't terrible. I just hope they stay out of RayJay as sparse crowds in a huge stadium looks terrible.

Wow, 3800 isn't terrible. I just hope they stay out of RayJay as sparse crowds in a huge stadium looks terrible.

I doubt they will move to Ray Jay any time soon, it is just too large for their fan base. Also, concessions in RJ is a major issue too. It is one of the reasons that the Mutiny folded, among others of course (namely ownership). The Glazers were taking a huge percentage of the concessions profits from the Mutiny.

If they end up sticking around I would see them playing in a baseball stadium or simliar for another 2 years and then moving into a SSS. The ownership is still talking about a location near DT, and it is rumored they would like to build it in conjunction with UT...but who knows.

Steve

Wow, 3800 isn't terrible. I just hope they stay out of RayJay as sparse crowds in a huge stadium looks terrible.

Ray Jay wouldn't work unless the crowds were about triple what they are now... And if the crowds are that big, then they can afford their own stadium, rather than give a huuuge chunk of revs to the Glazers... Like I said above, the Glazers are screwing this community, and most people don't even realize it.

It takes a while to build a stadium... Their first site got turned down by the neighborhood so it was back to the drawing board.
It takes a while if there is no urgency, ambition, and competence. But this is a fairly straightforward project, and if they actually had their stuff sorted, it would be far along already.

I'm pretty sure, as tampasteve said, that they were discussing a joint project with UT, but it has been months since that was reported, and therefore, I can only assume that is no longer a priority, or was just a diversion.

Last year, this was a bad team, playing in a bad stadium (for soccer), with a bad schedule, yet they still drew really well. By wasting time and becoming a nomadic entity, you're killing any momentum you might have had.

And frankly, it doesn't matter if they play all of their matches on the weekend. Playing games at Al Lang is going to destroy attendance, so by the time they move forward with plans for a new stadium, there is going to be little interest left in the team. Or for cynical people like myself, a more likely scenario is that they have discovered that this is not going to be a winning venture long-term, so they try to slowly suffocate the team allowing them to blame everyone but themselves. These are owners of a sports franchise after all, aren't they?

Rumor is this is a done deal and they're announcing it tomorrow at a morning press conference.

http://saintpetersblog.com/2011/01/18/fc-tampa-bay-will-play-soccer-at-st-petersburgs-al-lang-field/

But who knows, could be false.

Update:
More sources:
http://www.examiner.com/sports-in-tampa-bay/former-rowdies-player-and-coach-ricky-hill-named-as-head-coach-of-fc-tampa-bay

A press conference has been called for Wednesday where FC Tampa Bay is expected to announce they will be playing their 2011 season at Al Lang Field in downtown St. Petersburg. Mayor Bill Foster will be in attendance.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Former Rowdies player and coach Ricky Hill named as head coach of FC Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay Sports | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/sports-in-tampa-bay/former-rowdies-player-and-coach-ricky-hill-named-as-head-coach-of-fc-tampa-bay#ixzz1BSHBja2L

Posted via Twitter. FC Tampa Bay posted the layout of the field at Al Lang:

http://twitpic.com/3rixs2

I put together a list of the teams in the same division as FC Tampa Bay and their attendance average per game for comparison:


1374 NSC Minnesota Stars Founded 2009
4000-6000 Puerto Rico Islanders Founded 2003
12,397 Montreal Impact Founded 1992
1,254 Miami FC Founded 2005
3506 FC Edmonton Founded 2009
2,241 Carolina Railhawks FC Founded 2006
3,866 FC Tampa Bay Founded 2008

Also I included the founding date because for teams like Montreal they've been around for over 15 years so their attendance would be higher.

I put together a list of the teams in the same division as FC Tampa Bay and their attendance average per game for comparison:


1374 NSC Minnesota Stars Founded 2009
4000-6000 Puerto Rico Islanders Founded 2003
12,397 Montreal Impact Founded 1992
1,254 Miami FC Founded 2005
3506 FC Edmonton Founded 2009
2,241 Carolina Railhawks FC Founded 2006
3,866 FC Tampa Bay Founded 2008

Also I included the founding date because for teams like Montreal they've been around for over 15 years so their attendance would be higher.



And with Montreal leaving for MLS next year, as long as Tampa Bay can keep it's attendance in that 3500-4000 range we'll be one of the top flight D-2 clubs. Not a HUGE accomplishment but pretty sweet.

I put together a list of the teams in the same division as FC Tampa Bay and their attendance average per game for comparison:


1374 NSC Minnesota Stars Founded 2009
4000-6000 Puerto Rico Islanders Founded 2003
12,397 Montreal Impact Founded 1992
1,254 Miami FC Founded 2005
3506 FC Edmonton Founded 2009
2,241 Carolina Railhawks FC Founded 2006
3,866 FC Tampa Bay Founded 2008

Also I included the founding date because for teams like Montreal they've been around for over 15 years so their attendance would be higher.

How is FC Edmonton on the list? They were only founded in 2010 and start play in 2011. Is it a different club?

Steve

How is FC Edmonton on the list? They were only founded in 2010 and start play in 2011. Is it a different club?

Steve

This is what wikipedia says:
The team spent 2010 preparing for its first competitive season in 2011, signing players, establishing the coaching and administrative setup, and playing in exhibition games.

The field's orientation at Steinbrenner Field was clearly superior. The problem was the dirt infield and such.

http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Steinbrenner_Field.jpg

The field's orientation at Steinbrenner Field was clearly superior. The problem was the dirt infield and such.

http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Steinbrenner_Field.jpg

Other problems were parking costing more than tickets and high concession prices. Also, I read somewhere that Al Lang has a larger outfield and allows for a full sized field as opposed to Steinbrenner Field...but I could be mistaken.