From "A Kick in the Grass" to World Cup?

 No. 32 Takuya Yamada during the May 29th game against the Puerto Rico Islanders. The Rowdies won, 2-1. Photo by Matt May, courtesy of Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Before the Bucs, before the Lightning, and before the Rays, we had the Rowdies. Tampa Bay's first major professional sports team --not counting the many Grapefruit League teams who have made us their winter homes -- won the North American Soccer League title in 1975, the same year they debuted. The original Rowdies played in four different leagues between 1975 and 1993 when they disbanded. Check IGTB p. 178 for more history on the original "Kick in the Grass" Rowdies.

After almost 17 years, professional soccer returned to the Tampa Bay area last month when the new FC Tampa Bay Rowdies beat Baltimore in their first game in the United Soccer Leagues.

And, while we may have lost out on our most recent bid for the Super Bowl, which we have hosted four times now, Tampa Bay is in the running to host a FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup game or games in 2018 or 2022.


Want to show your support? Go to Visit Tampa Bay or the Go USA Bid Web site for more info. Or click the online petition below.