The Tampa Bay Rowdies couldn’t win a second consecutive North American Soccer League title in 2013, but back on Dec. 12 the team made a deal to ensure it’s long-term viability.
In front of a banner reading, “A New Era,” the team announced St. Petersburg businessman Bill Edwards had become the new majority owner of the team.
“We intend to continue to build this team in St. Petersburg and preach to the visibility of it and keep it winning,’’ Edwards said. “We won in 2012, there’s no reason why we can’t win again this year.”
Edwards, the owner of St. Petersburg based Mortgage Investors Corporation, said the purchase of the team took three months. Terms of the deal were not released.
The team’s former-majority owner David Laxer remains with the team as a minority owner and will keep his seat on the Rowdies’ Board of Directors. Rowdies’ president and general manager, Andrew Nestor, will retain his positions with the team and serve as a minority owner.
The Edwards-led group also announced at the press conference that 1,100 seats would be added to the south side of the stadium. The luxury green and gold seats will be sold as club and reserved seating. The player bench will also be integrated into the new seats, getting Rowdies fans closer to the team.
Edwards said he is determined to keep the team in its current location and make improvements to Al Lang Stadium. Nestor said the team was exploring other upgrades, like a new scoreboard.
“I think in the future, that would make a wonderful 20,000-seat stadium for someone,” Edwards said. “Whether that happens or not is up to a lot of different factors, but that would be a great thing to see.”
With the new ownership group, the team’s operating budget will increase. The group’s first move was resigning head coach Ricky Hill, whose contract expired at the end of the 2013 season. The Rowdies also resigned team-captain Frankie Sanfillippo, Shane Hill, goalkeeper Diego Restrepo and NASL MVP Georgi Hristov. They also acquired Lucky Mkosana and defender Blake Wagner.
On Dec. 24, the team signed NASL 2013 golden boot winner, Brian Shiver to a four-year contract with team options for the last two years. Shiver scored 15 goals in 2013 playing for the Carolina RailHawks.
The Rowdies begin the 2014 season on April 12 when they host FC Edmonton at Al Lang Stadium.
