Tampa Bay Rowdies Eye Local Approval Of MLS Stadium Plans

The USL Tampa Bay Rowdies could take another step forward today in their quest to join MLS, as the St. Petersburg City Council will meet for a "non-binding discussion" of Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards' plan to "transform Al Lang Stadium" into a roughly 18,000-seat stadium. The proposal "would move forward only if the Rowdies gain an MLS franchise," and it "would need to be approved by voters in a referendum." The expansion fee and venue upgrades together could cost $230M, but Edwards said that he "won't ask the city, county or state for a dime" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/5). The Rowdies "aren't to be taken lightly in the MLS expansion race" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/4).

Meanwhile, Las Vegas is "renewing its drive to attract" an MLS franchise. The City Council yesterday voted 5-2 to pay Inner Circle Sports up to $80,000 to "market Las Vegas to possible investors" as an MLS market (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/5).