2017 Tampa Bay Rowdies season

The 2017 Tampa Bay Rowdies season was the club's eighth season of existence, and their first in the United Soccer League. Including the previous Tampa Bay Rowdies, this was the 24th season of a franchise in the Tampa Bay metro area with the Rowdies moniker. Including the now-defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny, this was the 30th season of professional soccer in the Tampa Bay region.

Tampa Bay Rowdies
2017 season
ChairmanBill Edwards
Head coachStuart Campbell
StadiumAl Lang Stadium
USL3rd (Eastern Conference)
USL CupConference Semifinals
U.S. Open CupThird Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Georgi Hristov (13)
All: Georgi Hristov (15)
Highest home attendance7,786 (sellout)
(Sep 23 vs. Charlotte)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 4,326
(Apr 1 vs. Toronto II)
All: 2,490
(May 16 vs. Jacksonville U23)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 5,663
All: 5,345
← 2016
2018 →

Club

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Roster

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As of September 24, 2017[1]
No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Nico Campbell   Jamaica
2 DF Darnell King   United States
3 DF Neill Collins   Scotland
4 MF Marcel Schäfer   Germany
7 FW Darwin Jones   United States
8 MF Wálter Restrepo   Colombia
9 MF Alex Morrell   United States
10 FW Georgi Hristov   Bulgaria
11 MF Leo Fernandes   Brazil
13 MF Justin Chavez   United States
14 DF Luke Boden   England
15 DF Zac Portillos   United States
17 DF Tamika Mkandawire   England
18 GK Matt Pickens   United States
19 FW Martin Paterson   Northern Ireland
21 MF Sebastián Guenzatti   Uruguay
22 MF Keith Savage   United States
23 MF Michael Nanchoff   United States
26 MF Joe Cole (captain)   England
27 DF Hunter Gorskie   United States
31 DF Damion Lowe   Jamaica
32 MF Martin Vingaard   Denmark
50 GK Akira Fitzgerald   United States
90 DF Kyle Porter   Canada

Technical staff

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Stuart Dobson, Stuart Campbell, and Raoul Voss
  •   Stuart CampbellHead coach
  •   Raoul VossAssistant coach
  •   Stuart DobsonGoalkeeper coach
  •   Cheyne RobertsRowdies 2 head coach
  •   Ryan Spurr – Director of Team Operations
  •   Jason Riley – Strength and conditioning coach
  •   Dr. Koco Eaton – Team physician/orthopedic surgeon
  •   Dr. Sanjay Menon – Team physician/orthopedic surgeon
  •   Dr. Christopher Salud – Team physician

Front office

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  •   Bill EdwardsChairman, chief executive officer and governor
  •   Andrew Nestor – Director
  •   David LaxerDirector
  •   Lee Cohen – Vice president and chief operating officer

Competitions

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Preseason

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The Rowdies began their preseason by co-hosting and participating in the 2017 Florida Cup. Tampa Bay also hosted Major League Soccer teams in the Suncoast Invitational for the second year in a row.

January 8, 2017 Florida Cup Tampa Bay Rowdies   0–2   VfL Wolfsburg St. Petersburg
16:45 EST (UTC−5) Vingaard   61' Report
TBR Report
Herrmann   6', 41' Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Referee: Jonathan Wener
January 14, 2017 Florida Cup Tampa Bay Rowdies   0–2   Atlético Mineiro St. Petersburg
16:00 EST (UTC−5) Nanchoff   29'
Vingaard   45'
Boden   68'
Report
TBR Report
Leonan   6'
Rodrigão   52'
Ananias   53'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
February 11, 2017 Scrimmage Orlando City SC 0–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Sanford
11:00 EST (UTC−5) Quote Sheet Stadium: Sylvan Lake Park
Attendance: Closed-door
February 18, 2017 Suncoast Invitational Tampa Bay Rowdies 0–1 Philadelphia Union St. Petersburg
19:30 EST (UTC−5) Mkandawire   55'
Collins   84'
Carr   88'
TBR Report
Report B
Tribbett   61'
Jones   71',   73'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
February 25, 2017 Suncoast Invitational Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–1 Montreal Impact St. Petersburg
19:30 EST (UTC−5) Cole   34'
Brown   40'
Hristov   74'
Porter   75'
Vingaard   77'
Boden   85'
TBR Report
Report B
Piatti   71' (pen.)
Cabrera   89'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
March 4, 2017 FitzFest Tampa Spartans 0–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa
= EST (UTC−5) Report Paterson   88' (Morrell) Stadium: Pepin Stadium
March 11, 2017 Friendly Jacksonville Armada FC 1–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Jacksonville
14:00 EST (UTC−5) Banks   48'
Blake   64'
Report Lowe   25'
Nanchoff   58'
Stadium: Patton Park
March 18, 2017 Friendly Miami FC 3–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Miami Gardens
11:00 EST (UTC−5) Pinho   67'
Pinho   68' (Poku)
Rennella   75' (pen.)
Report Stadium: St. Thomas University

The Rowdies completed the USL regular season in third place on the Eastern Conference table with 53 points. This was one point behind the second place, Charleston Battery, and nine behind table-toppers, Louisville City FC. Tampa Bay finished the season strongly, going unbeaten in their final seven matches, and losing only two of their final fifteen. Their top-four finish also guaranteed that they would host at least one playoff match.

USL Eastern Conference table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Louisville City FC (C) 32 18 8 6 58 31 +27 62 Conference Playoffs
2 Charleston Battery 32 15 9 8 53 33 +20 54
3 Tampa Bay Rowdies 32 14 11 7 50 35 +15 53
4 Rochester Rhinos 32 14 11 7 36 28 +8 53
5 Charlotte Independence 32 13 9 10 52 40 +12 48
6 FC Cincinnati 32 12 10 10 46 48 −2 46
7 New York Red Bulls II 32 13 5 14 57 60 −3 44
8 Bethlehem Steel FC 32 12 8 12 46 45 +1 44
9 Orlando City B 32 10 12 10 37 36 +1 42
10 Ottawa Fury 32 8 14 10 42 41 +1 38
11 Harrisburg City Islanders 32 10 7 15 28 47 −19 37
12 Saint Louis FC 32 9 9 14 35 48 −13 36
13 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 32 8 12 12 33 42 −9 36
14 Richmond Kickers 32 8 8 16 24 36 −12 32
15 Toronto FC II 32 6 7 19 27 54 −27 25
Source: 2017 USL standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots
(C) Champions

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
32 14 11 7 50 35  +15 53 10 5 1 27 10  +17 4 6 6 23 25  −2

Last updated: April 26, 2018.
Source: Match reports

Matches

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March 25, 2017 1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–0 Orlando City B St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Hristov   57' (pen.),   60' Report Neal   36'
Cox   90+4'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 7,710
Referee: Ted Unkel
April 1, 2016 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies 4–0 Toronto FC II St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Lowe   12'
Hristov   20'
Cole   22'
Brown   70'
Report Fraser   79' Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 4,326
Referee: Caleb Mendez
April 8, 2017 3 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–0 Ottawa Fury FC St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Hristov   47'
King   51'
Report Campbell   50'
Obasi   83'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,310
Referee: Matthew Miscannon
April 15, 2017 4 Louisville City FC 2–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Louisville
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Davis   22',   31'
Spencer   45+5'
Smith   83'
Lancaster   87'
Report Boden   57'
King   63'
Hristov   71'
Paterson   89'
Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field
Attendance: 9,074
Referee: Andrew Musashe
April 19, 2017 5 FC Cincinnati 1–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Cincinnati
19:00 EDT (UTC−4) Delbridge   36'
Bahner   58'
Dacres   75'
Report Schäfer   7'
Boden   20'
Nanchoff   65'
Lowe   70'
Stadium: Nippert Stadium
Attendance: 15,244
Referee: Jon Freemon
April 22, 2017 6 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–3 Charleston Battery St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Cole   34'
Hristov   62',   90'
Report Williams   38'
Lasso   40',   61'
Chang   45+2'
Woodbine   62'
Anunga   89'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,016
Referee: Jonathan Weiner
April 29, 2017 7 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–0 Richmond Kickers St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Lowe   40'
Brown   45'
Report Sekyere   88' Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 4,829
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
May 6, 2017 8 Ottawa Fury FC 0–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Ottawa
14:00 EDT (UTC−4) Salazar   18' Report Hristov   18'
Chavez   29'
King   33'
Stadium: TD Place Stadium
Attendance: 3,840
Referee: Yusri Rudolf
May 13, 2017 9 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–0 Louisville City FC St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) King   46'
Hristov   59'
Lowe   70'
Brown   72'
Collins   73'
Schäfer   78'
Pickens   89'
Report Craig   87' Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,410
Referee: Guido Gonzalez
May 19, 2017 10 Toronto FC II 1–3 Tampa Bay Rowdies Vaughan
17:00 EDT (UTC−4) Uccello   10'
Aubrey   45'
Spencer   62'
Alseth   83'
Report Schäfer   58'
Collins   63'
Cole   68'
Paterson   80'
Jones   82'
Nanchoff   87'
Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Attendance: 551
Referee: Carol Anne Chenard
May 24, 2017 11 Rochester Rhinos 1–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Rochester
19:05 EDT (UTC−4) Fall   24'
Garzi   39'
Report Hristov   33'
Lowe   55'
Nanchoff   81'
Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 1,140
Referee: Matthew Franz
May 27, 2017 12 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–1 Saint Louis FC St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Fernandes   6'
Morrell   39'
King   56'
Nanchoff   76'
Mkandawire   82'
Collins   87'
Report Charpie   12'
Alihodžić   41'
Plewa   54'
Angulo   59'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,068
Referee: Danielle Chesky
June 4, 2017 13 Charlotte Independence 2–2 Tampa Bay Rowdies Rock Hill
19:00 EDT (UTC−4) Martínez   45+3'
Castillo   51',   56'
Report Hristov   25' (pen.),   27'
Mkandawire   35'
Boden   71'
Savage   83',   86'
Stadium: Eagle Field
Attendance: 1,216
Referee: Dule Djurasevic
June 10, 2017 14 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–1 Rochester Rhinos St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Cole   19'
Collins   28'
Savage   58'
Nanchoff   89'
Report Graf   5'
Fall   68'
Kamdem   78'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,026
Referee: Kevin Broadley
June 17, 2017 15 Richmond Kickers 1–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Richmond
19:00 EDT (UTC−4) Tayou   90+4' Report Boden   42'
Nanchoff   44'
Savage   60'
Schäfer   64'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 4,034
Referee: J.T. Alukonis
June 22, 2017 16 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Pittsburgh
19:00 EDT (UTC−4) Walsh   11'
Parkes   88'
Report Vingaard   55' Stadium: Highmark Stadium
Attendance: 1,977
Referee: Mark Kadlecik
July 1, 2017 17 Charleston Battery 2–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Charleston
19:00 EDT (UTC−4) Guerra   8'
Griffith   50'
Williams   70'
Cordovés   81'
Report Lowe   55'
Boden   62'
Morrell   65'
Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium
Attendance: 2,967
Referee: Matthew Franz
July 6, 2017 18 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–0 FC Cincinnati St. Petersburg
20:00 EDT (UTC−4) Paterson   39'
Cole   44'
Savage   69'
Mkandawire   90+2'
Report Quinn   7'
Dacres   45+3'
McLaughlin   74'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,269
Referee: Jonathan Weiner
July 13, 2017 19 Orlando City B 1–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Orlando
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Pereira   74'
Clowes   90+2'
Deakin   90+6' (pen.)
Laryea   90+7'
Report Paterson   21'
King   43'
Morrell   45'
Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 1,504
Referee: Kevin Broadley
July 22, 2017 20 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–0 Charleston Battery St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Mkandawire   25'
Cole   40'
Paterson   69'
Report Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,619
Referee: Daniel Gutierrez
July 29, 2017 21 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Mkandawire   3'
Morrell   11',   76'
Porter   67'
Pickens   75'
Report Agbossoumonde   44'
Adewole   75'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,737
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
August 5, 2017 22 Tampa Bay Rowdies 3–0 Harrisburg City Islanders St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Collins   15'
Paterson   73'
Restrepo   90'
Report Grosh   51'
Brent   60'
Olabiyi   90+4'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,619
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
August 13, 2017 23 Saint Louis FC 4–3 Tampa Bay Rowdies Fenton
19:00 EDT (UTC−4) Jackson   1'
Rudolph   5',   67'
Ledbetter   38'
Petosevic   68'
Plewa   89'
Report Schäfer   10'
Hristov   16',   28'
Lowe   25'   85'
Paterson   36',   36'
Stadium: World Wide Technology Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,001
Referee: Gustavo Solorio
August 19, 2017 24 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–1 Ottawa Fury FC St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Hristov   11'
Paterson   19'
Nanchoff   49'
Restrepo   90+3'
Report Duba   4'
Manesio   72'
Lefèvre   90+1'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,710
Referee: Jonathan Weiner
September 2, 2017 25 New York Red Bulls II 4–2 Tampa Bay Rowdies Montclair
16:00 EDT (UTC−4) Tinari   17'
Powder   41'
Valot   54'
Flemmings   83'
Report Hristov   5'
Paterson   20'
Porter   60'
Collins   63'
Gorskie   77',   77'
Stadium: MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field
Attendance: 562
Referee: Jose Rivero
September 6, 2017 26 Harrisburg City Islanders 2–3 Tampa Bay Rowdies Harrisburg
18:30 EDT (UTC−4) Dabo   9'
Nishanian   31'
Mensah   45'
Benbow   51'
Opoku   58'
Mendoza   67'
Tiago   89'
Report Hristov   36',   57',   68' (pen.)
Paterson   38'
Chavez   75'
Stadium: FNB Field
Attendance: 1,856
Referee: Bardhyl Pashaj
September 23, 2017 27 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–0 Charlotte Independence St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Gorskie   33'
Chavez   45+1'
Restrepo   75'
Guenzatti   83'
Nanchoff   90'
Report Herrera   36'
Johnson   37'
Ekra   86'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 7,786
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
September 27, 2017 28 Bethlehem Steel FC 2–2 Tampa Bay Rowdies Bethlehem
15:00 EDT (UTC−4) Moar   19'
Burke   38',   46'
D. Jones   55'
Trusty   65'
Conneh   78'
Report Hristov   18',   36' (pen)
Gorskie   55'
King   90'
Stadium: Goodman Stadium
Attendance: 2,881
Referee: Jared Simons
September 30, 2017 29 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–1 Bethlehem Steel FC St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Gorskie   29'
Cole   62'
Guenzatti   80'
Restrepo   90+4'
Report Heard   26'
Conneh   56'
Samuel   58'
A. Jones   74'
McGuire   89'
Roberts   90+4'
Burke   90+6'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,611
Referee: Guido Gonzalez
October 4, 2017 30 Tampa Bay Rowdies 3–2 New York Red Bulls II St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Cole   18'
Vingaard   23'
Paterson   25',   45'
Report Bonomo   16'
Scarlett   50'   63'
Flemmings   54',   84'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,260
Referee: Jonathan Weiner
October 7, 2017 31 San Antonio FC 1–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies San Antonio
20:30 EDT (UTC−4) Pecka   50'
Gordon   55'
O'Ojong  84'
Guzmán   88',   88'
Report Hristov   69'
Restrepo   72'
Stadium: Toyota Field
Attendance: 7,043
Referee: Victor Rivas
October 12, 2017 32 Orlando City B 0–2 Tampa Bay Rowdies Orlando
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) da Silva   76' Report Vingaard   38'
Portillos   51'
Hristov   74'
Gorskie   80'
Guenzatti   90+3'
Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 1,185
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski

USL Cup playoffs

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The Rowdies clinched their spot in the single elimination 2017 USL playoffs on October 4, with a 3–2 victory over New York Red Bulls II.

 
Conference QuarterfinalsConference SemifinalsConference FinalsUSL Championship
 
              
 
October 20 – Louisville Slugger Field
 
 
#1 Louisville City FC 4
 
October 28 – Louisville Slugger Field
 
#8 Bethlehem Steel FC 0
 
#1 Louisville City FC 1
 
October 21 – Capelli Sport Stadium
 
#4 Rochester Rhinos 0
 
#4 Rochester Rhinos (a.e.t.) 2
 
November 4 – Louisville Slugger Field
 
#5 Charlotte Independence 1
 
#1 Louisville City FC (p)1 (4)
 
October 21 – Al Lang Stadium
 
#7 New York Red Bulls II 1 (3)
 
#3 Tampa Bay Rowdies 3
 
October 28 – Al Lang Stadium
 
#6 FC Cincinnati 0
 
#3 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1
 
October 21 – MUSC Health Stadium
 
#7 New York Red Bulls II (a.e.t.) 2
 
#2 Charleston Battery 0
 
November 13 – Louisville Slugger Field (ESPNU)
 
#7 New York Red Bulls II 4
 
#1 Louisville City FC 1
 
October 20 – Rio Tinto Stadium
 
#4 Swope Park Rangers 0
 
#1 Real Monarchs 1 (1)
 
October 28 – Children's Mercy Park
 
#8 Sacramento Republic FC (p) 1 (3)
 
#8 Sacramento Republic FC 0
 
October 21 – Swope Soccer Village
 
#4 Swope Park Rangers 1
 
#4 Swope Park Rangers (p)1 (4)
 
November 4 – Children's Mercy Park
 
#5 Phoenix Rising FC 1 (2)
 
#4 Swope Park Rangers (p)0 (7)
 
October 21 – Greater Nevada Field
 
#6 OKC Energy FC 0 (6)
 
#3 Reno 1868 FC 0
 
October 28 – Toyota Field
 
#6 OKC Energy FC 1
 
#6 OKC Energy FC (p)1 (4)
 
October 21 – Toyota Field
 
#2 San Antonio FC 1 (1)
 
#2 San Antonio FC 2
 
 
#7 Tulsa Roughnecks 1
 
October 21, 2017 Conference Quarterfinals Tampa Bay Rowdies 3–0 FC Cincinnati St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Schäfer   8',   25'
Hristov   61',   67'
Cole   84'
Report McLaughlin   52'
Walker   63'
Berry   90'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,104
Referee: Malik Badawi
October 28, 2017 Conference Semifinals Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–2 (a.e.t.) New York Red Bulls II St. Petersburg
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Hristov   26'
Portillos   35'
Guenzatti   39'
Cole   42'
Pickens   57'
Vingaard   62'
Restrepo   66'
Paterson   116'
Report Bonomo   58' (pen.),   93'
Flemmings   86'
Ndam   96'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,119
Referee: Joe Dickerson

U.S. Open Cup

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May 16 2nd round Tampa Bay Rowdies   3–0   Jacksonville Armada U-23 St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Porter   3'
Morrell   43'
Paterson   68'
TBR Report
Report
McKenna   55'
Rosales   60'
dos Santos   62'
Bolt   63'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 2,490
Referee: Christina Unkel
May 31 3rd round Miami FC   2–0   Tampa Bay Rowdies Miami, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Mares   63'
Rennella   74' (pen.)
Chávez   84'
Report Boden   33'
Fernandes   45+2'
Hristov   90'
Paterson   90+4'
Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium
Attendance: 1,403
Referee: Andres Pfefferkorn

Honors

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Individual honors

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Marcel Schäfer (1st team)

Broadcast partners

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Local Hearst Television channel, WMOR-TV, announced on March 9, 2017 that they would be the Tampa Bay Rowdies' exclusive broadcast partners for the upcoming United Soccer League season. All USL home games will be broadcast live and in primetime on channel 32.2, thisTV Tampa Bay.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Roster". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Archived from the original on December 27, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  2. ^ "Hearst Television Station Group in Tampa Bay Inks Exclusive Promotional & Broadcast Partnership with Tampa Bay Rowdies". mor-tv.com. March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.