Rowdies gain another year at Al Lang

The Tampa Bay Rowdies will remain at Al Lang Stadium until at least November 2026 amid ongoing uncertainties surrounding the team’s parent company. 

The Tampa Bay Rays, likely to see an ownership change next month, own the Rowdies. Stakeholders widely expect the new group to also assume control of the region’s first professional sports team. The Rowdies became the first franchise with “Tampa Bay” as part of its moniker in 1975. 

Council members unanimously approved a one-year lease extension Thursday without discussing financial terms. However, the City will again provide $200,000 for general repairs and improvements to the storm-damaged stadium. 

“I’ve said to quite a few people lately that if at the end of the day, we end up where we just have the Rowdies, and that’s St. Petersburg’s sports team, I’m ok with that,” said Councilmember Gina Driscoll. “As much as I would love for the Rays to call St. Petersburg home forever, we know how that might go.” 

The city’s other storm-displaced team returned home in April after a seven-month hiatus. 

Hurricane Helene inundated the downtown waterfront facility with 4.5 feet of water. Its storm surge flooded below-ground training rooms, electrical equipment and offices. 

Hurricane Milton’s 100 mph winds subsequently redirected towering stadium lights. “Half of them were pointing up at the sky,” Rowdies president Ryan Helfrick previously told the Catalyst. 

Rowdies president Ryan Helfrich highlights the water level entering the locker room areas in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath.

The council approved a complex and fast-moving $3.2 million repair project in January. Beth Herendeen, managing director of city development, said Thursday that what was once “full-steam ahead” is a “little bit slower now.” 

Driscoll noted that the stadium, which opened in 1947 to host minor league and spring training baseball, needed upgrades before the storm. “This is yet another asset where we’ve got to put money into it to keep it going,” she said. 

Driscoll asked if the administration planned to continue repairing, maintaining and enhancing Al Lang, named after a former mayor who was instrumental in bringing baseball to the city, “to keep up moving forward with soccer here.” 

Herendeen said the engineering department is working on sustainable improvements. She said administrators are identifying city-owned facilities within the Intown Community Redevelopment that need upgrades. 

“Al Lang is certainly in that conversation,” Herendeen added. “We haven’t made any determinations at this point, but absolutely, it’s in those conversations.” 

Those discussions include a previously estimated $161.7 million redevelopment project, tentatively dubbed the Center for the Arts, along the downtown waterfront. Contrary to once-popular belief, the stadium is in no danger of meeting a wrecking ball. 

In July, Herendeen told the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership that the city is “taking Al Lang out of the equation – we’re not touching that.” 

In September 2024, two St. Pete Fire Rescue members donned their gear while climbing 2,200 stairs at Al Lang Stadium in remembrance of the 9/11 terror attacks. Photo by Mark Parker.

Helfrick, in a July interview, called the administration “great partners” throughout the storm repair process. While he has met with the potential new owners, he said operations are “status quo,” and his focus was on an atypical season. 

Herendeen said Thursday that the Rowdies average about 5,500 attendees per match, and roughly 6,400 during the playoffs. However, it is not uncommon for the club to exceed Al Lang’s listed capacity of 7,227.

The city is raising mechanical and electrical systems to mitigate flooding. Administrators increased the number of parking spaces from 12 to 16 to accommodate additional staff. 

Herendeen noted the Rowdies converted their storm-damaged offices into a “beautiful” team store, which once sat under a tent along the field. Fans now have an air-conditioned area more visible from downtown’s 1st Street North. 

“I’m really hoping that even beyond this extension, we are able to work towards a path for the Rowdies to call St. Petersburg home for the long haul,” Driscoll said. “It is just such an incredible experience on our waterfront with a sport that really speaks every language and touches everyone in some way.”

Helfrick said the Rowdies, who “love to give back in the offseason,” recently held a back-to-school giveaway and players “ended up putting on a clinic for them.” He intends to bring high school and youth soccer to the stadium.

“And we would like to get back to a point where we’re hosting other events at Al Lang, as well,” Helfrick added.

Councilmember Mike Harting, a longtime fan, said the city “did an amazing job” of converting a baseball stadium into a soccer venue. Council Chair Copley Gerdes called the team part of the city’s fabric. 

He believes CRA money will support ongoing stadium renovations. Gerdes said city and county officials should use tourist development tax coffers to support those efforts, which is “what it’s there for.”