News

The Tampa Bay Rowdies and the North American Soccer League (NASL) today announced the 2012 schedule. 

To view the complete 2012 Rowdies schedule, click here.

The NASL regular season is a balanced schedule, in which each of the teams face the seven other NASL teams four times (twice home and twice away) for a total of 28 games, concluding on the weekend of Sept 22-23. Between April 7th and September 22nd, Tampa Bay will play each NASL team four times, twice at home at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg and twice on the road. The top six teams advance to the NASL playoffs, with the top two receiving first-round byes.

Twelve of the 14 home games will be played on weekends or holidays, including 10 Saturday night matches and the annual Fourth of July extravaganza against the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers on Wednesday, July 4. All matches except July 4th will kick off at 7:30 p.m., with the 4th of July match time set for 6:30 p.m.

The Rowdies open the 2012 season on the road at Puerto Rico on Saturday, April 7 before hosting FC Edmonton in the home opener on Saturday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang. Tampa Bay plays five of its first nine matches at home, where the team lost just once in the regular season after June 4 a year ago.

The Coastal Cup rivalry between the Rowdies and the Strikers continues this season, with Tampa Bay hosting the first leg on Saturday, April 28. The 2012 season also sees the return of the Rowdies and the NASL to the U.S. Open Cup, with Tampa Bay slated to join the competition with a second-round match on Tuesday, May 22. For more information on the U.S. Open Cup, go to www.ussoccer.com.

Highlights of the 2012 schedule:

•           Three home games in April

•           Twelve of the 14 home games played on weekends (and 4th of July)

•           Five of first nine games at home

The NASL playoff format for 2012 remains unchanged from last season with the top six finishers at the end of the regular season qualifying for the playoffs. The top two teams will receive byes directly into the semifinal round, while the other four teams will play against each other in a pair of single-leg quarterfinals the weekend of Sept 29-30. Those winners will advance to the two semifinal series which will be contested over two legs against the top two finishers in the regular season. The NASL Championship Series will be a two-leg affair beginning the weekend of October 20-21 with the final leg taking place the weekend of October 27-28.

The Rowdies will start their preseason training camp on March 1, 2012 and will announce their preseason match schedule at a later date. For ticket information for the 2012 season, visit www.RowdiesSoccer.com or call 813-287-1539.
 

Rowdies 2012 Season Schedule

Home games in ALL CAPS - All Times Eastern

All Dates and Times Subject to Change

Date	Opponent	Date	Opponent
Sat. 4/7	at Puerto Rico (7:30)	Wed. 7/4	FT. LAUDERDALE (6:30)
Sat. 4/14	EDMONTON (7:30)	Thurs. 7/12	at Minnesota (8:30)
Wed. 4/18	CAROLINA (7:30)	Sun 7/15	at Edmonton (4:05)
Sat. 4/21	at Atlanta (7:30)	Sat. 7/21	PUERTO RICO (7:30)
Sat. 4/28	FT. LAUDERDALE (7:30)	Sat. 7/28	EDMONTON (7:30)
Sat. 5/5	at San Antonio (8:30)	Sat. 8/4	at Carolina (7:00)
Sat. 5/12	SAN ANTONIO (7:30)	Sat. 8/11	ATLANTA (7:30)
Sat. 5/19	at Atlanta (7:30)	Sun 8/19	at San Antonio (8:30)
Fri. 5/25	MINNESOTA (7:30)	Sat. 8/25	PUERTO RICO (7:30)
Sat. 6/2	at Ft. Lauderdale (7:30)	Sat. 9/1	at Ft. Lauderdale (7:30)
Sat. 6/9	at Puerto Rico (7:30)	Sat. 9/8	ATLANTA (7:30)
Sat. 6/16	at Minnesota (8:30)	Sun. 9/16	at Edmonton (4:05)
Sat. 6/23	SAN ANTONIO (7:30)	Wed. 9/19	CAROLINA (7:30)
Sat. 6/30	MINNESOTA (7:30)	Sat. 9/22	at Carolina (7:00)