News

The day has finally arrived!

Rowdies players begin arriving Thursday morning at Mainsail Suites Hotel and Conference Center for the start of 2012 preseason training.

“It is great to be back here at Mainsail; that means the start of preseason training is here,” said forward Mike Ambersley. “I have been looking forward to this for four or five months and I am sure the whole team is itching to get back to training.”

Defender Andres Arango said that the team needs to be ready to get to work immediately.

“We just need to come in here focused because it is going to be very competitive this year,” said Arango. “We kept a good core group of players and I know management has made some great signings.”

The 2012 campaign opens this weekend with Select a Seat at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Pete on Saturday, February 25 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Admission is free and Rowdies players will be attendance to sign autographs and meet the fans.

Preseason training starts next Thursday, March 1 and the 2012 Rowdies Rush Preseason Tour kicks off with an intra-squad scrimmage as part of Red Bull Supercamp on Saturday, March 3 at Noon, hosted at Monroe Middle School in South Tampa. To see the complete Rowdies Rush Preseason Tour, click here.

The Rowdies open the 2012 regular 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 Stadium. For ticket information for the 2012 season, call 813-287-1539 or click here.

Here is what Defender Andres Arango had to say about player reporting day and the start of 2012 preseason training: