News

The historic rivalry between the Rowdies and the Cosmos will reemerge just two weeks into the 2013 NASL Fall Season on Saturday, August 10, with Tampa Bay hosting New York at Al Lang Stadium. The 2012 NASL Champions will open the Fall Season on the road at Toyota Field against San Antonio on Saturday, August 3.

“It will be great to host the Cosmos at Al Lang just two weeks into the season,” commented Rowdies head coach Ricky Hill. “We are excited to bring back such an amazing rivalry and I am sure our fans can’t wait either. With that being said, we can’t get ahead of ourselves as we have a tough match in Week 1 against San Antonio at their stadium to open up the season.

To view the 2013 Fall Schedule, click here.

The rivalry with the Cosmos will continue when the Rowdies visit Hofstra Stadium on Saturday, September 28. The iconic stadium was New York’s home back when the original Cosmos won its first NASL championship in 1972.

A week later, the Rowdies will play another historic rival in a home-and-home series against the Strikers, visiting Lockhart Stadium on Saturday, October 5. Ft. Lauderdale will then travel to Al Lang Stadium in the last regular season meeting between both clubs on Saturday, October 12.

With the 2012 NASL Soccer Bowl Finals still in the memory of many, the defending NASL Champions will travel to NSC Stadium to battle it out against Minnesota in the third week of the Fall Season on Saturday, August 17. The Rowdies will close the Fall Season at Al Lang Stadium against the Stars on Saturday, November 2, just over a year after Tampa Bay captured the 2012 NASL Soccer Bowl title in penalty kicks on home field turf.

The 2013 NASL Fall Season will feature eight teams playing each other home and away for a total of 56 games and the team that tops the final standings will travel to face the Spring Season champions in the annual Soccer Bowl on the weekend of November 16/17. 

“Our new format requires our teams to compete at the highest levels each week to secure victories,” added Commissioner Peterson. “There are no opportunities for teams to back into the Soccer Bowl.  The pressure will translate into exciting matches each week of the season for our growing fan base.  They’re going to love the competition between our teams.”

For more information or to order 2013 season tickets, fans can e-mail tickets@rowdiessoccer.com or call 813-287-1539. For season ticket prices and a seating chart of Al Lang Stadium click here. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.

NASL 2013 Fall Schedule – Opening Week

Saturday August 3

Home Team                                       Visiting Team
San Antonio Scorpions      vs.         Tampa Bay Rowdies
Carolina RailHawks            vs.          Atlanta Silverbacks
Minnesota Stars                   vs.          Edmonton FC
New York Cosmos               vs.          Fort Lauderdale Strikers