ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies are honored to announce the club will host its sixth annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Al Lang Stadium on Friday, September 11.
The Rowdies 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb invites first responders, active military members and veterans from across Tampa Bay to climb 2,200 stairs in remembrance of the victims and emergency workers who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Members of the U.S. Coastguard, St. Pete Fire Rescue, St. Pete Police, and workers from Orlando Health are all set to participate in this year’s memorial stair climb while marking 25 years since the tragic events of 2001.
Registration for the memorial stair climb is free. First responders, emergency workers, and active military members or veterans interested in participating can register by visiting rowdiessoccer.com/stair-climb. Participants will also be offered a complimentary ticket to a future Rowdies home match.
This year’s memorial stair climb will be split into two sessions. The first session begins at 8:45 a.m. following a presentation of colors by the Dunedin High School Color Guard, with check-in starting at 8:00 a.m. The second session begins at 10:30 a.m., with check-in starting at 10:00 a.m. Food will be provided by Colony Grill for all participants beginning at 10 a.m. and Crisis Center of Tampa Bay will also be in attendance to offer information and resources.
The Rowdies 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb began in 2021 when a Rowdies season ticket holder and member of the U.S. Coast Guard approached the club with the idea of hosting the event at Al Lang Stadium. The first iteration involved ten participants and quickly grew to 160 by 2023 when local first responders were invited to participate. Last year’s memorial stair climb saw the largest group in the event’s history.
