Comments on: Q and A with Andrew Nestor, Owner, President and CEO of FC Tampa Bay

By: Dave Clark

Dave Clark — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:54:01 +0000

Considering how their last plan went, it is likely a good idea to do the ground work locally and get some prominent local leadership behind them first.

I’m wondering why more Div2 clubs don’t go with an L shape with a high level of professionalism. They could later expand rather than the U or Box that limits expansion.

Heck this may even work with an MLS side doing a [ shape leaving a burm on a touchline that could add 10k later, and have a solid 15-20 now with suites etc

By: Brian Quarstad

Brian Quarstad — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:48:55 +0000

Andrew Nestor did tell me this weekend that he does have plans to build a stadium, but they are not releasing where, when or any other detail at this point.

By: Chrös

Chrös — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:31:08 +0000

I had the same thoughts as most when I first saw the stadium picture, so I won’t repeat them.

But, I guess if there is any consolation, those right field seats will definitely be the best in the house. Hopefully the supporters section goes there.

By: pony

pony — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:14:00 +0000

It may not be the ideal situation, but it’s still better than what the Kansas City Wizards currently have. And let’s not forget that PRI plays in a converted baseball stadium.

By: KT

KT — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:00:56 +0000

Legends Field is 5 miles from City Hall. It’s not downtown, but it’s not far from there.

By: originalBigE

originalBigE — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:35:59 +0000

Hey dave – exactly which part of Dale Mabry Highway is in ‘downtown’ Tampa. If you want to sound like an expert on the area, please get the facts straight.

By: dave

dave — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:34:44 +0000

Beggars can’t be choosers; some of the comments here sound like people expect the Rowdies owners to simply snap their fingers and make a centrally located SSS magically appear out of nowhere. Some people are simply determined to spin everything negatively. Yes, the configuration isn’t great, but it’s no worse than what the KC Wizards are using now, or what the Rochester Rhinos used formerly. And it’s in a good location in downtown Tampa.

I wonder how many of the complainers were people who lived in Tampa who didn’t bother to show up at the rezoning hearing to support the Rowdies “Tomato Patch” location, a year ago. Well, the blue-haired NIMBYs bused in their own crowd of people to shout the Rowdies down. That’s why we don’t have a SSS. In spite of the fact that the Rowdies owned the land and were paying to build the stadium and make infrastructure improvements that would have cost the taxpayers exactly zero. No, a stadium is too “noisy” for elderly people who live over a half a mile away, across a busy highway and underneath a major airport flypath. Go check Google maps; it’s insane to suggest that the “Tomato Patch” stadium, in the middle of a seedy, run-down industrial area, was going to bother a bunch of retirees and their loud-mouthed NIMBY property owners group, but the elderly vote and young people don’t.

The Rowdies owners should have bought more surrounding land for parking, and avoided going to the zoning board in the first place, and thus they would have had the “Tomato Patch” SSS built by now, but that’s 20/20 hindsight.

This temporary stadium in Tampa is the best that can be arranged right now. I suggest people stop whining and start supporting their local “football club”, otherwise we won’t see pro soccer again in Tampa for many decades.

By: thesuperrookie

thesuperrookie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:29:04 +0000

ERic- decent rebuttal, but a rather invalid point (who cares about the stadiums previously owned?) in my opinion. I forgot to mention Montreal and the Atlanta franchise as also playing in SSS. So, to me I see a league with fairly viable stadia, save a few outliers of which only Baltimore, Tampa and Vancouver are playing in non-SSS (is the u of Maryland stadium a SSS?). Like others I don’t like their new field, but in the longtime it may not be so bad, but like Zlatan will surely tell you I am an optimist.

By: Grant

Grant — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:53:43 +0000

And that is precisely why Steinbrenner Field is going to be good, Tom. Its convenient for the whole Tampa area. With the aspirations that these guys have, I cant imagine that they will be in this stadium long. In the meantime, they will be happy with acres of parking and a ‘pro team’ atmosphere. Plus – for what its worth – its about 100 feet from where the original Rowdies and Mutiny played and perhaps a familiarity/routine can be enjoyed. If people really like soccer, they will be happy….if they dont, they might think its ‘bush league’ and not pass on future games. We’ll see. All in all….I have faith that the Tampa market will surprise people!

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:26:05 +0000

mlmintampa – thanks for the response. Too bad they shot down the original plan on the Bern’s Steakhouse owner’s land (great restaurant by the way). Something tells me the Tampa boys have MLS aspirations so the need for 10K-20k in future capacity would be wise. The owner doesn’t look much older than 30 (and that looks like a size 8 ball in his hands….) so I’m guessing he and his partners have got some coin. Somehow they’ve got to keep it somewhere adjacent to Dale Mabry, the causeway over to Clearwater and the freeway over to St. Pete. For this to succeed they have to make it convenient for the entire bay area.