Next to the building I work in is a minor league soccer stadium. The stadium belongs to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Since learning this it has been a goal of mine to make it to a home game at this stadium. Then I learned the devastating news that the last home game of the season was the Saturday after I set out on my elk hunting trip in Colorado. Sigh.
When I returned I learned the news that the Rowdies had made the playoffs and the final four game would be hosted at the field. The news made shot a load of serotonin through my body like that of a jovial baby. So on Saturday my roommate Shad and I knew what our plans were.
We were shocked when we got to the stadium early to buy tickets the level of support that was tailgating in the parking lot. It was nice to see row after row of fans from Saint Petersburg getting behind something together. We knew it was going to be a great night.
The stadium is downtown and since downtown is full of nothing but pubs and bars, they were all packed with rowdy soccer fans(no pun intended). This was great since I was meeting a group of fellow coworkers for some outside work related activities. It allowed us to get some dinner and socialize about something besides work for once.
Since the NASL is built on an aggregate tournament style of play, it was only necessary for the Rowdies to get a tie to advance to finals. Unfortunately, the Rowdies fell to an early 0-2 score but that would not hold them back. After a few well set plays and a PK, the Rowdies were back in the game and the stadium of 7000 erupted!
The Rowdies finished the game with a strong fought 3-3 tie and made it to the finals. The championship crowning game will be held at the same stadium in two weeks and I am ready to support my Tampa Bay Rowdies to their first NASL championship.
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