North Carolina FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies have outlined plans for stadium projects as both clubs seek to earn a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise.
The teams currently play in the second-tier North American Soccer League. Due to the absence of a promotion and relegation system in North America, any club wishing to compete in the top-tier MLS must apply for an expansion franchise, and both North Carolina and the Floridian team have placed stadium plans at the heart of their bids.
North Carolina owner Steve Malik is targeting the construction of a brand new facility, while the Rowdies plan on expanding their current home, the 7,500-capacity Al Lang Stadium.
North Carolina currently plays at the 10,000-seat WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. MLS rules dictate that any team must have a stadium capacity of at least 20,000.
Malik said: “MLS requires a minimum of 20,000 seats with amenities in order to maximise revenue, and a new stadium is vital to our plans as it would increase the economic impact in the area and allow us to better showcase the sport.”
The location and renderings of North Carolina’s proposed new stadium will be announced in 2017.
Meanwhile, the expansion of Al Lang Stadium forms part of a Rowdies campaign dubbed #MLS2StPete that aims to drive local support for the club to enter MLS.
Stadium planner Icon Venue Group and architecture firm Populous have conducted a study of the local area and stadium site and developed a concept that the club said will provide a “world-class soccer experience”.
Rowdies chairman and chief executive Bill Edwards said: “We need the people of St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon, Sarasota, Bradenton and our entire region to get behind this effort. We need to show MLS leadership that we are the next great MLS city.”
Share this