Last year, when back to back hurricanes ripped through Florida, the well-being of Floridians was the first priority. Now repairing the damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton is being funded by local, state, and federal government. Included in those infrastructure repairs is the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Al Lang Stadium.

While most people were shocked by the images of the wind-destroyed roof of Tropicana Field during Hurricane Milton, Al Lang suffered extensive damage that rendered the site unusable without significant repairs. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “Locker rooms, changing rooms, restrooms and the team’s store were flooded and electrical systems that control the stadium’s doors, elevators and scoreboard were damaged.” With the Rowdies’ USL Championship season kicking off in just a month and a half, there was some concern about where home games would played.

Those fears can be put to rest as the St. Petersburg City Council authorized the spending of 3.2 million dollars to repair the damage to Al Lang from the hurricanes’ flooding. The stadium has served as the home of the Rowdies since the 2011 season. Prior to its conversion to soccer, it was a minor league/spring training baseball field since the 1940s. The funds should allow for the the quick restoration of the facility for the 2025 Championship season.

Some Rowdies’ fans are concerned that the work won’t be completed by the home opener on April 12th and the club’s official schedule still lists the location of all home matches as TBA. Regardless, the news of the approved funding is a positive move for locals hoping to bounce back from last year’s horrible hurricane season and looking forward to spring soccer

- Dan Vaughn