Tampa Bay Rowdies
History
The Rowdies were the first professional sports franchise in the area and remain one of the most recognizable and well-loved brands in soccer. Originally established in 1975, the team won the NASL Soccer Bowl championship in its inaugural year and created a unique, entertaining and memorable franchise with the Fannies, Wowdies and unforgettable “Kick in the Grass” theme song. In 2008, a group of investors announced the purchase of rights to a professional soccer franchise and the newly established team began play in 2010. In 2012, the Rowdies won the NASL Soccer Bowl Championship after a thrilling shoot-out victory in front of a sold out crowd at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg.
Community - Social Justice
The Tampa Bay Rowdies, and our Diversity & Inclusion Committee, understand words are not enough. It is our responsibility to help fight systemic racism. Utilizing our platform, we seek to amplify the important, ongoing work being done by those on the front lines of this effort.
This resource guide is an evolving document intended to help educate and spread awareness around what each of us can do in our community. Our goal is to be part of a meaningful, community-wide effort to create positive change.
“Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you’re wasting your life.” -Jackie Robinson
Racial Equity Grant Program
The Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund created the Racial Equity Grant Fund to build power within communities that have been historically overlooked and purposefully disadvantaged because of systemic racism. We have committed $100,000 annually to this program.
We seek to:
Invest in those communities most impacted by systemic racism and oppression;
Support 501(c)(3) organizations making an impact in the areas of housing, workforce development, health equity, criminal justice reform, education and youth development;
Support anti-racist organizations and leadership.
BIPOC Businesses in Tampa Bay
The Rowdies believe in supporting local BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) businesses in Tampa Bay. The following list represents outstanding BIPOC businesses in our region, and we encourage you to consider supporting them.
Food and Beverage
Arts, Culture, & Education
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Educational Resources
The Rowdies believe that the work of ending systemic racism begins with each and every one of us. At this point in our history, a re-education of our culture is imperative. These resources have been compiled to amplify local organizations as well as provide a variety of educational and anti-racism resources for all those interested. Our Diversity & Inclusion Committee will be updating this page regularly, and many of these materials are being used within the front offices of the Rays and Rowdies. SEE OUR RECOMMENDED EDUCATIONAL BOOKS, FILM AND TV SERIES, PODCASTS & ONLINE RESOURCES
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Social Justice & Community Development Organizations in Tampa Bay
Please consider learning more about and supporting these local organizations promoting equality and demolishing injustice in our Tampa Bay region.
Provide Feedback If you or your organization has feedback on how we can better improve our efforts to re-educate our culture and support the fight to end systemic racism, please email us at SocialJustice@rowdiessoccer.com.
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Youth Network
Little Rowdies - Our mission is for each child to have fun while learning the fundamental skills necessary to play soccer, so they may develop physically and socially to reach their maximum potential.
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Rowdies Soccer Fund Teaming Up to Support Our Community
The Rowdies Soccer Fund, a 501c3 organization is the official charity of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, is dedicated to improving the lives of those in need within our community, focusing primarily on education, youth development, wellness and social responsibility.
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Pete the Pelican grew up eating fish and taking pictures with tourists in downtown St. Petersburg. In early 2015, construction began on the new pier, so Pete the Pelican started swimming south in search of a new home…
Sometime after his departure and during his search for a new home, Pete ran into Raymond, his big blue bellied Sea Dog friend from the Tampa Bay Rays, on his daily swim. Pete has admired Raymond’s work from a distance for quite some time. They chatted over a hotdog and some popcorn, and Raymond suggested that maybe he can come out to his upcoming birthday party. Pete did just that and had a blast with the other mascots. Pete had so much fun that he began to attend other sporting events in the area. Pete found himself outside of Al Lang one night and he loved the bright lights and loud cheering so he stopped to check out the commotion. Pete had never seen a soccer game before but quickly became a huge Rowdies fan. Pete would wake up every day to watch training and cheered on the team from behind the fence every Saturday night.
In early 2016 Pete had heard about mascot tryouts and was so excited, he slept outside of Al Lang in the water, the night before the audition. Pete the Pelican was so nervous and excited the morning of the audition, but none of that showed and with such a fun and bright personality, he was a shoe in for the audition, the owner came out to shake his feather personally and he said, “You’ve got the job. Come with me!”
Born: March 25, 2015
Height: 6 feet, 5 inches
Wingspan: 5 feet
Favorite Food: Fish
Favorite Band: Phish
Favorite Movie: A Dolphin Tale (featuring his cousin starring as Rufus)
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Pinnie the Pelican was born in a nest built on a piling under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. As a native St. Petersburger, Pinnie has always appreciated the beauty of the Tampa Bay area. Growing up, she loved to spend her time soaring alongside the drivers on the Howard Frankland Bridge, sunbathing at the Don Cesar and playing soccer with her friends.
Pinnie moved away from St. Petersburg to attend college far away. She studied marine conservation so she could, one day, move home and help preserve the beauty of Tampa Bay for generations of animals to come. After graduating, Pinnie moved back home to St. Petersburg to be close to her family and begin her conservation work.
Looking for love, Pinnie recently signed up for the Flock app, where she quickly matched with a handsome pelican named Pete, who just happens to work as the Rowdies mascot. Before going away to college, Pinnie loved watching Rowdies games from one of the lightposts at Al Lang Stadium, but she’s looking forward to watching from up close as Pete’s new girlfriend!
Born: July 27, 2016 (727 Day)
Height: 4′ 6″
Wingspan: 7.5 feet
Favorite food: Fresh grouper
Favorite band: Sheryl Crow
Favorite movie: Finding Nemo