By JOHN GREGG, Correspondent, TB Reporter

The game against Orlando City B kicks off a three-game homestand to open a 32-match season.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies will make their United Soccer League debut Saturday night (March 25) at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg against Orlando City B. The contest will kick off a three-game homestand to open the 2017 season that will feature 32 matches. This year’s roster has eleven holdovers from 2016, including fan favorites Joe Cole and Georgi Hristov. They will be joined by high-profile newcomers like Marcel Schäfer and Deshorn Brown. among others.

The Rowdies offically welcomed the new season on Thursday night (March 23) by holding a kickoff party at the Mahaffey Theater that was attended by nearly 1,000 fans. The event included complimentary beer and hors d’oeuvres and a brand new alternate kit was unveiled. Attendees were treated to a question and answer session with Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards, former Mayor of St. Petersburg Rick Baker and Rowdies COO Lee Cohen and had an opportunity to take photos with players.

This year the Rowdies will be partnering with SuperFan, a leading fan loyalty and engagement company, and launching a new mobile app that will allow fans to earn points based on events and activities they attend and ‘check-in’ to. The points can then be used to earn prizes and exclusive experiences from the Rowdies.

“We are really excited about launching this new app, which focuses on increasing the fan experience,” said Edwards in a press release. “It allows us to engage and activate our fans even further at games and events throughout the year. The best part is that it rewards our fans for supporting the Tampa Bay Rowdies.”

The app can be downloaded for free at either the Apple App Store or Google Play store. Among it’s features are schedules, official roster information and an opportunity to share photos through a ”fan cam.” Fans can also purchase tickets and club merchandise through the app and stay up-to-date on team news by using the ”social” module.

There are still seats available for Saturday’s opener and you can purchase tickets by calling  (727) 222-2000 or online through Ticketmaster. Gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff for each home match, but new metal detectors have been installed at Al Lang Stadium to enhance security, so extra planning is recommended.

For more information on the Tampa Bay Rowdies roster and schedule or to buy Rowdies merchandise or tickets go here.

St. Petersburg | Events | Sports | Soccer | Tampa Bay Rowdies | TB Reporter

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