Al Lang Stadium

Al Lang Stadium
	Al Lang Field
	The Al Lang Stadium with soccer field in March 2015
Earlier names
	Florida Power Park (1998-2003) ; Progress Energy Park (2003-2011)
Data
place	230 1st Street South East Saint Petersburg , Florida 33701 ;
Coordinates	27 ° 46 '5.2 " N , 82 ° 37' 59.2" W Coordinates: 27 ° 46 '5.2 " N , 82 ° 37' 59.2" W.
owner	City of Saint Petersburg
operator	Big3 Entertainment Group
opening	1947
Renovations	1976, 1998, 2011
surface	Natural grass
costs	300,000 US dollars (1947)
capacity	7,227 seats
Societies)
	New York Yankees ( Spring Training , 1947-1950, 1952-1961); St. Louis Cardinals ( Spring Training , 1947–1997); St. Petersburg Saints ( FIL , 1947–1954); St. Petersburg Saints ( FSL , 1955-1965); New York Giants ( Spring Training , 1951); New York Mets ( Spring Training , 1962–1987); St. Petersburg Pelicans ( SPBA , 1989–1990); St. Petersburg Cardinals ( FSL , 1965–1997); Baltimore Orioles ( Spring Training , 1991-1995); St. Petersburg Devil Rays ( FSL , 1998-2000); Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays ( Spring Training , 1998-2008); Canada National Baseball Team ( Spring Training , since 2011); Dutch national baseball team ( Spring Training , since 2011); Nexen Heroes ( Spring Training , since 2011); Tampa Bay Rowdies ( NASL , since 2011);
Events
	ACC Tournament (1997, 2002); C-USA Tournament (2000);

The Al Lang Stadium is a football stadium in the US port city of Saint Petersburg , Pinellas County , in the state of Florida . The facility was built in 1947 as a baseball stadium . In 1976 a new building took place in the same place. After further renovations in 1998, the stadium was converted into a football stadium in 2011. Since then, it has been the home of the Tampa Bay rowdies who play in the North American Soccer League . The Al Lang Stadium can still be used for baseball. In addition, will also find Lacrosse games instead. The venue holds a total of 7,227 spectators. It is named after Al Lang, a businessman and mayor of Saint Petersburg, who died in 1960. He was largely responsible for ensuring that many baseball teams held their spring training in town.

history

In 1947 the city tore down the previous Waterfront Park and built a modern baseball park on this site. Al Lang Stadium was used as a spring training ground by baseball teams such as the New York Yankees , St. Louis Cardinals , St. Petersburg Saints, New York Giants and New York Mets in the years to come. The reason for the construction of the stadium was that teams from the northern part of the USA have the opportunity to prepare for the season in a warm place. Al Lang, the initiator of the construction at the time, saw this as an opportunity to make his city known nationwide and thus to create additional financial sources of income.

In 1976 the stadium was completely renovated and partially rebuilt. In 1996 it was renovated again and B. more handicapped accessible places. In 1998, the local energy company Florida Power bought the naming rights to the stadium, so it was renamed Florida Power Park at Al Lang Field. When Lorida Power became part of the energy company Progress Energy , the stadium was called Progress Energy Park from 2003 to 2011.

In 2011 the stadium was adapted so that football matches are also possible.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies are aiming for Major League Soccer (MLS) membership for the next several years . If this succeeds, the Al Lang Stadium will be rebuilt and expanded. For this purpose, plans and rendered images of the planned facility were published in early January 2017 . The space available in the former baseball stadium is to be increased from 7,227 to 18,000. Due to the limited space available through the surrounding streets, additional spectator tiers are to be created compared to the previous grandstand.

On March 2, 2017, there was an information event on the stadium and the planned renovation. There the citizens could look at the plans and ask questions. Bill Edwards, owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, will pay for the estimated $ 73 million. The city administration of Saint Petersburg had scheduled a referendum for May 2nd of that year . With a large majority of 87 percent, the citizens voted for the plans. As a result, the Tampa Bay rowdies will be able to negotiate a 25-year lease with the city. With the expansion and modernization, the franchise hopes to improve its chances of acceptance into the MLS. In addition to the rowdies , ten other teams are expected to apply for entry into the US elite league. There should be four new franchises in Major League Soccer by 2020.

location

Al Lang Stadium is east of downtown Saint Petersburg and is right on Tampa Bay . Albert Whitted Airport and the University of South Florida St. Petersburg are located south of it .

use

baseball

Since it opened in 1947, the stadium has served as a training ground for many major league baseball teams and their minor leagues. The St. Louis Cardinals trained here every spring from 1947 to 1997. The New York Mets were also at Al Lang Stadium every spring for years. The stadium has been used as a training location by the Canadian and Dutch national baseball teams since 2011. The South Korean baseball team Nexen Heroes also trains in Saint Petersburg every year.

Soccer

In 2011, the soccer team FC Tampa Bay announced they want to move to Al Lang Stadium. Before that, the team played at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa . Thus, the venue was slightly converted for football operations. In 2012, a championship final took place in the stadium for the first time when the rowdies won the NASL play-off final against the Minnesota Stars . In 2013, the rowdies extended their usage contract to 2016.

lacrosse

On January 29, 2013, the Major League Lacrosse announced that the Rochester Rattlers will play their game against the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the stadium. It was the opening game of the season. Since then, a lacrosse franchise for the Tampa Bay Area has been considered.

Trivia

Al Lang Stadium was a location for the film In A Secret Command Issue which was released in 1955. The film showed the training of the St. Louis Cardinal . Here James Stewart was picked up by the United States Air Force in his role as Robert "Dutch" Holland, who played with the team .

Web links

Commons : Al Lang Stadium - Collection of images, videos and audio files

rowdiessoccer.com: stadium on the official website of the Tampa Bay Rowdies (English)
Stadium on the city's official website ( August 6, 2014 memento in the Internet Archive )

Individual evidence

↑ stadionwelt.de: Former ball park to become MLS stadium Article from January 9, 2017

↑ stadionwelt.de: Citizens vote on stadium expansion from article dated February 21, 2017

↑ stadionwelt.de: Positive referendum enables stadium expansion Article dated May 5, 2017

↑ NASL: Tampa Bay Wins NASL Championship Series After Penalty Shootout . North American Soccer League. Retrieved March 22, 2015.

↑ News | Tampa Bay Rowdies ( February 24, 2013 memento on the Internet Archive )

↑ MLL Communications: Rochester Rattlers to face 2012 MLL Champion Chesapeake Bayhawks in St. Petersburg, Fla. on April 27 . Major League Lacrosse. Retrieved March 22, 2015.

^ Bayhawks, Rattlers to play regular-season game at Al Lang Stadium . In: The Baltimore Sun , January 29, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2015.

[1] stadionwelt.de: Former ball park to become MLS stadium Article from January 9, 2017

[2] stadionwelt.de: Citizens vote on stadium expansion from article dated February 21, 2017

[3] stadionwelt.de: Positive referendum enables stadium expansion Article dated May 5, 2017

[4] NASL: Tampa Bay Wins NASL Championship Series After Penalty Shootout . North American Soccer League. Retrieved March 22, 2015.

[5] News | Tampa Bay Rowdies ( February 24, 2013 memento on the Internet Archive )

[6] MLL Communications: Rochester Rattlers to face 2012 MLL Champion Chesapeake Bayhawks in St. Petersburg, Fla. on April 27 . Major League Lacrosse. Retrieved March 22, 2015.

[7] Bayhawks, Rattlers to play regular-season game at Al Lang Stadium . In: The Baltimore Sun , January 29, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2015.