FC Tampa Bay owner Andrew Nestor hopes his team's move to Al Lang Stadium will give fans a more soccer-friendly environment.
The team, known as the Rowdies during its debut season, played last year at Tampa's Steinbrenner Field but had to work its schedule around the minor-league Tampa Yankees baseball team and share parking with Raymond James Stadium.
"I think it's good for our fans to see that stability and know that we aren't going through this again next season," said Nestor, who also serves as FC Tampa Bay's president.
Nestor joined St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and Steve Nadel, director of the St. Petersburg Baseball Commission, in the outfield of the longtime baseball park to announce the two-year agreement Wednesday.
Al Lang Stadium became attractive because FC Tampa Bay would be the primary tenant and have more control over match scheduling, lower parking and concession fees, plus the allure of the downtown waterfront locale.
"The two main factors here are being the primary tenant, which would give us better date availability leading to a better schedule," Nestor said. "And the branding and marketing we are going to do in partnership with the baseball commission and the city."
Foster said FC Tampa Bay is a perfect fit for the city's international marketing.
"We are so internationally driven these days that we are bringing the greatest sport in the world right here to Al Lang Field," Foster said. "We have one of the greatest opportunities to grow and expand with FC Tampa Bay."
The pitcher's mound will be leveled and the infield dirt will be removed when the 7,000-seat stadium in transformed into a soccer facility.
Training camp is scheduled to begin March 1. Four or five preseason matches will be played before the season-opener April 9 against Montreal Impact.
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