February 29, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced today that the club has entered a partnership with TampaBay44 that will see Rowdies home matches broadcast locally throughout Tampa Bay for the 2024 USL Championship season.
Under the new deal, 16 of the Rowdies home matches this year will air on TampaBay44. The club’s April 27 matchup versus New Mexico United will air exclusively on CBS Sports Network as part of the league’s national broadcast schedule.
“The Rowdies are thrilled to establish this partnership with TampaBay44,” said Rowdies President Ryan Helfrick. “We believe this partnership will allow us to reach even more fans across the region, giving our players a platform to showcase their talents and our club the chance to promote the unique atmosphere of a Rowdies matchday at Al Lang Stadium. Through our conversations, the TampaBay44 team has shown great enthusiasm to help us continue to grow and strengthen our relationship in the community. We’re looking forward to another thrilling season this year and can’t wait to share it with our fans on TampaBay44.”â¯
TampaBay44, which is owned and operated by Paramount Global, first began broadcasting out of St. Petersburg in 1968. Today, the station’s reach is among the largest in the region, with a broadcast signal reaching from Brooksville to Port Charlotte, Kissimmee to the Gulf of Mexico, and everything in between.â¯The station was also a broadcast home for the Rowdies in the club’s original era of the 1970s and 80s, airing select indoor and outdoor matches.
“Our partnership with The Tampa Bay Rowdies is another example of our ongoing mission to provide the best content to the communities we serve,” said Tom Canedo, president, CBS Independent Stations in Tampa, Atlanta and Seattle. “We value this partnership and the commitment to the many Rowdies’ fans who will now be able to enjoy their local games.”
Earlier this week, the United Soccer League and ESPN announced a new multi-year media rights agreement that will allow Rowdies fans to continue to stream matches not being broadcast nationally on ESPN+ subscription.
This season’s broadcast schedule with TampaBay44 is set to kick off when the Rowdies open the regular season at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, March 16 against San Antonio FC at 7:30 p.m. Fans can visit rowdiessoccer.com/tickets to purchase tickets for the season opener and every Rowdies…