Alright, so there are some really great sports teams in the Tampa Bay Area. We have football with theTampa Bay Buccaneers, hockey with the Tampa Bay Lighting, and of course baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays, but did you know that this is also a Soccer town? That's right! The Tampa Bay Rowdies, and guess who their official barber is.... If you guessed The Shave Cave you would bee 100% correct.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have a great group of guys and have just been killing it! Especially with Cal Jennings and Manu Alejandro Arteaga at the helm. They really are a different breed of athlete, and are incredibly fun to watch.
Before every home match, the team pays The Shave Cave a visit to get trimmed up and ready, and we absolutely love serving them.
The Rowdies' St. Petersburg Home
I find it exciting that there are so many fun activities to do in St. Petersburg, especially when it comes to sports and The Shave Cave's connection with soccer. The Rowdies play home at Al Lang Stadium, which has quite a bit of history. Allow me to enlighten you.
Who was Al Lang?
Well, Al Lang was a business man who focused on marketing the St. Petersburg area as a paradise destination and baseball town. He was elected mayor of St. Pete in 1916 and during his 4 year term aided in growing the local population by almost doubling it. He was even said to personally welcoming tourists as they arrived by train. Man of true hospitality.
After his mayoral term, Lang focused on shortening the gap between baseball and Florida, turning Florida into a hub for Spring Training and laying the foundation for St. Pete and the Tampa Bay area as a major sports site. He spearheaded getting baseball to the area by 1923.
Building The Stadium
Established in 1923 as St. Petersburg Athletic Park, also known as Waterfront Park, this site became the new hub for baseball, succeeding the original Coffee Pot Park which was located just north of Downtown. Coffee Pot Park is no longer a baseball diamond, rather it is now a fantastic neighborhood park and playground right on the water. The parks were home to the St. Louis Browns (Modern Day Baltimore Oriels) and the Philadelphia Phillies from 1914 to 1928.
The area served as the spring training home for Major League Baseball teams the Boston Braves (Modern Day Atlanta Braves) and the New York Yankees until after World War II. During this time, the stadium held baseball legends such as Cardinal, Stan Musial, and New York Yankees, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth.
I wasn't kidding when I said that we have some rich history in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In 1947 Waterfront Park was demolished and rebuilt into a base of what it is today. The city named the new stadium Al Lang Stadium in the former mayor's honor for bringing baseball as well as so much life to the area, and its first major league tenants were none other than the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees for its first spring training season.
Stadium Tenants
All in all Al Lang Stadium's baseball tenants included the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, New York Mets, and Baltimore Orioles for spring training, as well as a couple minor league teams, such as the St. Petersburg Saints of the Florida International League, and the St. Petersburg Cardinals of the Florida State League. The last baseball team to play at Al Lang Field was the minor league team, the St. Petersburg Devil Rays in 2000.
The stadium ultimately served as a baseball stadium from 1947 to 2008. Many of you must have heard of the The Tampa Bay Rays (Originally the Tampa Bay Devil Rays) started in 1998 as an expansion team. They were the last baseball team to use Al Lang Field as a Spring Training Field in 2008. (Personally I am a fan because of their announcer Dewayne Staats and his iconic mustache).
A Little Name Drama
The ballpark was renovated in 1976 and 1996, expanding its structure. In 1998, it was renamed Florida Power Park when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays began using it. Progress Energy bought the naming rights in 2003, changing it to Progress Energy Park. Thankfully, the naming rights expired in 2011, and the park's name reverted to Al Lang Stadium.
Rowdies to the Rescue
In 2011, the soccer team FC Tampa Bay of the North American Soccer League announced it would move to Al Lang Stadium from George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, ending a three year hiatus for Al Lang Stadium. Some minor renovations happened to convert the facility to a Soccer Stadium and the first soccer game was had on April 9, 2011.
FC Tampa Bay then changed their name to The Tampa Bay Rowdies to commemorate the historical team that played from 1975 to 1993.
In 2015 the Rowdies organization did a complete overhaul to the stadium turning it into what it is today, a seriously fun experience for fans:
- They built a unique concrete cantilevered overhang that shades the grandstand seats from the afternoon sun, and keeps the stadium cool due to the waterfront's sea breeze (shown above). First item
- Several new premium spaces, including a Corner Kick field-level party; a VIP suite; a Field Level suite in a former dugout; and a Berm Party Area with standing drink rails.
- Even the parking lot transforms into part of the track for the Grand Prix , which I absolutely love.
Where Sports Worlds Collide
Baseball and Soccer joining forces in St. Petersburg, Florida... With St. Petersburg being an established force in the world of sports, the Tampa Bay Rays ended up purchasing the Rowdies in 2018 from former owner, Bill Edwards, who was responsible for laying the foundation for such a successful team.
Here's why that is a great thing:
- Cross-Promotion and Resources - The Rays can create synergies between the two teams, potentially sharing resources, facilities, and marketing efforts to maximize their impact in the sports landscape of the region. More resources allows more possibilities for a thriving Rowdies future... fingers crossed - MLS here we come!
- Community Engagement - It signals a commitment to bolstering the growth of soccer in the Tampa Bay area, as the Rowdies have a rich history and a passionate fan base. Additionally, it provided an opportunity for collaboration between the two organizations in areas such as youth development programs and community outreach initiatives. More community engagement in this college town. By working together, the Rays and the Rowdies can have a broader impact on the local community through joint outreach programs, charity events, and youth development initiatives.
- Global Reach - Soccer has a massive global following, and by owning a soccer team, the Rays can potentially tap into international markets and attract attention from soccer fans around the world. This acquisition represents a strategic move aimed at expanding the Rays' presence, tapping into the growing popularity of soccer, and enhancing the visibility of the Tampa Bay region on a global scale.
Soccer, America's Favorite Sport?
Almost! Soccer is on the rise in the US, especially in Florida. As a matter of fact, Florida has the 3rd highest fanbase in the United States, and scheduled to host the World Cup in 2026.
#1 - New Jersey is the top state in the US for soccer interest, with over 174,500 monthly searches by its 9.3 million residents. No wonder the iconic MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and Jets, will stage the final for the World Cup on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
#2 - California's love for soccer is evident, ranking second with an impressive 1,791 searches per 100,000 individuals. With its population of 39 million people, the Golden State racked up an immense 698,100 soccer-related searches monthly as they gear up to host the World Cup at two locations: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
#3 - Florida is gearing up to shine as a host for the 2026 World Cup, solidifying its reputation as a haven for soccer fans. Ranking third among states, Florida, with its 22.6 million population and total of 397,300 soccer-related searches per month, sees 1,757 searches per 100,000 people. The arrival of the legendary Lionel Messi to play for Inter Miami in MLS has undoubtedly played a crucial role in boosting the state’s soccer fervor.
Soccer’s Growth in the U.S. Driven by Young, Diverse Audiences
“Driven by a young, diverse and digitally savvy demographic, soccer has grown by leaps and bounds since the 1994 FIFA World Cup was held on U.S. soil and Major League Soccer (MLS) was born two years later.”
Conclusion
So what does any of this have to do with Hair, Fades, Mustaches, or Beards?
Well, nothing really... BUT the fact that we are connected to something so big with so many possibilities of what St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Area have to offer makes us proud to be a pillar in the community.
Not only are we the Official Barbers of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, we are also fans of this great sports community. Be a fan with us at The Shave Cave. Soccer season is March thru October (but you know they will be in the playoffs, so really November).
Max