Interview with Andrew Nestor

http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/03/19/nasl-podcast-episode-23-in...

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Cundiff on March 20, 2012 at 7:46pm

Solid interview, though we didn't learn much.

It's reassuring to hear him say words and phrases like "long term plan" but we really need to see proof. If Nestor and the city WANTS the Rowdies to be at ALF for the next few years, then we should see a contract extension NOW. There is no reason to wait. No reason to put potential sponsors and current fans on edge by delaying this decision. Currently, the team looks ready to fold at the end of this year since they have no home to play in and with a 'competitor' opening on the other side of the Bay next year. In my opinion, from what I've seen, this USL team in Tampa won't make a single dent on attendance with Nestors team if it even does take the field.

"We only lost about 100 paying fans a game from 2010." Interesting, so we didn't give ANYONE free tickets last year?

I also noted his comments about Pinellas fans and Hills fans. I think the season opener in 2010 is what the Rowdies would look like when Pinellas and Hillsborough support the team equally. That said, I firmly believe that Hills carried the bulk of the weight in year one after that opener. But, I wonder if Pinellas carried the bulk of the fans last year and that surprised him? Why else would he comment on this subject?

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Permalink Reply by Charles Cole on March 20, 2012 at 7:58pm

We don't know that they aren't trying to sort out a long term plan at Al Lang or elsewhere and just haven't been able to hammer out the final details? They can't announce what they don't have yet. Maybe negotiations with the city or with St. Pete Baseball or whatever other factors come into play just haven't been ironed out yet. We have no idea what is really going on regarding a stadium, but that doesn't mean they aren't working on a solution.

I doubt anyone is really "on edge" about this. A few people around here maybe, but the fan base at large? I sincerely doubt they think about this nearly as much as we do.

And of course year one was mostly Tampa based fans and year two was mostly Pinellas based fans. The team has to attract fans from all over the Bay area in order to survive. We already know that, nothing much to add to that discussion.