Rowdies turn Al Lang into a knockout-round block party as U.S. faces Bosnia
Cheer on Team USA with neighbors and friends at this can't miss celebration
St. Petersburg’s soccer faithful get their loudest night of the summer Wednesday, as the Tampa Bay Rowdies throw open the gates at Al Lang Stadium for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The waterfront ballpark at 230 First Street S. has become the region’s unofficial supporters’ section this tournament. More than 3,000 fans packed the stands on June 12 to watch the Americans open group play with a 4-1 rout of Paraguay, and organizers expect Wednesday’s crowd to be bigger. To keep up, they’ve added more screens — and larger ones — so there’s a clean view from every seat in the house.
Gates open at 6 p.m. ahead of an 8 p.m. kickoff. Tickets run $10 here and the event is open to all ages, and seating is general admission, first come, first served. Parking in the stadium lot is $10, cash only. Beers and seltzers are $5 all night — a rate the organizers, not unreasonably, are billing as one of the better deals in world football.
The watch party is a joint production of the Rowdies, Michelob Ultra and PMB Events, with Michelob Ultra handing out giveaways and swag and radio stations 102.5 The Bone and Magic 94.9 on site. The St. Petersburg chapter of the American Outlaws — the national team’s traveling supporters’ group — will run a pre-match pep rally and keep the chants going through the final whistle.
“The Rowdies are excited to welcome fans into Al Lang Stadium for what will be a can’t-miss event,” team president Ryan Helfrick said, adding that he expects the atmosphere to top the June opener.
A portion of every ticket benefits Ocean Aid 360, a marine habitat restoration group, and the Williams Park Partnership, which is working to revitalize St. Petersburg’s historic downtown park.
The stakes on the field are real. A win sends the U.S. to the Round of 16 — and would be the program’s first knockout-round victory since Landon Donovan’s goal downed Mexico in 2002.
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