Don’t Demolish a Legacy: Preserve Al Lang Stadium and the Spirit of St. Pete Soccer

As plans for the future of downtown St. Petersburg take shape, one proposal under consideration has left many in our community stunned — the potential demolition of Al Lang Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies and a cultural anchor for St. Pete’s vibrant waterfront.

To remove Al Lang is not just to remove a stadium. It’s to erase a living, breathing symbol of our city’s sports heritage, one that has united generations through a shared love of soccer, community, and coastal pride.

For decades, Al Lang has been more than a venue. It’s where first dates turned into traditions. Where children wore green and gold, and supporters wore yellow face paint, waving flags as the sun set over the bay. Where chants echoed into the night and Rowdies fans — fiercely loyal and deeply passionate — built a culture of connection that few cities in America can claim.

What’s at Stake?

This isn’t just about sports. This is about preserving a place that brings people together.

It’s about:

• Economic impact: Rowdies games drive foot traffic to local businesses, from restaurants to parking lots, fueling downtown’s nightlife and identity.
• Civic pride: Al Lang is an icon. Its presence on Beach Drive is a visual reminder of our city’s unique blend of history, sportsmanship, and waterfront beauty.
• Cultural value: In an era where authenticity is everything, Al Lang is an authentic part of what makes St. Petersburg special. Replacing it with more development risks losing that soul.

A Personal Reflection

As a father raising three kids — two of whom loved coming to Al Lang — I can say this stadium gave us more than soccer. For me, it was as close to going to Fenway as I could offer them. It was our shared tradition, a safe and family-friendly place that embodied everything good about this community.

We’d sit in the supporters section near the old dugouts, feeling the heartbeat of the game. Fireworks, cheers, music, green cotton candy — it wasn’t just a match. It was a night out with meaning.

As a youth soccer coach, I brought entire teams here. Dozens of clubs lined the bleachers on team nights, decked out in green and gold. The look on those kids’ faces — watching real pros play under the lights, knowing they were part of something bigger — is something I’ll never forget.

It wasn’t just about the sport. It was about identity. It was about regional pride. And it’s something I hope future generations still get to experience.

A Call to the Community

We urge city leaders to pause and consider the broader implications. In our pursuit of progress, let us not forget that true progress honors the past while embracing the future.

St. Pete is thriving — not in spite of places like Al Lang, but because of them.

So we ask, on behalf of the fans, the families, the youth players, the businesses, and the countless individuals who have memories stitched into the seats and sidelines:

Don’t demolish Al Lang. Reinvent it, invest in it, celebrate it — but don’t erase it.

Let us be the generation that fought for what mattered. Let St. Pete be the city that recognizes heritage has value, it bonds the community, and our love for soccer.

The Rowdies belong here.
Al Lang belongs to St. Pete.

— A Proud Supporter of the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the St. Petersburg Community