ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Teams often talk about turning their home venue into a fortress, and in the USL – like so many leagues around the world – ensuring maximum points are gained each time a side steps onto its field is a cornerstone for long-term success. 

So while a lot has been made of the Tampa Bay Rowdies recent road form, the fact that the club has lost just once at Al Lang Stadium in the USL regular season since their arrival in the league prior to last season has shown the club to live up to its words.

The Rowdies are undefeated going into Saturday's game at Al Lang Stadium against ATL UTD 2, and their home fans have been a significant part of that form. Named in honor of the club's original mascot, Ralph Rowdie, Ralph’s Mob is the rowdiest of Rowdies fans, and thanks to the club’s history which dates back to the 1970s when it was the first professional team in the Tampa Bay area the fanbase knows what's expected on the field and in the stands.

“I think it’s a really engaged crowd overall – they’re pretty soccer savvy.  They know the right moments to help give the team a pick-me-up and when to be outraged and be heard,” said Ralph’s Mob member Mike Pendleton. “Ralph’s Mob is perched right under the overhang on the goal end which amplifies all of the sound coming around the corner. Plus we’ve got one of the best drummers you’ll find anywhere.”

Even the might of Real Monarchs SLC, a side that has claimed four road victories already this season in taking the lead in the race for the USL Regular Season Championship, couldn’t get a result at Al Lang Stadium. The Rowdies are 14-1-5 in the USL regular season since the start of the 2017 season, making Al Lang Stadium one of the toughest road venues to visit in the league.

“The crowd is definitely a huge factor. Our guys love coming come to play in front of supporters they know they can count on,” said Pendleton. “The pitch is generally immaculate, which I think helps the style we tend to play. Plus it’s hot and humid. Going 90 minutes in Florida conditions is something you have to be mentally and physically prepared for. We live in it and train in it every day, so we’ll always have an advantage.”

That heat isn’t just tough on the players. It’s also tough on the fans, especially in the Mob's section where they’re jumping, moving, chanting, and drumming. There’s no real way to keep cool aside from the plentiful options for hydration from the vendors dotted around the venue, but having the group placed under the roof has helped according to Pendleton.

That roof is one of the notable features at Al Lang Stadium, which provides one of the most unique backdrops in North American sports. The stunning view of the Tampa Bay waterfront has been a feature since the venue was originally opened in 1947 to host Spring Training games for Major League Baseball teams that included the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. That link between the old and new is still relevant for those going to Rowdies games nowadays.

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"It is purely our home. After the remodel of the stadium in 2015, improvements were made to the facility to make it soccer only and feel like it is through and through Rowdies,” said Pendleton. “It’s got a great vista of the bay – one of the best views you’ll find anywhere in domestic soccer. Another factor is the history of the stadium and the site itself. For over 100 years there has been an active stadium there for professional sports in St. Petersburg.  We have a unique claim to say that we’ve had legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, Didier Drogba, Raul, and Joe Cole all ply their trade on that same ground.”

For many in Ralph’s Mob the group has proved to be a second family, and in an area like Tampa Bay which has so many people moving in from different states and even different countries that has been vital in getting people settled into the area.

“Like many people who live in Florida, I was a transplant from somewhere else with roots to professional sports team from a home somewhere else,” said Pendleton. “The Rowdies helped make this area really feel like a home for me. It’s like a family you come to see every Saturday night. We’ve got lots of fans who followed the original Rowdies for 20 years and still come out for this run of nearly 10 years in the modern era. It’s a special experience in the Tampa Bay area.”

With a perfect stadium location, right in downtown St. Petersburg, there is plenty to do around the stadium, and with a welcoming supporters group away fans should find plenty to do and that’s what Pendleton urges visitors to do.

“One perhaps is to leave time to explore Downtown St. Pete.  There’s a lot to do here – great places to eat and drink all the way up and down Central Avenue or right around the stadium.  It’s the advice I always give. There’s also really no bad place to sit. We love our team, but I think we’re generally welcoming to fans of all teams.”