Tickets for U.S. FIFA World Cup Qualifier vs. Antigua/Barbuda on Sale March 1, 11 a.m. ET
U.S. Men’s National Team Opens Group A Play Against First-Time Opponent
on June 8 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
CHICAGO (Feb. 22, 2012) – Individual tickets for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match against first-time opponent Antigua and Barbuda will go on sale at 11 a.m. ET on March 1. The teams will meet at 7 p.m. ET on June 8 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Tickets starting at $22 go on sale to the public Thursday, March 1, at 11 a.m. ET through ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout Tampa Bay (including many Walmart stores). Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290. Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages which include a premium ticket, a custom made official U.S. national team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.
As a sponsor of U.S. Soccer, Visa® is pleased to offer all Visa cardholders access to an advance ticket sale for this match before the sale to the general public. This advance sale starts Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 11 a.m. ET and runs until Thursday, March 1, at 9 a.m. ET at ussoccer.com. Visa will be the only payment method accepted through the Visa presale and is the preferred card of U.S. Soccer. Terms and conditions apply.
The U.S. Men’s National Team will hold a public training session at the stadium the day before the game. More information about the free session will be available in the near future.
The USA’s match against Antigua & Barbuda will be the first match of the Semifinal Round of FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifying. The Caribbean nation has never advanced to the Semifinal Round before and will also be facing the U.S. for the first time in the teams’ history.
The game also marks the first World Cup qualifier in the state of Florida since the USA defeated Mexico 2-1 on Nov. 23, 1980, in Ft. Lauderdale.
Along with the U.S. and Antigua & Barbuda, Group A consists of Guatemala and Jamaica. Each team will meet each other both home and away in round robin play. The top finishers from each of the three groups will advance to the Final Round of qualifying, which will take place in 2013.
The MNT will be in Florida shortly before the June 8 match to take on Scotland in Jacksonville. The teams will kick off at 8 p.m. ET at EverBank Field on May 26. Before returning to the Sunshine State, the U.S. will head to Landover, Md., to face Brazil on May 30 and to Toronto to play Canada on June 3.
Posted in Stadium News, TSA Announcements | 
Tags: Antigua, Barbuda, FIFA, Ray Jay, Raymond James Stadium, US Soccer, World Cup
U.S. Men’s National Team To Open 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier at RJS
For Immediate Release –
U.S. to Face Antigua and Barbuda in Opening Match of Semifinal Round Group Play
CHICAGO (Feb. 15, 2012) – The United States will kick off the effort to qualify for its seventh consecutive FIFA World Cup when they host Antigua and Barbuda on June 8 at Raymond James Stadium, marking the first World Cup qualifier in the state of Florida since the USA defeated Mexico 2-1 on Nov. 23, 1980, in Ft. Lauderdale. The semifinal round opener begins at 7 p.m. ET live on ESPN, ESPN3 and the Univision family of networks.
Ticket information will be announced in the near future. To find out when tickets will go on sale, join U.S. Soccer’s ticket alert email list. For the opportunity to purchase tickets for the match against Antigua and Barbuda before the general public, join the U.S. Soccer Supporters Club and earn priority access to the ticket presale.
“Our focus since last summer has been to prepare this team for World Cup qualifying, and we are thrilled that we can start the process in Tampa,” said Klinsmann. “It’s critical that we start qualifying off on the right foot, so to be in a place where the team has had such great support is a huge positive for us. The players always talk about how great the surface is at Raymond James Stadium, so overall we think is the ideal venue.”
The United States has never played against Antigua and Barbuda, which qualified for the Semifinal Round of qualifying for the first time ever after winning Group F with a combined score of 25-3. Along with these two teams, Group A is comprised of Guatemala and Jamaica. Each opponent will meet twice, once at home and once away, in round robin play. The top teams from each of three groups will advance to the Final Round of qualifying, which will take place in 2013. Three teams will automatically qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, while the fourth place team will play in a two-leg playoff against the winner of the Oceania region.
The United States will be making its seventh appearance in Tampa dating back to a 1-1 tie with Switzerland in 1985. Overall the U.S. has a 3-2-1 record with wins against Finland (1990), Ecuador (2007) and El Salvador (2010). The 2007 matchup is the most memorable, with 31,547 on hand at Raymond James Stadium to see a magnificent hat trick by Landon Donovan in a 3-1 victory. In 2008, Raymond James Stadium hosted the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team for the group phase of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying. The U.S. posted a 2-0-1 record against Cuba, Panama and Honduras.
The U.S. will play a series of friendlies in preparation for the start of qualifying, first meeting Scotland on May 26 at EverBank Field. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will be shown live on the NBC Sports Network in the channel’s debut broadcast of a U.S. National Team game, as well as the Univision family of networks.
Following the match against Scotland, the U.S. continues its competition against the world’s top teams when they host five-time World Cup champions Brazil on Wednesday, May 30 in Landover, Md. Kickoff for the USA’s first ever match at FedExField is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2, ESPN3 and Univision.
For the last game before the start of World Cup qualifying, the United States will make a rare visit to Canada when it renews the rivalry June 3 at BMO Field in Toronto. Kickoff for the USA’s first match on Canadian soil since 1997 is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.
Fans can follow all the matches live online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and Twitter @ussoccer.
ussoccer.com
Contact: U.S. Soccer Communications, 312-808-1300
Posted in Stadium News, TSA Announcements | Tags: Events, Ray Jay, Raymond James Stadium, RJS, US Soccer Men's National Team
Tampa City Men’s Amateur Championship At Rogers Park Golf Course April 21-22
Tampa City Men’s Amateur Championship At Rogers Park Golf Course
TAMPA, FL — The Tampa City Men’s Amateur Championship will be held at Rogers Park Golf Course on Saturday, April 21st through Sunday, April 22nd, 2012.
All amateur golfers are encouraged to sign-up by Sunday, April 15th at 12:00 p.m. Entries are limited to 100 players and may fill up before this date. Players will compete in a 36-hole stroke play event for a $150 entry fee. This fee will include a courtesy practice round with a $15 cart fee. Tournament rounds include range balls, carts and a tee gift. Competitors’ flights will be determined by their handicap.
Amateur men should be at least 18 years of age with a verified handicap index of 18.0 or less. After Saturday’s round, the golfers will enjoy a lunch buffet in the Rogers Park clubhouse.
For more information, contact T.J. Heidel at 813-356-1670 or visit www.TBGolf.com.
Contact:
T.J. Heidel, Head Golf Professional
Rogers Park Golf Course
(813) 356-1670
tjheidel@tampasportsauthority.com
Rogers Park Golf Course
is proudly managed by:
###
Video Contest: Win Family 4-Pack for Monster Jam!
Are you the biggest Monster Jam fan in Tampa Bay? Prove it!
Raymond James Stadium’s Facebook page is holding a video contest starting on Friday, January 6 to win a Family 4-pack to the January 21 Monster Jam show. Along with four tickets, the winner will also receive a parking pass and $15 in concession money. You don’t want to miss this action packed event!
How do you enter? Email us a video at viscomm@tampasportsauthority.com showing or telling us why YOU are the biggest Monster Jam Fan in Tampa Bay. We’re looking for someone with a lot of energy and creativity, but videos must be appropriate and in good taste. We’ll pick our three favorites by Monday, January 16 and post them to Facebook on Tuesday, January 17. Whoever gets the most Facebook “likes” by Wednesday, January 18 at 4 p.m. wins!
Monster Jam Tickets available at RJS Box Office starting 1/9/12
Patrons can purchase tickets at the stadium box office beginning Monday, January 9, 2012 through February 4, 2012. The box office will not be open on weekends but will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It will also be open on the day of each show: January 21, 2012 and February 4, 2012.
Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster either online, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or at one of their kiosk locations.
Children 2 and under are free as long as they sit in their parent/guardian’s lap.
For more information, visit the Monster Jam website
Georgia to Square-off Against Michigan State In Outback Bowl
December 04, 2011
Tampa, FL—The Michigan State Spartans and Georgia Bulldogs will square-off in the Outback Bowl on January 2nd in Tampa, bowl officials announced today. It is a match-up of two 10 win Division Champions from two of the most prestigious conferences in college football – the SEC and Big Ten. The Spartans are ranked 12th in the AP Poll while the Bulldogs are ranked 18th.
“We are delighted to extend invitations to Michigan State University and the University of Georgia to play in this year’s Outback Bowl and thrilled to host these two Division Champions from the Big Ten and SEC,” said Outback Bowl Chairman Dale Dignum. “These teams feature exceptional talent, including two of the best quarterbacks in the nation, who should put on an exciting show on January 2nd. We look forward to hosting the Bulldogs once again, including Tampa’s own Aaron Murray and Orson Charles, and to welcoming the Spartans team and fans to their first-ever Outback Bowl. We ensure them it will be a fabulous experience.”
“I’m really excited for our team and especially our seniors with the opportunity to play in Tampa which is one of the premier January bowl games,” said UGA head coach Mark Richt. “We were fortunate to play in this game back in 2005 and had a terrific experience. This will be the first time the members of our team have the opportunity to play in Tampa and playing a top quality opponent like Michigan State will be a challenge we’ll look forward to.”
“We are delighted with the selection of our team to represent the Southeastern Conference in the Outback Bowl,” said UGA Director of Athletics Greg McGarity. “It’s a great destination for our student-athletes and our fans — warm weather, wonderful attractions, a first class stadium, and we look forward to competing against a great Michigan State team. Our fans have been a big part of our success this season and I’m confident they will support the team with their attendance in this bowl game.”
“It’s remarkable what Mark Dantonio has accomplished in five short seasons at Michigan State,” MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis said. “The Spartans are making their third New Year’s Day bowl appearance in the last four years. This promises to be a great match-up, as Georgia went 10-3 during the regular season and won the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division. The last time these two teams met in the 2009 Capital One Bowl the outcome wasn’t decided until the fourth quarter, so we anticipate another competitive game.
“Florida is a special place for many Spartans, and we’re excited about making our first bowl trip to the west coast of the Sunshine State. We also look forward to working closely with two Outback Bowl officials who have MSU ties. Outback Bowl CEO Jim McVay’s father John was an assistant coach on Duffy Daugherty’s staff in the early 1960s and Sales Director Jerry Kulig is a MSU graduate. We can’t wait to gather in the streets of Tampa to help ring in the New Year.”
“We’re looking forward to having the opportunity to represent the Big Ten as Legends Division Champions in the Outback Bowl against a Top 20 opponent in Georgia, the SEC Eastern Division Champions,” Dantonio said. “Our focus is on winning our last football game – the bowl game. It’s important for our seniors – the winningest four-year class in Spartan history – to add a bowl victory to its long list of accomplishments.
“Obviously, we have a great deal of respect for Mark Richt and his football program. Georgia put together an impressive 10-game winning streak this season. This Outback Bowl game features two of the nation’s top defensive teams (Georgia and MSU rank third and fifth, respectively, in total defense among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams). Offensively, Aaron Murray is a talented, young quarterback who directs an offensive attack that averages more than 400 total yards and 32 points per game.
“Three years ago, we played Georgia in the Capital One Bowl and that game went down to the wire, so fans can expect another close contest. We’re excited for this opportunity.”
The Outback Bowl will be played on January 2nd at 1:00 PM at Raymond James Stadium. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or 1-800-745-3000 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet in the state of Florida.
For information on limited priority seating through a bowl membership package call the Outback Bowl office directly at (813) 874-BOWL or go to the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com for details.
-OBB-
press release via Outback Bowl
Gruden, Tirico to call Outback Bowl Telecast for ABC
press release via Outback Bowl
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2011
GRUDEN, TIRICO TO CALL OUTBACK BOWL TELECAST FOR ABC
Tampa, FL — Monday Night Football announcers Jon Gruden and Mike Tirico will return to the broadcast booth for the 2012 Outback Bowl game this January 2nd in Tampa. The bowl will be telecast on ABC at 1:00 P.M. ET. matching teams from the Big Ten and SEC to be determined this Sunday. It will be the second consecutive year the pair has teamed up for the Outback Bowl. Last year’s telecast was one of the most watched bowls and college football games of the year. Lisa Salters will be reporting from the sidelines for the telecast.
“We think it’s terrific that Jon Gruden and Mike Tirico will be calling the action for this year’s Outback Bowl,” said Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay. “It’s truly an honor to have two of the best sports broadcasters in the business involved with this our 26th Bowl game in the Tampa Bay area. This is great for everyone involved with the Outback Bowl.”
Tickets to the game are $75 each (plus Ticketmaster service charge). Phone orders can be placed with a credit card by calling Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or 1-800-745-3000 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet in the state of Florida.
For information on priority seating through a bowl membership package call the Outback Bowl office directly at (813) 874-BOWL or go to the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com for details.
-OBB-