By Joey Johnston
TAMPA (June 13, 2025) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies, a worldwide soccer brand and an organization recognizing its 50th anniversary, has become a sponsor for the Tampa Bay Soccer Hall of Fame, which will celebrate the game’s local history and heritage by inducting its first class this summer.
Rowdies president Ryan Helfrick said it’s a natural partnership.
“The Rowdies are thrilled to see the formation of the Tampa Bay Soccer Hall of Fame,’’ Helfrick said. “Our region’s history is filled with individuals from the professional, amateur and college ranks in both men’s and women’s soccer who are deserving of recognition for their significant contributions to the sport locally and abroad. We are excited to see the first induction class and equally excited to see all the worthy new additions in the years to come.’’
The TBSHOF, which will induct its first class during an awards dinner on Thursday, Aug. 14 at Tampa’s Higgins Hall, has assembled support from group-ticket buyers and corporate sponsors, along with community members who have joined the Founders Club, a ground-floor opportunity for contributions to secure the honoring of Tampa Bay’s storied soccer history.
The Rowdies will honor their 1975 North American Soccer League championship team on Saturday, Aug. 16 during an ESPN2-televised game against Phoenix Rising FC, putting the exclamation mark on a monumental weekend for Tampa Bay soccer. Fred Sikorski, a Board of Directors member with the TBSHOF, said the Rowdies’ support has been gratifying.
“It is very exciting to have the current Rowdies organization support our mission of preserving the Tampa Bay soccer legacy on the 50th anniversary of the Rowdies’ inaugural season,’’ Sikorski said. “It has been amazing to see all of the support for the Tampa Bay Soccer Hall of Fame and our mission. While soccer existed when the Rowdies came to Tampa, no one could have anticipated the explosion in the sport’s popularity.’’
For Helfrick, the weekend represents a perfect marriage of the past and present in Tampa Bay soccer — and even its future.
“It’s fitting that the first induction class of the Tampa Bay Soccer Hall of Fame will be introduced on the same week when the Rowdies are set to honor the 1975 championship team and all the players and staff who built our club’s legacy in the 70s, 80s and 90s,’’ Helfrick said.
“It will be a truly special week for soccer fans in Tampa Bay to see the first names enshrined in the Tampa Bay Soccer Hall of Fame and celebrate our club’s rich legacy together at Al Lang Stadium a few days later. It will be a tremendous opportunity to show off our region’s proud soccer heritage on national television.’’
