ST. PETERSBURG – The Tampa Bay Rowdies have launched an e-sports team, Rowdies Gaming, announcing the team on Friday. Four games will be part of the group, FIFA, Rocket League, League of Legends, and Hearthstone.
The games that are part of the team were decided based on global popularity, core business, and the programs at local colleges and high schools.
Rowdies Gaming will enter its first tournament with the USL eCup: FIFA 20 edition, which began on Monday. The Rowdies team members are Rowdies fans Carlos Rueda and David Morales, joined by midfielder Malik Johnson. Nuno Bianchi will coach the team.
The team’s focus is on developing players to become elite professionals. Following on from the Rowdies soccer set up, which focuses on development from youth programs to the League Two side and up to full-time professionals for the Rowdies proper.
The hope is that after initially competing in amateur competition, Rowdies Gaming team members will develop into competing at professional tournaments, wearing the Green and Gold.
The team formed after a partnership with local esports company EZ Consulting and individual local leaders in the world of esports.
This announcement comes as Tampa Bay experiences a slight boom in esports with the University of South Florida scheduled to host an esports summit for the second time in September. Meanwhile, the Rowdies aren’t the only sporting interest invested in esports in the area, Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik invested in Axiomatic Gaming back in 2017.
Florida Soccer Report 