Winning has long been part of the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ identity.
From a championship in their inaugural 1975 season to multiple league titles and playoff appearances, the Rowdies have been one of the region’s most successful professional sports franchises.
But after a disappointing 2025 season ended a seven-year playoff streak, the club is regrouping.
The front office retained Coach Dominic Casciato who rebuilt the roster with many players from his former team, Omaha United. The team has 26 new players and just two players returning from last season.
The 2026 season is full of new possibilities and players and a new owner, Patrick Zalupski who bought the Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies from previous owner Stuart Sternberg.
Rowdies fans said that they have high hopes for the revamped roster after last season. There are two large supporter groups that show up for every game: Ralph’s Mob is based in St. Petersburg and the Skyway Casuals, an ultra-supporters’ group made up of fans located as far south as Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Rowdies superfan and Ralph’s Mob president Nancy Bataille said she does not like when the team lets go of players, but she thinks the revamped team is a positive step forward compared to last year.
“There was no sense of urgency to try and be out there and score goals,” she said.
On March 28, the Rowdies demonstrated a new attack-style of play and defensive capabilities in the matchup with Loudon United.
Since that Loudon match, the Rowdies have not lost. As of May, the team is first in its group in the USL Championship with a record of five wins and three draws. Including wins from USL Cup play, 10 games without a loss means that the Rowdies are off to the best start in team history.
Skyway Casuals president Jochen Hutzenlaub said he thinks the team is moving in the right direction.
“I’m expecting good things,” he said. “They cleaned house. They have a whole new team, and it looks promising.”
Coach Casciato said that he is working hard to get his team back to the playoffs.
“I think this team is going to work harder with or without the ball,” Coach Casciato said. “I think we have the benefit of a full pre-season this year.”
Casciato is not the only one with high hopes for the Rowdies.
Former Rowdies player Leo Fernandes, now a Rowdies scout, says the team is hungry for victory.
“I think we have players that are just super hungry that want to show that they want to be here,” Fernandes said.
Lewis Hilton is a veteran player for the Rowdies. He has been with the Rowdies since 2020 and is one of two returning players. He said that he is embracing the new squad around him.
“It’s part of why I love this job. It’s getting to meet new people and make new friends,” Hilton said.
Some of the new players joining the Rowdies this season are midfielders Pedro Dolabella and Marco Micaletto, goalie Jahmali Waite and forward Russell Cicerone.
Dolabella said that he has high expectations for his new team.
“We expect to win every trophy we can, I mean we are planning to win every game, and we have a big expectation. I think the fans have a big expectation too,” he said.
Cicerone said that the squad is coming together.
“Great chemistry with the guys even though there have been a lot of new guys,” he said. “Very professional, very strong mentality in the group and I think we are going to be successful.”
With additional reporting from Lux Frain, Ibrahim Lollis, Alex Rodriguez and Garrett Ottaway.
