Tampa Bay Mutiny
Full name | Tampa Bay Mutiny | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Mutiny | |||
Founded | November 16, 1994 | |||
Dissolved | January 8, 2002 | |||
Stadium | Tampa Stadium Raymond James Stadium | |||
Capacity | 74,301 / 65,857 | |||
Owner | Major League Soccer | |||
League | Major League Soccer | |||
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Tampa Bay Mutiny was a professional soccer team based in Tampa, Florida. They were a charter member of Major League Soccer (MLS) and played from 1996 to 2001. They played their home games at Tampa Stadium and then at Raymond James Stadium.
The Mutiny were established in 1994 and were owned and operated by MLS throughout their entire existence. They were successful in their first years of play, winning the first
History
In 1994, newly established
The Mutiny were owned and operated by MLS along with two other teams, the
On April 13, 1996, the Mutiny played their inaugural game against the New England Revolution, winning 3–2. Led by manager Thomas Rongen and Roy Lassiter, who scored a record 27 goals in the season, the Mutiny claimed the best record in the league at 20–12 and were the first winners (retroactively) of the Supporters' Shield. In the playoffs, they beat the Columbus Crew before losing in the conference final to eventual champions D.C. United.[7]
In 1997, Thomas Rongen took over the New England Revolution, and was replaced by John Kowalski. Under him, the Mutiny finished the season with a record of 17–15, but were swept in the playoffs by the Columbus Crew. After the season, Kowalski resigned from the club. 1998 saw Tim Hankinson join the club as the new manager while star player Carlos Valderrama joined new MLS side Miami Fusion. As a result, the Mutiny would struggle through the season, finishing with a record of 12–20, missing the playoffs for the first time.[7]
In 1999, the Mutiny reacquired Valderrama. Despite this, they struggled, being swept by the Columbus Crew in the first round of the playoffs, which they qualified for despite having a losing record. In the 2000 season, the Mutiny finished with a 16–12–4 record after rebounding from a poor start to the campaign. However, they were swept by the
The city of Tampa demolished Tampa Stadium in 1998, and the Mutiny moved to new Raymond James Stadium for the 1999 season with a much less favorable lease.[8] The club was hampered by declining attendance and low revenues which were exacerbated by a lease agreement that transferred most match day revenue to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, resulting in an inability to secure a local ownership group.[9] In 2001, the Mutiny had the worst record in MLS with only four wins in twenty-seven matches on the season and drew an average attendance of under 11,000 per game, among the league's lowest.[10] Faced with financial losses up to $2 million a year, MLS courted Malcolm Glazer and his family, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers National Football League team, to purchase the Mutiny. The Glazers considered the deal but ultimately declined, leaving the league with no prospective owners willing to take over the team. MLS folded the Mutiny, as well as its other Florida-based team, the Miami Fusion, in 2002.[11][2] The Glazers would purchase Manchester United in 2005.
Honors
Team
- MLS Supporters' Shield:
1996
- Eastern Conference (Regular Season Winners):
1996
Players
Coach and Admin
- MLS Coach of the Year Award:
1996 Thomas Rongen
- MLS Executive of the Year Award:
1999 Nick Sakiewicz[14]
- MLS Operations Executive of the Year Award: (2)
1996 Eddie Austin
2001 Eddie Austin
Players
Head coaches
- Thomas Rongen (1996)
- John Kowalski (1997–98)
- Tim Hankinson (1998–00)
- Alfonso Mondelo (2001)
- Perry Van der Beck (2001)
Team records
- Games: Steve Ralston (177)
- Goals: Roy Lassiter (37)
- Assists: Carlos Valderrama (81)
- Shutouts: Scott Garlick (11)
Home stadiums
- Tampa Stadium (1996–1998)
- Raymond James Stadium (1999–2001)
Year-by-year
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1597975094. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 978-1597975094. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay Mutiny, 2000". Pintrest. 2000. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1597975094. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ISBN 978-1597975094. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ISBN 978-1597975094. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Tampa Bay Mutiny – Sports Ecyclopedia". Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ ""Mutiny Renews Lease" – St. Pete Times". sptimes.com.
- ISBN 978-1597975094. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ISBN 978-1597975094. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ ""MLS fold Mutiny" – St. Pete Times". sptimes.com.
- ^ "Mutiny set for three games in Puerto Rico". St. Petersburg Times. February 22, 2000. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "Copa Puerto Rico (San Juan) 2000". RSSSF.
- ^ "1999 MLS "Executive of the Year" Nick Sakiewicz Takes Over The MetroStars - by La Cancha World Cup 2002 & Super Soccer Mall". www.lacancha.com.