ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After starting the season with a month-long road trip, the Tampa Bay Rowdies welcomed back fans to Al Lang Stadium on Saturday.

This year's opener was pushed back after Hurricane Helene cause significant damage to the stadium.

What You Need To Know

  • The Tampa Bay Rowdies welcomed back fans to Al Lang Stadium after the opener was postponed due to hurricane damage

  • The team hosted Loudoun United FC, falling 2-1 in full-time

  • The Rowdies will head south Wednesday for an Open Cup match against FC Naples, then will host five straight home games

The team hosted Loudoun United FC, falling 2-1 in full-time. The team is now 1-4-0 on the season.

While it’s not the on-field start fans were hoping for, they were happy to get back into the stands and even tailgate before the game.

John Tyler, a season ticket holder of 14 years, says it’s been seven months since he was last in the stadium.

“We had to do the last few home games at IMG down in Bradenton because the stadium was flooded and they had so many repairs to do, they couldn’t have us here,” he said. “So we only had like 400-500 people in that little, almost like a high school football stadium type of thing.”

Now back at Al Lang, Tyler says there’s a certain magic that can’t be found at other places.

“(I’m) looking forward to being back with my friends and everything at the games,” he said. “We had the hurricanes come through. Al Lang Stadium got shut down, so it’s been great to bring everyone back together.”

“I’ve been a season ticket holder with the Rowdies for 14 years,” said John Tyler.

The Rowdies will head south Wednesday for an Open Cup match against FC Naples, then after that fans will be treated to five straight games at home beginning April 19.