ST. PETE, Fla. — It’s been a race to the finish, but the Tampa Bay Rowdies will be back inside hurricane-damaged Al Lang Stadium just in time for the first match of their 50th anniversary season.

Al Lang Stadium took on 4 feet of water during Hurricane Helene in September 2024. While much of downtown St. Pete was spared, the field was covered with about 2 feet of water and the below-ground locker rooms, training areas, offices, electrical rooms, and merchandise area took on more then 4 feet of storm surge.

Tampa Bay Rowdies President Ryan Helfrick says in the days following the hurricane, he wasn’t sure the team would be back in their home stadium.

“I think the first thing that went through our heads was, are we ever going to play here again?” Helfrick recalled, remembering what the stadium looked like with feet of water inside.

Helfrick said it took a couple of days to pump all of the water out. During the process, they discovered the electrical systems and air conditioning units were severely damaged.

“With the stadium being so old, the transformers and electrical boxes are so close to the ground,” he said.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies lease the stadium from the City of St. Pete, and in the months following the storm the city approved about $3.5 million in repairs. Helfrick says work is being done in 3 phases, and they should have the major items to make the stadium fully operational repaired by end of day Friday.

The stadium sustained additional damage to the field’s lights during Hurricane Milton. New bulbs were put in and the lights adjusted in the days before the first match.

The first match of the season takes place the following day, Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m.

“Being able to host matches here this year, be able to celebrate 50 years with our fans, at our house, and with our former players … its something that’s really special to us,” Helfrick said.

The remainder of repairs to the stadium will continue throughout the season.