April 13 Tampa Bay Rowdies Matchup To Open San Antonio Scorpions FC’s New Home – Toyota Field

scorpions logo toyota fieldThe San Antonio Scorpions FC, 2012 North American Soccer League (NASL) regular-season champs, will unveil the team’s new home – Toyota Field – Saturday, April 13, in a battle with last season’s eventual league champions, the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“What a great way to open our beautiful, new stadium!” said Gordon Hartman, CEO of The Gordon Hartman Foundation who led the Soccer for a Cause effort to bring pro soccer to San Antonio.  “We’re truly grateful to our global partner, Toyota, for securing naming rights to this colorful, multi-purpose facility.   The match with the Rowdies will be the first of a long list of sports, community, music and special events at our 8,000-seat venue adjacent to Morgan’s Wonderland at Thousand Oaks and Wurzbach Parkway.”

According to the NASL’s recently released Spring Schedule, the Scorpions will get their first taste of 2013 action on the road against the Minnesota Stars FC.  The complete Spring Schedule is as follows:

Saturday, April 6 – at Minnesota Stars FC

Saturday, April 13 – Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sunday, April 28 – at Edmonton FC

Saturday, May 4 – Atlanta Silverbacks

Saturday, May 11 – at Carolina Rail-Hawks

Saturday, May 18 – Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Saturday, May 25 – at Atlanta Silverbacks

Saturday, June 1 – Minnesota Stars FC

Saturday, June 15 – at Tampa Bay Rowdies

Saturday, June 22 – FC Edmonton

Saturday, June 29 – at Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Thursday, July 4 – Carolina Rail-Hawks.

The seven NASL teams active for the 2013 Spring Season will play each other once at home and once on the road in a 42-game season between April 6 and July 4, the NASL said.  The team that tops the standings at the summer break will qualify for the 2013 Soccer Bowl as the host team.  The Soccer Bowl will be held the weekend of Nov. 16-17, and the spring champion will be joined by the Fall Season champion.  The New York Cosmos are poised to return to NASL action when the Fall Season kicks off Aug. 3.

The one-month summer break will allow NASL teams to schedule exhibition games, the league added.  It occurs during the international transfer window that is open throughout much of Europe, Latin America and North America.

Preparations for the Scorpions’ 2013 season will continue with player signings in the next few weeks prior to the start of training camp March 1, said Scorpions Head Coach Tim Hankinson.

“The Scorpions franchise is unique in that all net profits go to help expand programs and services for the special-needs community through non-profit Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first and only ultra-accessible theme park,” said Scorpions President Howard Cornfield.

Sensing an opportunity to benefit Morgan’s Wonderland for the long run, San Antonio philanthropist Gordon Hartman three years ago secured an NASL franchise – one rung below Major League Soccer – and launched Soccer for a Cause, a successful campaign to build community support for pro soccer.  The Scorpions played their first NASL match April 15, 2012.

San Antonio Scorpions season tickets are now on sale.  More information about the Scorpions FC is available at www.SanAntonioScorpions.com, http://www.Facebook.com/SanAntonioScorpions or http://www.Twitter.com/SAScorpions.  Morgan’s Wonderland information can be found at www.MorgansWonderland.com or by calling (210) 495-5888.

About the NSL
The North American Soccer League℠ is the Division 2 men’s outdoor professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.  The NASL member teams are:  Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, FC Tampa Bay, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, NSC Minnesota Stars and San Antonio Scorpions FC.  For more information about the NASL, visit www.NASL.com or on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/NASL.fans.