Tampa Bay Sports Commission pitches bid to FIFA to use city as home base for World Cup team

Tampa aims to bring a World Cup team to Tampa

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is aiming to bring a World Cup team to Tampa to use the Rowdies' facility as their home base. FOX 13's Mark Skol Jr. reports

TAMPA, Fla. - There are many positives when it comes to the city of Tampa.

"Tampa is awesome," Tampa Bay Sports Commission Executive Director Lanness Robinson said. 

Robinson is perhaps the biggest cheerleader of them all for the city.

What they're saying:

"The developments we have had downtown with new properties and Riverwalk expansion is awesome," Robinson said. "And you can't beat this weather."

The city is looking to share the weather and everything else it has to offer with the globe.

"We consider ourselves one of the best destinations in the world, so why wouldn't we want to extend that to the world's largest sporting event," Robinson said. 

The backstory:

Tampa has hosted several big sporting events over the years, like the Super Bowl, the College Football National Championship, a couple of Final Fours and the Frozen Four. However, there is something the Tampa Bay Sports Commission aims to check off the list. That is to have a World Cup use Tampa as a home base for the biggest soccer tournament in the world. 

"It is very big for us," Robinson said. "We were interested in being a part of the World Cup process. Hosting games was not something in the cards for us, but to host a team, we are still connected to the event and, because it is on the world's largest stage, it is just a great opportunity to be involved."

It's been a process the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, along with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, have been involved with for a few years now, pitching their bid to FIFA to bring a team to Tampa. 

Local perspective:

"We had to talk about the facilities the Rowdies have for actual practice to take place, but it is also what the hotels and living arrangements would be because they are going to be spending a lot of time in our area," Robinson said. 

Robinson knows if given the chance, Tampa will take full advantage of the opportunity. 

"For it to potentially come to fruition, that is very rewarding," Robinson said. "But when it actually happens, that's when it is really the highlight."

And Robinson believes a team coming to Tampa will highlight what makes the city special. 

"It just speaks to the destination we have and how fortunate we are to be able to present such a great opportunity for people from around the world to come," Robinson said.

What's next:

There is no timeline of when a possible announcement could or will be made. However, the World Cup begins in the United States in June.