Rowdies, Phoenix Showdown Set for ESPN2
April 7, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
The USL Championship has announced its full national broadcast schedule for the 2021 season. In total, 18 regular season matches are set to air on ESPN's family of networks, with the Tampa Bay Rowdies featuring once in May and a second time in October.
This year's USL Championship Final is also scheduled to air on either ESPN or ESPN2 on Sunday, November 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET. ESPN Deportes will also carry the clash between the 2021 Eastern and Western Conference winners.
The national spotlight will also be put on last year's conference champions early on this year. Tampa Bay's showdown with the Western Conference's Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday, May 15 at AL Lang Stadium will be shown on ESPN2, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET.
ESPN's cameras then return to Al Lang Stadium in the final month of the regular season, when the Rowdies host the Charleston Battery on ESPN Deportes on Thursday, October 7 at 8 p.m. ET. The two sides had a hard-fought series in 2020, as the Rowdies won the first matchup against the Battery only to narrowly drop their next three meetings. When it came to the postseason, though, the Rowdies prevailed 1-0 in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.
In addition to ESPN's national broadcasts, ESPN+ will continue to be the streaming home of the USL Championship. Between the USL Championship and USL League One, fans will have access to nearly 700 matches on ESPN+ this year.
"This is the biggest and brightest platform we've ever had for our league," said USL Executive Vice President Court Jeske. "We are thrilled at the wide selection of games, clubs and landmark moments that will appear on national television this season. It's a special thing for our league to be able to showcase our clubs and cities across the USL Championship and League One on ESPN's networks in addition to streaming an incredible schedule on ESPN+."
USL Championship action kicks off the weekend of April 24, while the Rowdies will join the fray the following week on Saturday, May 1 against the Charlotte Independence.
2021 USL on ESPN TV Schedule:
- April 30 - Phoenix Rising FC vs. San Diego Loyal SC, 7 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN2
- May 6 - Rio Grande Valley FC vs. San Diego Loyal SC, 5 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN Deportes
- May 15 - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Phoenix Rising FC, 5 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN2
- May 16 - Greenville Triumph SC vs. Union Omaha, 1 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN2
- June 3 - Austin Bold FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 6 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN Deportes
- June 15 - Indy Eleven vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 5 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN Deportes
- June 23 - Miami FC vs. Birmingham Legion FC, 5 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN Deportes
- July 3 - San Diego Loyal SC vs. Sacramento Republic FC, 11 a.m. MST/PT, ESPN2
- July 10 - Oakland Roots SC vs. Las Vegas Lights FC, 7 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN2
- July 17 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. San Antonio FC, 11 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN2
- July 21 - San Antonio FC vs. New Mexico United, 6:30 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN2
- August 10 - Memphis 901 FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 5 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN Deportes
- September 7 - Hartford Athletic vs. Louisville City FC, 4 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN2
- September 8 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 6 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN Deportes
- September 30 - Hartford Athletic vs. Charlotte Independence, 5 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN Deportes
- October 3 - Louisville City FC vs. New Mexico United, 12 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN2
- October 7 - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Charleston Battery, 5 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN Deportes
- October 24 - El Paso Locomotive FC vs. OKC Energy FC, 5 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN Deportes
- November 28 - USL Championship Final, 5:30 p.m. MST/PT, ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes
United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 7, 2021
- Republic FC Take to National Stage on July 3 ESPN 2 Game - Sacramento Republic FC
- LA Galaxy II Sign Forward Preston Judd - LA Galaxy II
- Hounds Get Nationally Televised Match as Part of USL Package on ESPN - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- ESPN Deportes to Feature Austin Bold FC for June 3 Match - Austin Bold FC
- Rowdies, Phoenix Showdown Set for ESPN2 - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Switchbacks FC to Feature in Three Nationally Televised Games in 2021 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- USL Unveils Most Expansive ESPN Television Schedule in League History - USL
- RGV FC Set to be on ESPN Deportes on May 6 - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- Two LouCity Games Selected for National ESPN Coverage - Louisville City FC
- LA Galaxy II Sign Midfielder Daniel Aguirre - LA Galaxy II
- Orange County SC Announce Signing of 19-Year-Old Jack Imperato from Villarreal CF - Orange County SC
- FC Tulsa Signs Forward Michael Cunningham After Successful Preseason Trial - FC Tulsa
- By the Numbers: 2021 USL Championship Season - Sacramento Republic FC
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