ESPN+ Streaming Link: LouCity vs. Tampa Bay
Louisville City FC hosts Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday night at Slugger Field in the USL Championship Playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in what could be the club’s final match ever at Slugger Field.
“Us, here specifically, it has been a place that is just so special,” Louisville City coach John Hackworth said. “We have always found ways to be successful, especially in the playoffs here. We always wanted to be back in front of our fans, and we always felt that we would get here one way or another, whether that was in the first round or later on in the rounds.”
It took an incredible late-season run for LouCity to earn a home playoff game. The club went 9-1-3 in its final 13 games of the USL Championship regular-season, moving up from 7th to 4th to secure the home game Saturday night.
“The fact that we’ll play in our home stadium with our fans as loud and as boisterous as they are,” Hackworth said. “And then, we know this field better than anybody. “
Louisville City has won eight-straight USL Championship Playoff games dating back to 2016. The club won the 2017 USL Championship Title with a win over Swope Park Rangers in Slugger Field. Then last season, Louisville City won its second title, making a remarkable run through the playoffs at Slugger Field before beating Phoenix Rising, the Western Champion, in a 1-0 battle at Lynn Stadium on the University of Louisville campus.
“When people come in here, they feel how loud and how intense our atmosphere is,” LouCity defender Sean Totsch said. “They can feel how much it means to them. Between that and the way we play, being aggressive and really going at teams and trying to get goals, trying to start with energy. That can really be a lot of team to try to handle.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WBKI locally and ESPN+ nationally. International viewers can watch the USL Championship Playoffs on YouTube. The radio call will be on 1080 WKJK and feature Kevin Kernen and John Horlander.
Tonight’s Party by the Pitch performer, Nate Miner, will be playing on the concourse starting at 5:45 p.m. with drink specials available on the Overlook Deck.
