Tropics 2017-18 Season Schedule Announced

Lakeland, FL - The Florida Tropics second season schedule has officially been released. The Tropics will open with two games on the road, and finish with four away from home, but in between will host divisional rivals Baltimore, Harrisburg and Syracuse two times each along with visits from some of the most iconic franchises in arena soccer history including the San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Ambush, Kansas City Comets at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

The 2017-18 slate is highlighted by the home opener Saturday, Nov. 11 against the Cedar Rapids Rampage. The Rampage defeated the Tropics last season, and are led by the US Arena National Team superstar, Gordy Gurson. The Tropics played on the road against the Rampage following a tough game in Kansas City the night before, so the circumstances will be different upon the Rampages first visit to Lakeland.  

Similar to last season, Florida will play the Baltimore Blast twice in December, once at the RP Funding Center and once in Baltimore's new home, the SECU Arena at Towson State University. The Blast are the two-time defending MASL champions.

The Tropics will play each of their divisional rivals four times, two at home at two on the road. They will also host the San Diego Sockers for a two-game weekend series to close the home game schedule in February. They will also play home and away games with Kansas City and St. Louis, and single games against the Milwaukee Wave, Cedar Rapids, Monterrey Flash and RGV Barracudas in the season-opener on the road Nov. 4.

The balanced and family-friendly home schedule features five Friday night and six Saturday night games, with two home games in November, and 3 in December, January and February. Kickoff for all games at the RP Funding Center will be at 7:35pm.

The four-game road trip to end the season is similar to a three-game trip away from Lakeland that ended last season. This is due to the RP Funding Center hosting the state high school girl's and boy's basketball tournaments during the last week of February and first week of March. All four of the matchups on the trip are against MASL playoff teams last season. 

Six times the Tropics will play back to back games, but there are no three-games in three night's on the schedule as there was a year ago. Tickets to the Tropics games can be purchased by calling 863-240-0101 or online starting on October 14th, the same day as the Tropics first ever Fan Fest at the RP Funding Center. 

The schedule is as follows (Home game in Bold):

Saturday, Nov. 4 at RGV Barracudas (7:05pm)

Sunday, Nov. 5 at Monterrey Flash (5:05pm)

Saturday, Nov. 11 vs. Cedar Rapids Rampage (7:35pm) 

Saturday, Nov. 18 vs. Baltimore Blast (7:35pm)

Friday, Dec. 1 vs. Syracuse Silver Knights (7:35pm)

Saturday, Dec. 9 at Syracuse Silver Knights (6:05pm)

Sunday, Dec. 10 at Baltimore Blast (3:05pm)

Friday Dec. 15 vs. Baltimore Blast (7:35pm)

Saturday Dec. 23 vs. Harrisburg Heat (7:35pm)

Sunday, Dec. 31 at. St. Louis Ambush (2:05pm)

Saturday, Jan. 6 vs. Syracuse Silver Knights (7:35pm)

Friday, Jan. 12 vs. St. Louis Ambush (7:35pm)

Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Kansas City Comets (7:35pm)

Saturday, Jan. 27 at Harrisburg Heat

Sunday, Jan. 28 at Syracuse Silver Knights

Friday, Feb. 9 vs. Harrisburg Heat (7:35pm)

Friday, Feb. 16 vs. San Diego Sockers (7:35pm)

Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. San Diego Sockers (7:35pm)

Friday, Feb. 23 at Harrisburg Heat (7:05pm)

Saturday, Feb. 24 at Baltimore Blast (6:05pm)

Saturday, March 3 at Milwaukee Wave (6:05pm)

Sunday, March 4 at Kansas City Comets (5:05pm)

All Major Arena Soccer League games are broadcast live at www.MASL.tv.