Orlando is Getting its Soccer Stadium!

• GOOOOOAAALLLLL!!!!! The Orange County Board of Commissioners voted to approve funds for a new multipurpose soccer stadium that will be located in downtown Orlando! With the funding plan complete, Orlando City Soccer Club executives will enter into final negotiations with Major League Soccer to bring a franchise to Orlando. The vote approved the use of funds from the Tourist Development Tax for multiple venues, including a soccer stadium.

  Earlier this month, the City of Orlando unanimously approved the funding, completing the financial structure of the proposed soccer stadium.

  "We thank the Orange County and City of Orlando Board of Commissioners for their support to build a soccer-specific stadium in downtown Orlando," said MLS President and Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott. "We also would like to thank Flavio Augusto da Silva, Phil Rawlins and their staff for their passion and commitment to bring a Major League Soccer team to Orlando. We look forward to working with the Orlando City SC ownership group to finalize an expansion agreement."

  Orlando City SC officials have stated that, with approval of funding for a downtown Orlando soccer stadium, a MLS franchise could be awarded as early as November. This means Orlando City SC would begin play in MLS in Spring 2015. Go Lions!