The Orange County Board of County Commissioners met on Tuesday, October 22, and approved a plan that will provide funding for a new soccer stadium to be built in downtown Orlando.
The vote was 5-2 to approve a plan to use tourist tax dollars to help fund the stadium as part of a larger venues package, which includes the second phase of the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, and renovations to the Citrus Bowl.
This clears the way to for the Orlando City Soccer Club ( aka Orlando Lions) to become a Major League Soccer team, pending negotiations between the team and the MLS.
“We are ecstatic about the positive vote,” said Orlando City President Phil Rawlins. “Our fans have been the driving force behind the effort to bring MLS to Orlando. This one is for them.”
A franchise could be awarded as early as November. The Lions would then begin play in MLS in Spring 2015. The stadium will be located at the northeast corner where Church St. and Parramore Ave intersect.
Here is a video of the vote as it happened:
httpv://youtu.be/WSaVAiNHsvk