As Orlando City roars through its second season in Major League Soccer, they’re looking toward the future. While the Lions currently play their home games at Camping World Stadium, they await the completion of construction on their new stadium for the start of the 2017 season.
Here are five reasons why YOU should be excited about this new stadium!
1. It’s a soccer-specific stadium
While Major League Soccer has been moving in the direction of soccer specific stadiums for some time, there are many teams still playing in stadiums not built for the sport. For City players and supporters, the prospect of having a stadium built and operated for soccer and soccer only is too great not to be excited about.
2. REAL grass will adorn the pitch
Turf is great, and it really does a good job of pretending to be grass. But c’mon, is there anything better than real, fresh, natural grass? In fact, the grass that will be on the pitch in the new stadium is being grown right this moment and will be laid as one of the finishing touches en route to the stadium’s completion.
3. The atmosphere
Imagine the great atmosphere that already exists in Camping World Stadium, and then imagine that atmosphere on steroids. The energy in the new stadium will be electric, and it will be a much more intimate and enthralling experience for fans. It will also be even more intimidating for visiting clubs, which should scare any reasonably sane opposing squad.
4. It’s downtown location
For the thousands of supporters attending every Orlando City match, Camping World Stadium isn’t in the best location. The new stadium is much closer in downtown; right off Church Street and just blocks from countless bars, meaning pre- and post-game activities aren’t all that far away.
5. The stadium is entirely SELF-FUNDED
In an election year, taxes and government spending are contentious points of discussion on the political front. For Orlando City, however, that discussion has no relevance. The club entirely self-funded the construction of their new stadium, requiring absolutely no public funds. Fiscal responsibility at its finest.
