Orlando City’s USL team appears set to announce it will play games in Melbourne, growing Orlando City’s footprint in Central Florida.
Orlando City SC continues to expand its footprint in the Central Florida soccer scene. The club’s plan to start a USL team (the league Orlando City came from before joining MLS) as a minor league club and feeder team appears set to come to fruition with the team setting up camp in Melbourne.
Orlando City issues a media advisory for Thursday based out of Melbourne, according to Michael Citro of The Mane Land, hinting at the team’s potential future location.
The Lions have been everywhere throughout Central Florida spreading the soccer craze. They have filled the Citrus Bowl and flooded cars with magnets to advertise and promote the team. Everyone seems to have jumped on.
But Orlando City also plays a major role in developing youth soccer around Central Florida. The addition of a USL team to play in nearby Melbourne should continue their footprint in the region. Many MLS teams have minor league teams that play in USL and Orlando City once acted as Sporting Kansas City’s USL feeder club, sending down players like Dom Dwyer to develop and gain confidence at the lower level.
The games are likely be held at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, although a stadium expansion would be required in the next year to meet USL requirements of 5,000 seats in a stadium.
This news comes on top of the long rumored addition of a NWSL team to the Orlando market. That announcement may be made coinciding with the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team’s match with Brazil at the Citrus Bowl next Sunday.
Either way it provides more professional soccer opportunities for soccer fans in the Central Florida area. It is continued boost to Orlando City’s footprint in the region and its devotion to growing and exposing many people to the game.
Orlando City plays its final home game Friday night against New York City SC.
