OCYS Consolidated Thread

[Unregistered]

I'm all for Orlando getting an MLS franchise, but why do we have to spend $85-110M to build another stadium? Why can't we just put money into renovating the Citrus Bowl which is already planned for? I get that Don Garber wants Orlando to build a stadium, but that isn't a requirement. Don Garber makes up the rules as he goes along. He didn't make Vancouver or Seattle build a stadium. He hasn't demanded that Miami build a stadium for possible expansion.

At some point you have to question whether it makes economic sense to build a brand new stadium and why not just propose to MLS renovations/upgrades to the Citrus Bowl to make it soccer friendly. I don't see why an agreement can't be met to just use the Citrus Bowl for a few years to see how it is going. If business is doing well then you can build the stadium.

Just playing what if's, but what if Orlando gets an MLS team and it doesn't do well or make it long term? What do you do with a 20,000 seat piece of concrete that is just sitting there getting no use?

"What do you do with a 20,000 seat piece of concrete that is just sitting there getting no use?"

Answer: You eat it. Just like you're eating the Citrus Bowl. And you eat it while Phil gets out without a scratch and blames Orlando for not supporting his franchise. And you eat it while former Mayors Dyer and Jacobs are "unavailable for comment".

[Unregistered]

I'm all for Orlando getting an MLS franchise, but why do we have to spend $85-110M to build another stadium? Why can't we just put money into renovating the Citrus Bowl which is already planned for? I get that Don Garber wants Orlando to build a stadium, but that isn't a requirement.

Why not the Citrus Bowl or other venues in Central Florida?

MLS has a proven business model, which includes a stadium that fits the following criteria:
- 18,000-23,000 seat stadium
- Roof over the fans
- Urban, downtown location

MLS have made it very clear this is not negotiable.

[Unregistered]

Wrong about that. Vancouver spent many millions renovating the stadium to fit soccer, they have a more established fan base and so does Seattle. Also, there stadiums are downtown, which is where the new Orlando stadium would be. Downtown stadiums equal success. If you are not downtown you will likely see something like Dallas, Chicago, Columbus, etc....
Miami is being told to build a stadium in South Beach if they want entry into the league. The new stadium, closer to the Tampa bay area, will be 1/2 hour closer and will draw those fans. I live in St Pete and I would entertain bringing my family to the new stadium location, but damn sure would not to the Citrus bowl. You are talking about an 1:15 drive compared to a 2 hour drive. I believe it will be well worth your cities and the States investment. I just hope that the Tampa area is in your position one day. Don't blow it and build the stadium.

And yet, Orlando City brags about record attendance with a third-tier semi-pro team while playing IN THE CITRUS BOWL.

It's easy for you to rationalize the investment from way over in St. Pete- but tell us how's attendance in St Pete's MLB dome? Has that 'public private partnership" worked out favorably?

[Unregistered]

Why not the Citrus Bowl or other venues in Central Florida?

MLS has a proven business model, which includes a stadium that fits the following criteria:
- 18,000-23,000 seat stadium
- Roof over the fans
- Urban, downtown location

MLS have made it very clear this is not negotiable.

Really? You were in the negotiations? Or are you just parrotting what Phil says to the media?

[Unregistered]

MLS have made it very clear this is not negotiable.

Oh yea did MLS say that to Vancouver or Seattle? No they didn't. Did they say it to Miami and Beckham?

If you have followed MLS and Don Garber you know he makes up rules as he goes and changes them depending on franchise, etc?

He has been an awesome league commisioner though.

[Unregistered]

Are you really that clueless as you type. 15 years ago Mls was still wet behind the ears and not profitable yet. Now, Mls is becoming more mainstream and soccer has taken over in youth sports to some degree. It may have failed 15 years but today is different. It is the sport for a lot of Americans. I hope you aren't to disappointed when this succeeds!

Mainstream ? you are joking.....Football, baseball, basketball and even hockey bring better numbers than soccer and you don't have to pay a fortune to play it. In addition to that to go to their games is no free.....what make you think you will go and sit at your new stadium freeeee.....get you pockets ready if you want soccer and we will see how long it will last........i will give it two seasonssss and they will move from here to a more suitable place.

[Unregistered]

Oh yea did MLS say that to Vancouver or Seattle? No they didn't. Did they say it to Miami and Beckham?

If you have followed MLS and Don Garber you know he makes up rules as he goes and changes them depending on franchise, etc?

He has been an awesome league commisioner though.

For FUTURE MLS expansion...

...a new stadium will be built in NY
...a new stadium will be built in Orlando
...in Atlanta, either a new stadium will be built OR Fulton Co stadium will be drastically refitted (at a cost many times more than the cost of Orlando's new stadium)
....in Miami, either a new stadium will be built OR Sunlife stadium will be drastically refitted (at a cost many times more than the cost of Orlando's new stadium). Or in Miami there is a university with adequate MLS seating capacity.

The costs to retrofit the Citrus Bowl to MLS specs (along with other needed renovations) would far exceed building a separate soccer-specific stadium AND would delay or preclude the facility being available in time to begin MLS play in 2015. And that would leave Orlando completely out of the MLS picture.

[Unregistered]

For FUTURE MLS expansion...

...a new stadium will be built in NY
...a new stadium will be built in Orlando
...in Atlanta, either a new stadium will be built OR Fulton Co stadium will be drastically refitted (at a cost many times more than the cost of Orlando's new stadium)
....in Miami, either a new stadium will be built OR Sunlife stadium will be drastically refitted (at a cost many times more than the cost of Orlando's new stadium). Or in Miami there is a university with adequate MLS seating capacity.

The costs to retrofit the Citrus Bowl to MLS specs (along with other needed renovations) would far exceed building a separate soccer-specific stadium AND would delay or preclude the facility being available in time to begin MLS play in 2015. And that would leave Orlando completely out of the MLS picture.

Thanks for proving my point. Don Garber hasn't made it mandatory that Atlanta or Miami have to build a new stadium. In fact the NY team doesn't even have a location picked out yet for their new stadium, so Garber awarded that team a franchise without land bought for a stadium or a location for a stadium. NY got that team due to the Yankees/Man City. Again Garber makes up rules as he goes and each situation is different.

By the way just like Miami, isn't there a university with adequate MLS seating capacity somewhere in Orlando? Hmmm.

You could spend half the money and renovate the Citrus Bowl and it would be more than adequate to host MLS soccer game's. A new stadium in Orlando isn't needed to play soccer games. It is wanted. Big big difference.

[Unregistered]

For FUTURE MLS expansion...

...a new stadium will be built in NY
...a new stadium will be built in Orlando
...in Atlanta, either a new stadium will be built OR Fulton Co stadium will be drastically refitted (at a cost many times more than the cost of Orlando's new stadium)
....in Miami, either a new stadium will be built OR Sunlife stadium will be drastically refitted (at a cost many times more than the cost of Orlando's new stadium). Or in Miami there is a university with adequate MLS seating capacity.

The costs to retrofit the Citrus Bowl to MLS specs (along with other needed renovations) would far exceed building a separate soccer-specific stadium AND would delay or preclude the facility being available in time to begin MLS play in 2015. And that would leave Orlando completely out of the MLS picture.

Do you think that a new soccer-specific stadium willbe "available in time to begin MLS play in 2015"? I don't.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for proving my point. Don Garber hasn't made it mandatory that Atlanta or Miami have to build a new stadium. In fact the NY team doesn't even have a location picked out yet for their new stadium, so Garber awarded that team a franchise without land bought for a stadium or a location for a stadium. NY got that team due to the Yankees/Man City. Again Garber makes up rules as he goes and each situation is different.

By the way just like Miami, isn't there a university with adequate MLS seating capacity somewhere in Orlando? Hmmm.

You could spend half the money and renovate the Citrus Bowl and it would be more than adequate to host MLS soccer game's. A new stadium in Orlando isn't needed to play soccer games. It is wanted. Big big difference.

Hell, every year Disney Hosts 4 MLS teams in a tournament over at Wide World of Sports. Tickets are less than $20 for 4 games. Nice field. Never full.

[Unregistered]

Do you think that a new soccer-specific stadium willbe "available in time to begin MLS play in 2015"? I don't.

Dyer and Jacobs and PR better start building already...!

[Unregistered]

By the way just like Miami, isn't there a university with adequate MLS seating capacity somewhere in Orlando? Hmmm.

Nope: none with 18000-20000 capacity w/roofover

[Unregistered]

Do you think that a new soccer-specific stadium willbe "available in time to begin MLS play in 2015"? I don't.

I do. So does MLS. So does OC. So does City of Orlando and Orange County, FL.

[Unregistered]

Nope: none with 18000-20000 capacity w/roofover

Is there one in Miami? Not that I'm aware of.

The roofover is just another one of Garber's "make rules as you go along".

[Unregistered]

I do. So does MLS. So does OC. So does City of Orlando and Orange County, FL.

Well, when it comes to design and construction of a stadium, if Don Garber, Phil & Brazil, Buddy and Teresa say it can be done on time, I guess that's that. Their collective expertise is unquestionable.