Orlando City SC traveled a long road to secure their own downtown, soccer-specific stadium, so they're pulling out all the stops to celebrate the official groundbreaking of their future home on Thursday.
The 2015 MLS expansion debutants will do more, much more, than just stick a shovel in the ground at the construction site on Oct. 16. Players, club officials and even Orlando's city and county mayors, Buddy Dyer and Teresa Jacobs, will lead fans on a “march to the match” of sorts from nearby Church Street Station, perhaps providing a hint of the gameday experience in store for the years ahead.
And when they arrive at the stadium site, they'll be greeted by “The Marching Tiger Band” from Orlando's Jones High School before the groundbreaking proper, which will be followed by a party back at Church Street Station.
It's the latest of the many festive milestones that Orlando City SC have commemorated in their journey from relocated USL PRO team in 2011 to MLS newcomers today.
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The team will play their inaugural MLS campaign at the Citrus Bowl before moving into their own stadium ahead of opening day in 2016.
The $110-million, yet-to-be-named facility will hold 20,000 spectators and is being designed by Populous, a firm that has designed a range of MLS and international soccer stadiums such as Sporting Park, BBVA Compass Stadium and Wembley Stadium.
