Orlando City SC

[dcluley98]

Ha. 

I can't actually get tickets.  They are limiting seats so only Season Ticket holders get the first dibs. 

The great thing is that they actually have a free streaming service for the games now, LionNationTV, so if you want to be a fan, it is easy!

[dcluley98]

Orlando City reportedly is nearing finalizing a sale of the team from majority owner Flavio Augusta da Silva to the Wilf Family, owners of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. 

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-city-soccer/os-sp-orlando-city-wilf-family-nearing-sale-club-stadium-20210507-dqnhm7d5n5bjlnnwrytsbz7wm4-story.html

Details of the pending deal are still not fully known, but include a sale of the majority stake of Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride, the currently on hiatus Orlando City B team, and the Exploria Stadium and trainging grounds facilities. Although full details of the deal have not been disclosed, estimatees for the sale amount to a valuation of $400-$500 million, including the buildings/real estate. In March 2018, da Silva sold down his ownership of the operation, selling an 8.63% stake in Orlando Sports Holdings LLC to investor Albert Friedberg. The transaction valued the entire operation at $490.5 million and left da Silva with a nearly 79% stake. 

The Wilf family members are multi-billionaires with considerably deeper pockets than da Silva. Their investment could mean more spending on player personell and infrastructure, including academy development and re-instatement of Orlando City B in the potential MLS development league. 

[Uncommon]

I’m glad they bought the stadium. Likely means the the new owner won’t relocate the team imminently.

[dcluley98]

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-city-soccer/os-sp-orlando-city-owner-flavio-augusto-da-silva-sells-club-vikings-owners-20210512-p6fer4mhufd6zfxtdps3epk2hq-story.html

[elefants]

39 minutes ago, dcluley98 said:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-city-soccer/os-sp-orlando-city-owner-flavio-augusto-da-silva-sells-club-vikings-owners-20210512-p6fer4mhufd6zfxtdps3epk2hq-story.html

I'm excited to see an owner with deeper pockets.

The idea of another billionaire investing in Orlando and potentially the area around the stadium is interesting. From what I've read, the Wilf family has a hand in the real estate (and apartment building) business, and I'd imagine this new ownership draws their eyes to downtown Orlando.

[spenser1058]

The Orlando City Sub is on SALE at Publix - save up to $2. Head on down to your nearest P with @dcluley98 and ROAR!

[spenser1058]

There’s a take-charge positivity to this ownership that’s been missing in town for, oh, a decade or so. I’m looking forward to great things from the Wilfs and pro sports usually aren’t even my thing:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-city-soccer/os-sp-orlando-city-wilf-1025-20211024-e3cgvlnry5djjnvgjtnas7qhhu-story.html

From The Sentinel 
 

[dcluley98]

Honestly, the previous owner did a lot to take charge and put the foundation in place for the team.  He just didn't quite have the billions of the Wilf family.  With the previous owner, they worked through getting a fan base in USL, getting the call up to MLS, partnering with local sponsors, creating a charitable foundation that is influential in the city, building a stadium themselves after public funding was pulled, creating a training ground from the old spring training facility in Kissimmee and an academy, creating scouting network to bring in some decent players to a "small market" city and evaluate draft picks to get some of the best picks in the league. Etc.  There were a lot of miss-steps along the way, but honestly, the way he and the leadership recovered from those miss-steps to end up where they are now is quite admirable.  A lot of times flailing organizations do not correct or don't know how to correct and continue failing (see Jacksonville Jaguars, lol).  I respect the fact that the previous owner accomplished a lot and always tried to get better and fix things despite setbacks. 

Edited October 27, 2021 by dcluley98

[spenser1058]

“A lot of times flailing organizations do not correct or don't know how to correct and continue failing (see Jacksonville Jaguars, lol).”

No need to go to Jax, just go up the street a block…

[bqknight]

2 hours ago, dcluley98 said:

Honestly, the previous owner did a lot to take charge and put the foundation in place for the team.  He just didn't quite have the billions of the Wilf family.  With the previous owner, they worked through getting a fan base in USL, getting the call up to MLS, partnering with local sponsors, creating a charitable foundation that is influential in the city, building a stadium themselves after public funding was pulled, creating a training ground from the old spring training facility in Kissimmee and an academy, creating scouting network to bring in some decent players to a "small market" city and evaluate draft picks to get some of the best picks in the league. Etc.  There were a lot of miss-steps along the way, but honestly, the way he and the leadership recovered from those miss-steps to end up where they are now is quite admirable.  A lot of times flailing organizations do not correct or don't know how to correct and continue failing (see Jacksonville Jaguars, lol).  I respect the fact that the previous owner accomplished a lot and always tried to get better and fix things despite setbacks. 

The previous owner did not, the previous, previous owner did. I wouldn't call the previous owner (Flavio) a BAD owner - he just didn't have that extra drive to really make a difference (and as you mentioned, I think money partially had to do with it). Hopefully the Wilf's bring great things to Orlando City!

[dcluley98]

I don't know what you are getting at. The only thing Rawlins did was buy the team in Austin and move it to Orlando. Without Flavio, they would not have succeeded in USL to move up to MLS.  Without Flavio backing and financing, as well as connections, Orlando City probably wouldn't have made the jump. The major keys to getting a franchise in MLS are market, ownership (with cash), and stadium.  Orlando is a pretty small market and MLS had failed in Florida before, so this was a big question mark. Flavio brought in just enough money and a stadium deal to make sure we got a bid. He also brought connections in Brazil and led to Kaka signing, as well as others from South America joining the team and front office.  Everything else subsequently was due to Flavio, with help from Kay Rawlins for the foundation and some others. 

 

[spenser1058]

Orlando City wins in Montreal and are going to the MLS playoffs:

 

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-sp-orlando-city-lions-montreal-finale-mls-20211108-6imnkv53s5gmhe6y7wiuklzidy-story.html

From The Sentinel 

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2021 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Nani leaving Orlando City:

https://bungalower.com/2021/11/28/nani-leaving-orlando-city/

From Bungalower 
 

[spenser1058]

For @dcluley98and our other City fans -

with Dike off to England, does the Wilf family:

(1) Use the money to attract more (hopefully better) players?

(2) Use the money to invest in development via improvements to the Academy?

(3) Put the money in their pockets.

Enquiring minds want to know!

Edited January 3, 2022 by spenser1058

[dcluley98]

They have been chasing several young south American DPs.  However, the teams that they played for keep changing the terms and would not accept our offer. It was similar $ amount, like $10 Million. Everything I have seen indicate that the club is now much more willing to spend the money required to be a top level team, but we are still stuck in rut where we do not have the draw like an LA or New York team and other leagues around the world do not respect our team/MLS as an option for their players. 

 

It is unfortunate, but I have faith with our new ownership and our front office that they will get players we need to win and will spend the money they have to grow the club and our reputation. 

[spenser1058]

Exploria Stadium to host final US Soccer World Cup Qualifier in March:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-sp-orlando-hosts-world-cup-qualifier-20220119-hmz6h5hbozg3rk5d6wvtihg4ia-story.html

From The Sentinel 
 

Edited January 20, 2022 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Michelle Akers -Built By UCF.

Now, UCF’s GOAT as the highest scorer among our student-athletes will be coaching for the Orlando Pride.

UCF IS Orlando’s Hometown Champion - Charge On!

[dcluley98]

Orlando City Officially sign young designated player Facundo Torres: 

https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-acquires-uruguayan-forward-facundo-torres

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/official-orlando-city-sign-penarol-uruguay-forward-facundo-torres

This is a HUGE deal, and the largest signing ever in club history (even bigger than Kaka).  Torres is a 21 year old Uruguayan International star.  The contract is reported as a four-year contract through 2025, with a Club option in 2026.  This means that he will be our star player to build around for years to come.   This is the second major new signing by the Wilf family, after earlier signing Cesar Araujo last month.  Additionally, Orlando have been linked to another Designated Player signing in Ercan Kara, an Austrian International player, and Gaston Gonzalez, an Argentinian International player who would presumably be a U22 initiative signing at Left Wing.   These are major, major additions to the club.  Previously, the club re-signed our DP midfielder Mauricio Pereyra and forward Alexander Pato.  The club still presumably needs to add some depth along the back line and LB and Center back, but the offseason is shaping up huge for the Lions. 

The new ownership is showing a commitment to spend the money necessary to win trophies in MLS, and building a younger core of star players, as opposed to aging stars.  

[dcluley98]

Orlando City continue off-season transformation and sign new Designated Player Striker Ercan Kara:

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/orlando-city-sign-forward-ercan-kara-from-rapid-vienna-as-designated-player

https://www.themaneland.com/2022/1/27/22903740/orlando-city-signs-austrian-striker-ercan-kara-to-designated-player-contract

This is another huge deal.  This is the biggest transfer window ever in our club history and shows ownership's commitment to win.

“We are very excited to secure Ercan as another strong attacking presence for the club,” Orlando City chairman Mark Wilf said in a release. “He strengthens our lineup and will help us take another step toward winning championships in Orlando.”

“Acquiring Ercan is a great move for us and we’re really happy to get him to Central Florida,” Orlando City general manager and EVP of soccer operations Luiz Muzzi said in a release. “His size and strength make him a great target for us inside the box, but his skills make him a threat from outside as well. We think his versatility up top is going to open a lot of opportunities for us in attack.”

 

Fans are VERY EXCITED! 

[HankStrong]

Once the magnets faded and fell off, I forgot we even had a soccer team!  

 

I think they've been pretty successful as of late, though! 

[dcluley98]

[dcluley98]

Somebody made a fan video of the stadium with drone footage to get ready for the season opening this week.  Great drone shots of downtown, exploria, and the current skyline. 

 

 

[spenser1058]

Good to have Orlando City off to a winning start:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-sp-orlando-city-montreal-opener-0228-20220227-mmdzdiil7zadbhglff6xdshsmq-story.html

From The Sentinel 

Last year, the team was in the top half of MLS attendance at #11 of #27 with an average attendance of 15,400 (down some from the heady early days as they worked through COVID but still a better ranking than the sad franchise up the street) .

Today’s game brought out a posted attendance of 21,000. That’s certainly promising for downtown.

Edited February 28, 2022 by spenser1058

[AmIReal]

Soccer related, but nor Orlando City, Dan DeVos and Ziggy Wilf are in discussions to buy RCD Espnayol from the Chinese held Rastar Group.

https://blazetrends.com/owners-of-rcd-espanyol-put-the-sale-of-the-club-on-track/

https://today.i-n24.com/sports/78591.html

[dcluley98]

This is not exactly OCSC, but US Soccer related and city related. 

The USMNT hosted an octoganal qualifying game for the next world cup in Orlando tonight, and it was one of the most important matches in 4-5 years. 

We did well, we did very, very well in hosting this mathc, making the atmosphere spectacular and making it a great win. 

This will maybe ensure that Orlando secures a 2026 World Cup host spot with the atmosphere, venue, and attendance. There were many throughout the game that said this is the best home atmosphere for the USMNT in recent history, and that is a big deal.