The dates for the City of Orlando and Orange County to vote on the funding agreement for a new soccer stadium has been set. The City votes on Monday, October 7th and the County on Tuesday, October 22nd.
The final vote will be on the funding deal we told you about in August. An approval of the deal would mean a new stadium in Downtown Orlando and allow the team to enter final negations with MLS to award Orlando an expansion team.
“We are excited as we begin this final step of securing a downtown soccer stadium for the Central Florida area,” said Orlando City President Phil Rawlins in a written statement on their website. “We encourage all of our fans to call their commissioners to show their support in the upcoming weeks.”
The Tourism Development Council approved the plan on August 9 but now it is up to both the Orlando City Council and the Orange County Commissioners to approve the deal.
In addition to $20 million to fund the soccer stadium the $94.5 million plan includes:
- $25 million for the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center for the second phase. Still has a gap of $22 million for the second phase. Second phase would now be complete in 2018.
- $25 million to Visit Orlando over five-years (in addition to $36 million allocated for this year)
- $12 million to the Citrus Bowl for renovations (in addition to $191 million)
- $10 million in convention-center improvements (in addition to $187 million already approved by the county)
- $2.5 million Central Florida Sports Commission via Visit Orlando for marketing sports events
Photo courtesy Mark Thor, Orlando City Soccer