One step closer, but that's it for now. Already this afternoon, there's a piece in the local paper that a certain county commissioner that tried to clog up the NBA Magic's effort for a new arena is spreading around the same sort of gibberish now. This same person has been in the backpocket of the hotel and theme park owners for many years. Any reasonable person who otherwise prefers that sports teams pay most of the cost of their facilities finds themselves hearing from tourism people who resist spending one nickel on anything that benefits the local population.
In case you didn't know, the final vote for financing on the Orlando stadium happening now (well soon) you can watch it here: http://www.wftv.com/videos/news/wftv-live-event-1/v7PNh/
I'm hoping the whole freaking population of Orange County, Florida shows up. All it means is that the vote will be favorable. No way they have 6 hours of pro-soccer public commentary and then vote against it. NO WAY that happens.
Rawlins has already confirmed they will retain Purple, Orlando City, and Lions. Crest will update. Congrats O City that is how you do it...
Congratulations Orlando and welcome to MLS. Looking forward to a 13.5 hour road trip from Houston to Disney World for Dynamo vs Orlando City.
MLS team crests are owned by MLS itself so they will just need to make it a bit different to avoid legal confusion. Otherwise the team stays pretty much the same..name, colours etc
The next six weeks or so will be tense. I am anticipating we will be officially announced during the leadup week to the MLS Cup.
Tuesday November 12 or Tuesday December 10. The former is during the international break, the latter is the Tuesday after MLS Cup. Have to keep that PR machine moving along, plus don't want to detract from the Playoffs and MLS Cup Final. Garber is from the NFL's school of Marketing, make everything an event unto itself, and space them out to keep MLS in the media.
Got to think it'll be during MLS playoffs at some point seeing as that is when most eyeballs will be on the league. I'd say during conference finals, which is around same timeframe Rawlins has said he wants to have an announcement done by (his actual words were "near Thanksgiving").
We must give the involved lawyers a couple of weeks for considerations and clarifications... But baring a complete disaster it´s a done deal
Hasn't it been almost a (for lack of a better term) "tradition" to use halftime of the MLS Cup Final and its innate spectacle to announce this sort of major news?
My money is this is when it will be, however, Rawlins seems to think it will happen in November and MLS Cup is in early December. Who knows. But it will happen by the end of the year. Take that to the bank.
When was the last time expansion was announced during halftime of MLS Cup? I seem to remember Philly, Vancouver, Portland, and Montreal having press conferences announcing them as expansion teams.