Orlando Ajax

[BulaJacket]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/nationworld/orl-sptsoccer06a080603aug06,0,1586815.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines

Only A-League, but something more to take note on....
One of the mid level cities that I thought could be a good prospective MLS city (no MLB competition) now has a partnership with AJAX....
hmmm...wow....

edit: Anyone got their metro area size off hand? TV market? I know they're only an hour or two away from Jacksonville too...

[BulaJacket]

I also think this emphisizes the need for A-League and MLS to have a long term agreement...
This would allow US Soccer to take advantage of situations like this and provide more to the growth of soccer....Seattle, Orlando, & Rochester and their situations, stadiums, and affiliations would for the most part be great additions to MLS, and a player agreement with the A-League and affiliations would help them hopefully become popular like AAA baseball or the AHL, even though I know the whole single entity vs franchises paying for players & player relegation would have to be worked out

[SABuffalo786]

Oh, could you imagine is Disney is involved? The English posters in WR would have field day. :D

[DavidP]

...they need another nickname besides Ajax. Although in Europe it's pronounced "Eye-yax," over here it's "A-jax." Ol' Bubba will ask, 'How come they name a team after toilet bowl cleaner?" I can see the headlines now. "Ajax 'Disinfects' Silverbacks, 3-1," or on the flip side, "Ajax In the Toilet to Kickers, 1-0." Journalism humor at its finest. :D

As an aside, Orlando has had one A-League team already, and it was a dismal failure. I wonder if such a partnership could make it work this time? It'd sure be nice.

[IBleedTeal]

The Orlando Jews. Haha.

[SABuffalo786]

Originally posted by DavidP
...they need another nickname besides Ajax. Although in Europe it's pronounced "Eye-yax," over here it's "A-jax." Ol' Bubba will ask, 'How come they name a team after toilet bowl cleaner?" I can see the headlines now. "Ajax 'Disinfects' Silverbacks, 3-1," or on the flip side, "Ajax In the Toilet to Kickers, 1-0." Journalism humor at its finest. :D

As an aside, Orlando has had one A-League team already, and it was a dismal failure. I wonder if such a partnership could make it work this time? It'd sure be nice.

Floridian sports fans are the worst on the planet.

[BulaJacket]

Originally posted by SABuffalo786
Floridian sports fans are the worst on the planet.
Closely contested with Atlanta

[OtakuFC]

Excellent news, but I hope to god they don't make the mistake of picking the Citrus Bowl as their home stadium. Talk about a cavernous stadium not suited for average A-League (or MLS for that matter) attendance.

[G Enriquez]

Where would they play? The Citrus Bowl is to big.

[soccer4sFlorida]

they will paly at LockhartSSS

[Timbers_Roberto]

Originally posted by SABuffalo786
Floridian sports fans are the worst on the planet. I grew up in Orlando and completely agree. Good luck trying to get people to go watch a June match in 95 degree heat with thunderstorms. The local press in Orlando is primarily focused on American football so don't expect much free media. Then there is the issue of where the team would play. Any stadium near the Disney area probably won't be attractive to most fans in Orange and Seminole counties.

[astabooty]

Originally posted by IBleedTeal
The Orlando Jews. Haha.
hahah...too bad there really arent jews in orlando...try a bit more south. anything north west palm=classic southern rednecks.

[SankaCofie]

wow this thread got racist fast. go back to the rivalry forum.

i know i'll show up for home games.

its better than driving down to miami for fusio... oh.

yeah i'll definitely show up to home games.

they need a nice SSS with LIGHTS so they can play NIGHT GAMES.

i wonder how many good young players Ajax will find from central florida... let me rephrase that... i wonder how many good young players Ajax will MAKE in central florida. why didn't you do this when I was in school there?!? damn you ajax!! my dreams ruined!


feyenoord forever!

[Joe Stoker]

Not pleased with the idea of a foreign power org setting up shop on our shores & sucking talent out of our country for their own devices. Of course, I suppose those players would remain eligible for USMNT, but, I'd rather see the Freddy Adus of the future playing in Columbus, Dallas, LA, NY et al. I'm sure you'll tell me the positives of all this, but I think it's time for MLS & the A-League to get on the stick about these things.

[bunge]

From day one I've wanted to buy a team for Orlando just so I can call them the Calrissians.

[Kraze]

Plan is to have a facility to train U-7 players up to an A-League team. Currently, Ajax Orlando is in discussion with Lake, Seminole, and Osceola counties about such a facility.

Ajax Orlando will field an A-League team as early as 2005 while most likely fielding a PDL team in 2004.

The group isn't interested in MLS much for now due to the structure of the league (mainly involving players).

Ajax Orlando's U-17 and U-19 boys are in the Super Y-League championships after having great seasons when they played as the Royal Orlando Football Club.

[DavidP]

Originally posted by BulaJacket
Closely contested with Atlanta

That was totally uncalled for.

[Nacional Tijuana]

Plan is to have a facility to train U-7 players up to an A-League team

Down goes the A-League. Can you even pay 7 year olds? I thought 9 was the youngest you could go. :D


As far as someone mentioning Lockhart, isn't that in Ft. L.? That would be like the Menace playing in Chiocageop.

[IBleedTeal]

For those who didn't get my post, the fans of Ajax Amsterdam call their team "The Jews". I don't know why though. Maybe because of Ibrohimovic. Americans would butcher Ajax so why not just call the team the Orlando Jews.

[Scoey]

The article said the players that didn't make the cut would still be eligible for college scholarships. If a professional team is funding the academy, how is that possible?

By the way, whatever happened to the academy Lazio was supposed to set up in the US? Or did I imagine that?