Just heard on Channel 2 that an investor is onboard for entrance fee (50 mil) and an invitation to MLS is expected in 3-4 months. Couldn't catch much more...
Channel 2 is the local NBC affiliate. Others say they didn't see anything last night, so I'll take this as BS. Even if it was true, the team isn't going to discuss it officially. But it would make an interesting story. It would also fit the current timeframe for the team announcing a stadium deal.
I saw it. Heath said they expect to get the "invite" to MLS in 3 to 4 months. Hope to play in the 2014 season or 2015 at the latest.
Dude, I'll be the first to gift-wrap all that stuff, but I just looked around (wesh.com, orlandosentinel.com, ocsc.com, mls.com, Ives, etc) and couldn't find anything. What else did the report say?
You guys could have hours-long sex and not believe it happened if it wasn't linked or posted on a website. That's really all I remember - I had a 3 year old around at the time.... sorry.
Hold Dammit Jr. up to the keyboard and ask him/her what they heard on Channel 2 last night... I kid. (No pun intended.) (...whoa, that was horrible. Terribly sorry.)
Fwiw, the second paragraph of this report from late last August perfectly fits the storyline we're discussing: http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/...-city-lions-may-score-mls-dream.html?page=all Money graff (literally, figuratively, whathaveya): "Orlando City Soccer President Phil Rawlinstold Orlando Business Journal the sophomore team could get the Major League Soccer thumbs-up as early as fall 2013 and be ready to play in the league by 2014 or 2015."
Admittedly the "If this is really real..." argument is weak, but: can you imagine the tidal wave of fan gear the team would sell in the next several days and weeks when active supporters find out the team has actually succeeded in reaching MLS? This is just off the top of my head, but really, if this team we already love were suddenly to have that final confirmation of MLS entry, how much more would any of the various supporter's groups want to be cranked all the way to 11 for everything in gear and signs and whatnot else, especially with preseason just kicking off and the Disney cup about to get underway in a few days, not that anything definitive is going to happen by this weekend. And of course, it's all meaningless if the supposed announcement turns out to be scheduled for the dreaded and reviled "next 60 to 90 days" timeframe that many MLS fans, and specifically DC United fans waiting for concrete stadium news, have long-since relegated to the abject hatred category. But still.
You guys aren't paying attention. No one is getting into MLS before NY2. No one. The league has spent a ton of time and money working on making this happen. They aren't going to stop what they're doing to let anyone else in line. 2017 is the earliest anyone besides NY2 is getting in, mark it down.
Sorry S & M we have been paying attention as has the Gov. http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/...d=fbc_325378914240659_1516499_325422367569647 NY 20 does not have a place to play, no team no owner. Cosmos have grand plans but cannot field a team with a years heads up. FC NY? A bust. Garber will get his NY team in due time. We are #20
Wow, Dan Garber himself decided to post here. What an honor. Bottom line is that NY can't get it together on a stadium deal and Orlando is. Maybe announcements are premature but it sure looks like it's the home stretch and we are a couple lengths in the lead!
Just goes to further prove the point that you can't reason with blind-arse fans. You guys will just believe whatever you want to believe and ignore pesky things like facts and common sense. Not much else to say except wait and see how it unfolds. You won't be happy, but then, no one is always happy right? LOL Your team is now the farm club for an MLS franchise. That's as close to MLS as you're getting for quite some time, whether or not you like it, believe it, or embrace it.
Uhhmm, I don't see the "reason"ing behind anything you say - therein lies the problems. It's all just factually deprived conclusions. On second thought, without factually deprived conclusions, BigSoccer would be a total of 3 pages.... Carry On!
LOL Like I said, blind fans. The world is full of them, you are part of the vast majority, so don't sweat it. The facts are that anyone who has been paying attention can plainly see that NY2 is going to be #20. It was decided long ago. The league would not be spending so much of their own, wait, let's read that again, their own time and money to get everything in place for NY2 if it wasn't their top priority. Not to mention the fact that everyone who asks about #20 gets the same standard league response of they are focused on NY2 at the moment. That's it. That says it all right there. They are focused on NY2. Because the Dan makes a visit to your town and says nice things doesn't mean they are changing their focus. They don't need Orlando. They don't need Minnesota. They don't need Detroit. They don't need Atlanta or South Florida. The league is in a far different place then it was 10 years ago when they were desperate for markets that could make a go of it. The tables have turned. They are in a position now to pick and choose where they want to be. And you know where they want to be? In NYC. You know what gives them a huge factor in their favor in negotiating the next TV deal (which, by the by, is the way for this league and all of the owners thanks to SUM, to start making money)??? It's not Orlando, sorry. It's New York. The situation really is simple, unless you don't want to see it. Orlando has a chance, as good a chance as anyone outside of NY for a future expansion slot. But it ain't happening before 2017 at the earliest. Believe it...or not! LOL
I feel like I can help out here. Yes, MLS wants NYC as an expansion team. Yes, MLS is doing the legwork to make that happen. And yes, that work is currently ongoing. Now, for the S&M mind blow... from all these reports, Orlando is going to do their own legwork to also become a MLS expansion franchise. No sweat off of MLS's back. All MLS has to do is say "ok" and take the $50 million check to the bank. Its not an either/or situation. If NYC clears all their hurdles first, then fine. Congrats MLS. In Orlando gets everything setup first, then fine, way to go Orlando. As far as MLS is concerned, NYC is an expansion team - #20 or #21 they don't care. They just want it to happen. If something else comes along in the meantime, great. No, MLS will not divert any attention to getting Orlando setup, but it sounds like Orlando doesn't need the babysitting like NYC.