Let's discuss all things Orlando in here until they are formally announced and then we can wait another 6 - 9 months until our petition to have a separate forum is granted.
I'm just glad we will have something to wildly speculate this off season about. So let the speculation begin. Say you are the GM for Orlando, who do you pick?
Wouldn't the new thread have better fit in the expansion forum? Anyway, no clue about GM or potential drafting... I think it's likely Morgan goes there, though, since Portland doesn't really need her and Paulson has always seemed big on bringing MLS teams into NWSL, I could see him using her as a selling point (not to mention how much marketability she'd have, and the fact her hubby is there, though admittedly that latter thing hasn't been important yet). Also, two other things I think that are pretty solid: colors and name. Orlando loves its purple, and I would be shocked if they didn't go with "Orlando Lionesses" as their official name. They can't just use Orlando City SC because of the Adidas/Nike thing - and I don't think they'd be so cheeky as to go with any name that includes "Pride".
They should try to bring Dagný Brynjarsdóttir in. Apprently she wants to play in NWSL next season. Although she wanted to play for WNY Flash, she might change her mind with FL-based team in the mix.
As the GM of Orlando Ladies FC, I would offer the job of Head Coach to Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak, if she doesn't want it then go to Michelle Akers. I would immediatley lobby US Soccer to re-allocate Alex Morgan to Orlando.
To be honest I doubt that was the case re Morgan. If Jeff Plush is to be believed, multiple MLS teams are interested in joining the NWSL so that must mean the see the potential in NWSL. That is not hard to believed given the moderate success of Houston and the world cup boom. So there is definitely no need for Paulsen to sweeten any deal with the promise of Morgan. It's not like the NWSL desperately needs Orlando this year. That still doesn't rule out Morgan going to Orlando but if that happens, it will be because the player requested it.
Question is, does WNY still own her discovery rights? If they do you can bet it will be protected during the draft
The NWSL and USSF may be in the habit of changing the rules any time they want but one rule they have kept consistent is that USWNT players do not get re-allocated. If Orlando wants Morgan, they will have to work out a deal with Portland.
@SiberianThunderT you may get your wish and the announcement might still happen at the finals. Especially if the owners meeting is early in the morning. Report says @OrlandoCitySC expected to get @NWSL team http://t.co/BZXSrsg9Zv pic.twitter.com/ygMF6QQZMr— News 6 WKMG (@news6wkmg) September 15, 2015
Hmm.... that news report doesn't say anything the Guardian article didn't. They flash Oct.1 on the screen, but that's just the meeting day... Still, I do hope expansion is announced soon so we can really dig in with threads for team names, colors, coaching, an expansion draft, etc.
I'm not going to like something as minor as an official announcement deter me from speculating. Which brings me to color, if they go with the color purple, will Seattle change the alternate kit to something else (I know you will like that). If Seattle can switch to green, I'm all for that.
I don't mind them using purple, it's just that particular combination of royal purple and neon green gives me seizures. X-D They don't match at all! Two things: 1. I don't see why two teams can't both have purple, especially if they're different shades. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Seattle's purple is more Tyrian or Byzantium, while OCSC's is clearly more Royal, so that's a noticeable difference. Considering how popular the Purple Reign is, I find it hard for Seattle to just give purple up, except... 2. Why is Seattle apparently not content with the awesome mix of platinum grey, X11 blue, and Oxford-blue/space-cadet already on their crest?
Well, the fact that they created a third kit that had no link whatsoever to their official colors, on top of the fact that said "third" kit ended up being their de facto away kit instead. Even their home kit ditches the platinum and space cadet for plain old black.
I think it was a smart move on the part of Orlando City to push for admittance in 2016. It might have been a harder task for them if they would have waited for 2017. Waiting until then could have had them competing against RSL and more MLS ownerships. One of the things NWSL is wanting to do is add more Western teams if they can. so if other MLS teams, San Jose, Vancouver, or even Colorado were also seriously interested for 2017, then who knows how long Orlando City would have to wait to get an expansion team. The window of opportunity was there and they took it.
If Im Alex Morgan and am interested in leaving Portland for Orlando, the first thing I talk about is some kind of contractual guarantee that Hubby is staying in town as well.
Well the good thing is that at least with Orlando, Servando seems to be a regular player. So he's more likely to stay there than he was in KC or Houston.
What about "Orlando City LSC?" It's a different name... sorta. Another option would be to use some other Euro moniker rather than "City," like "United," "County" (although Orlando is in Orange County not Orlando County so that would be confusing), "Athletic," etc.
I want to try and add a few things to add to the fire for a NWSL here in Orlando: 1.Orlando City has had a successful ECNL pyramid for while now. (started in the USL days) 2.OCSC along with University of Central Florida are hosting the NCAA Women's College Cup in 2016 & 2017. Hopefully the new SSS will be up and ready by Dec. 2016. 3.College teams from Florida have been consistently been ranked; (latest Women's rankings) D1 #2 FSU, #12 UF D2 #21 Rollins NJCAA #1 Eastern Fla. 4. Familiar faces. This is Alex Morgan's 2 or 3 time attending an OC match. Michelle Akers is a legend in Central Florida. I can definitely see Tiffany Roberts becoming head coach, if and when the time arises. She's done great things at UCF. 5. Timeline, I think 2016 is the right time to enter. Would 2017 be better? eh, maybe. But you have to strike when the iron is hot. I could see an announcement happening anywhere between Oct 1 and the USWNT game Oct 25. Tickets for the match are already above 31k. An announcement could boost both Club and Country sales. 6. Team color, I don't think Purple would be a primary color. I could see Gold or maybe even Pink being the team color. You have to think of the marketing side. The team would want fans to buy new merchandise not re-use the Purple MLS jerseys and whatnots. I hope these are a few things that will make an Orlando team a reality and successful.
I bet "Orlando City" is is one of the phrases probably swept up in whatever agreements were made for "Orlando City SC", so using the phrase is most likely out of the question. I guess I could see a men/women Purple/Gold split like Portland did a Green/Red split, but I have a hard time thinking the FO would want the women's brand to be too far removed from the men's brand.... I mean, every one of the Thorns' colors is already a Timbers color is some way; same to an even stronger extent with the Dash and Dynamo. The ability to wear similar jerseys actually seems to be a boost to the other MLS/NWSL pairs, not a hindrance... Also, welcome to the NWSL boards! =-D
For name, I'm partial to Orlando City Pride as it references the lion(s) in their logo without being too literal. In terms of color, it'll make sense if gold was the predominant color and purple the less dominant one.
So... A Gold Pride? I'm being a bit silly bringing it up, but I don't think they'll go the "Pride" route for that reason. And I think they can't use "Orlando City" in any fashion due to the Adidas/Nike deals.
Didn't mention there are several Disney Soccer tournaments that will be going on each year. Great opportunity to sell a lot of group and team packages for some of the games. They should have a ticket and merchandise both at every tournament. In fact all the teams should be doing that for youth tournaments in their area.