City of Orlando commissioners voted unanimously Monday to approve funding for a new soccer stadium estimated to cost $85 million.
Orlando is expected to put up $20 million from tourist tax monies. Similarly, Orange County commissioners are also expected to approve another $20 million when the proposal comes up for a vote later this month. Â The team’s owners are contributing $30 million with the remainder coming from stadium revenues, including a ticket surcharge.
Last month, Seminole County commissioners committed $2 million to the soccer deal. They estimate that area would receive economic benefits to the tune of $31 million over the next decade.
The 18,000 seat stadium for the Orlando City Lions team is slated for construction in the Parramore area in the heart of downtown Orlando. The ultimate goal is to snag a Major League Soccer team and to lift the city’s profile as an international tourist destination.
Meanwhile, a recent poll conducted by the Sentinel found, county residents closely divided on the proposed soccer stadium with nearly 50 percent of those surveyed wanting fewer TDT monies spent on sports venues and the Orange County Convention Center, and more on local amenities and services.
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Please get the facts of this deal correct. The team is not putting in $30 million considering the soccer team will get the naming rights of this “public” venue ($10-20 million), they are getting free land (already $12 million), free infrastructure, no property taxes, and they will get to keep all sales taxes generated at the stadium. Please, someone stop just running the press releases from the City of Orlando and corporate millionaires. That’s what the Slantinel is for!