Seminole County commissioners will contribute $2 million toward a planned soccer stadium for the Orlando City Lions team, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
With a stadium price tag of $85 million, Orange County is looking at putting in $20 million, city of Orlando, $20 million and the team’s owners $30 million. The remainder of the monies will come from stadium revenues, including a ticket surcharge.
Last month, Orlando City President Phil Rawlins, making the case for the soccer stadium said, the economic impact to the community is estimated to be $1.3 billion over the next thirty years.
Seminole County officials estimate that the economic benefit to the area would be $31 million over the next decade because the team trains near Lake Mary and also hosts tournaments that brings in visitors from outside, the paper also reported.
Last Saturday, Orlando City Soccer Club got a boost when the team beat the Charlotte Eagles, 7-4 to win its second United Soccer League Pro championship. But the bigger win might be lining up all of the funding for the $85 million stadium.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, who promised to “fast track” the stadium proposal, is yet to hold a proper public hearing and bring the matter to the board for a vote. An ‘informational’ meeting was held on August 6, at which Rawlins made his pitch.
Meanwhile, rumors persist that Jacobs still does not have the five votes or supermajority needed to move ahead with the county’s $20 million contribution.
According to a recent poll conducted by the Sentinel, county residents remain closely divided on the proposed soccer stadium and want fewer TDT monies spent on sports venues and the Orange County Convention Center, and more on local amenities and services.
