The "tiny family-owned church that stands in the way" of Orlando's MLS stadium has "hired a Jacksonville law firm specializing in property rights to fight the city's attempt to take its land," according to Mark Schlueb of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. City Hall "filed an eminent domain action" in '13, "after a year of failed negotiations to buy Faith Deliverance Temple." Attorney Andrew Prince Brigham said that the city's action "violates Florida's Constitution and state law because the land wouldn't be used for a legitimate public purpose." The city initially offered $1.5M for the property -- "more than twice the appraised value -- but church leaders said that wouldn't be enough to rebuild elsewhere, and countered with a selling price" of $35M. The city "eventually raised its offer" as high as $4M and the church "dropped its price" as low $15M. The city's failure to acquire the property "already has delayed the stadium's construction." Orlando City SC "initially planned to begin playing in the new facility" during the '15 MLS season, but "uncertainty about the land prompted the decision to play" the entire '15 season in the Citrus Bowl. The current plan is for Orlando City to "start playing in the new stadium with its home-opener" in March '16. Orlando City COO Brett Lashbrook said that it is "expected to take 14 to 15 months to build the stadium, so construction, ideally, would have to start" before January '15 (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/12).
MOVING IN: In Colorado Springs, Monica Mendoza reported the Colorado Springs City Council signed a $2M deal Tuesday with USL Pro expansion club Colorado Springs Switchbacks to "play at its Sand Creek stadium despite objections from the neighboring" Triple-A PCL Colorado Springs Sky Sox. The council "approved, in a 5-4 vote, a 10-year lease agreement." The team will "pay the city $18,310 a year in rent." About $1.4M in upgrades, "including bleachers, a press box and stairs along the berms and two light poles, will be permanent" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 6/11).
