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Orlando City Credits Fan Support In Decision To Add 6,000 Seats To New Stadium Design

New designs for Orlando City SC's planned downtown venue show that capacity has "increased from an original plan of 19,500 seats to 25,500, a jump the club credited to overwhelming fan support in the beginning of the season," according to Paul Tenorio of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. The club "revealed a new design Friday for a privately funded" stadium and "aims to move into its new home" in September '16 for the final two months of the regular season and playoffs. Orlando City Chair & Majority Owner Flávio Augusto da Silva said, "The fans really sparked us to move forward in this direction." Club Founder & President Phil Rawlins said that the $155M stadium is "expected to be completed in 12 to 14 months." Tenorio noted the club "will continue to play in the Orlando Citrus Bowl in the interim." Orlando City has averaged 31,105 fans in its first 10 games. Rawlins said that the 25,500 capacity was the "maximum size it could build without radically changing the designs, which would set the project back another year." Tenorio noted the stadium "will be the third-largest venue" in MLS. The new design "added seating in the corners of the stadium and stands in the south end, as well as canopy roofs over all four sections." The 425,000-square-foot facility "will feature an indoor club in the west stand and a 10,000-square-foot open-air supporters' terrace." The venue will "include the only safe-standing supporters' section in MLS" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/1).

LOCAL IMPACT: Orlando-based retailer United World Soccer co-Owner Gary Davis said of how Orlando City's success has changed his business, "We've seen a groundswell of Orlando people trying to support their local team, and that's the way it is around the world. Right now our top-selling jerseys are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and then Orlando is probably fourth there." He added of apparel sales for the U.S. women's national team, "The U.S. National Team shirts sold really well. It's a great shirt, looks really good and it's been very popular. It's a shame that at the end ... we didn't get more shirts, because it was bigger than we thought it was going to be. I was down at the store at Disney (Tuesday), and there was still a lot of demand for it" (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 8/1).

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