A "standing-room-only full house of 62,000 is expected" at the Citrus Bowl today when Orlando City SC hosts NYC FC in the MLS debut for both franchises. Orlando City Founder & President
Phil Rawlins said, "If we had 80,000 seats, I firmly believe we would have sold all 80,000" (
MIAMI HERALD, 3/8).
Today's ORLANDO SENTINEL features a special-edition front page in addition to a special sports section devoted to the city's MLS debut. The paper's Mike Bianchi writes sports history is "being made in a city starving for sports history." The SENTINEL's George Diaz wrote under the header, "Soccer Is The Ticket To Lift Orlando Out Of Its Sporty Doldrums." The paper's Paul Tenorio writes Orlando City and NYC FC "will invariably be linked during their first few years in MLS."
NYC FC-Orlando City airs on ESPN2 at 5:00pm ET, and a team of about 70 ESPN staff members "have descended" on Orlando. A 30-minute preview show "is slated to include interviews" with Orlando City MF Kaka and NYC FC F David Villa (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/8). Meanwhile, the Citrus Bowl's turf field "received a FIFA 2-Star certification" ahead of today's game (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/8).
