Orlando City SC Founder & President Phil Rawlins earlier this week "showed off a purple steel beam that will be available for fans to sign at several events" leading up to the club's season opener Sunday against Real Salt Lake at the Citrus Bowl, according to Alicia DelGallo of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. The beam later will "be incorporated" into construction of the team's new downtown stadium, which is scheduled to open in '17 (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 2/29). In Orlando, George Diaz writes Orlando City's "doubters have largely been silenced, as the frenzy builds" for the start of the team's second MLS season. Fans can "expect a crowd of 60,000-plus" for Sunday's opener. The NWSL Orlando Pride also will "make its debut here in April," with USWNT F Alex Morgan "already in place." Meanwhile, USL club Orlando City B will "begin play later this month," and work "continues on fancy new home digs in downtown Orlando for both the men's and women's teams." Diaz: "Is this too much to take on, or is the market right for an implosion?" Rawlins said, "We're about to find out aren't we?" Orlando City has "sold 18,000 season tickets next season," while the Pride have 5,000 season ticket holders "in the mix, with only" a 20% overlap between the two fan bases. Diaz: "Call it football or futbol, soccer is now part of our community fabric" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/4).
