MLS

MLS Commissioner Don Garber to Visit Orlando March 1

MLS Commissioner Don Garber

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber is coming to Orlando on March 1 to discuss the City Beautiful as a future potential MLS expansion market.  Garber will meet with the clubā€™s owners, community leaders including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, as well as the Orlando City fans and media, in a packed day of meetings.

ā€œWe are looking forward to Commissioner Garberā€™s visit, it is a pivotal day for our MLS expansion aspirations. I would encourage all our fans to come to the town hall meeting at Mojoā€™s and show the Commissioner our Cityā€™s passion for soccerā€ said Phil Rawlins, Orlando City Soccer President.

Garberā€™s visit is the next step in Orlando Cityā€™s goal to become a future MLS expansion club.  He will meet with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and other community leaders to discuss several aspects of Orlando Cityā€™s future plans.

ā€œWhile New York City remains the Leagueā€™s focus for our 20th Club, itā€™s important to continue evaluating future options as we continue to grow the League,ā€ said Commissioner Garber.  ā€œThis growth has been built on a foundation of strategic expansion strategies and a growing passionate soccer fan base across North America.  As such, Iā€™ve been impressed with Orlando Cityā€™s success on- and off-the-field and look forward to meeting with local supporters and speaking directly with key public officials about the future of professional soccer in Orlando.ā€

"Orlando is truly an international city with an increasingly diverse population that draws from soccer obsessed countries in Europe, South and Central America,ā€ said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.  ā€œThat growth, combined with our long history of support for professional and college sports makes Orlando a natural fit as an MLS city."

Capping the visit will be a town hall meeting with Orlando City fans at Mojo Bar and Grill at 12:30 p.m.  The meeting is open to the public.  Doors open at 11:30 a.m.