“2016 will be a year of consolidation for Orlando City. Consolidation between Orlando City SC, Orlando City B, and Orlando Pride.” Orlando City President and founder Phil Rawlins spoke with deep ambition for the club before entering the Grand Tour Gala Foundation’s award ceremony to receive the 2015 Dick Pope Legacy award, given to him for his contribution to strengthening the sustainability of Florida's hospitality and tourism industry.
Rawlins is noted as an extremely important component to the strength of Orlando’s economy. The support he brings to the community is recognized state-wide. Upon introducing Rawlins on stage to receive his award, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer had nothing but great things to say of everything Rawlins and Orlando City have done for the community.
“When I first met Phil Rawlins,” Dyer began, “I knew that he was going to be successful with soccer, but I had no idea how transformational Orlando City would be to our community and how quickly soccer fever would reach such a high pitch. With patience, persistence and persuasiveness Phil convinced our entire community what a soccer franchise could mean to the culture and the identity of our city.”
Dyer also explained the personable side of Rawlins and what impact he has had on the fans, “If you go to an Orlando City game you’ll see Phil out in the parking lot meeting all the fans and interacting with them. Orlando City have built the most passionate fan-base of any soccer team in all of the United States in just one season.” He continued, “I honestly don’t think that Orlando could have asked for a better brand ambassador for soccer and for the city itself. [He is] one of Orlando’s bold and tireless leaders with unmatched enthusiasm.”
Rawlins and Orlando City have taken the city by storm and it’s largely evident throughout the community. Something as simple as car magnets have indicated the support and commitment that the community has for the team. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer explained how he borrowed the concept of the iconic Orlando City car magnets that can be seen around the city, “The magnets became so popular that I made them the basis of my campaign and duplicated them, except in green and blue.” He continued with a humorous grin, “I’m only about 150,000 behind right now in terms of how many are out there.”
In closing out his ceremonial speech after receiving the award, Rawlins attributed the success of the club in the hands of everybody who has been a part of the Orlando City movement, “Thank you to everyone who has attended a game, bought a shirt or put a magnet on the back of their car. It means so much to us.” Rawlins signified, “None of this would be possible at all without the support of the Orlando City front office, without them we would not have made the achievements that we have made in the last year, that’s for sure. And, last but not least, it would be remiss of me not to mention my family, because, for me personally, without them none of this would have been possible. The journey has been long, at times it’s been tough and at times it’s been difficult, but with their support I’ve got through it.
“Thank you to everybody who believes in me and believes in Orlando City.”
