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From the USL website (click here for the original press release):
The future of professional soccer in Central Florida began to take shape with the announcement of a new United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division franchise in Orlando. The Orlando Titans will serve as the principal owner and operator of the franchise, and will also be responsible for securing local minority investors.
United Soccer Leagues is planning to re-establish the USL First Division in 2011 and Orlando is scheduled to play in the league. In 2010, USL teams are competing in the USSF D-2 Pro League, currently the only sanctioned second division league.
The second division season runs from April through October, and in addition to league play, Orlando intends to compete in premier domestic and international tournaments and exhibitions such as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League. The Orlando franchise is exploring options on a home facility and hope to make an announcement in the near future.
The Titans’ parent company, NY Empire Lacrosse, LLC, brought professional indoor lacrosse to Orlando in January.
“It has been our intention since the beginning for the Titans to operate more than one professional sports franchise in this market and this announcement is the next logical step,” Titans President Steve Donner said. “We looked at several different options, including indoor soccer and hockey, but in the end, professional outdoor soccer made the most sense in terms of being able to utilize our staff on a year-round basis without a lot of overlap in the seasons.”
“The fact that this franchise will play in USL’s top division means that we will be bringing an incredible level of professional soccer to Central Florida fans,” Donner added.
In addition to securing local investors for the club, the team is expected to announce a professional player development agreement with a European professional team in the near future. The Titans will also pursue bringing major international exhibitions to Central Florida. Between the schedule and exhibitions, the Titans hope to stage up to 30 professional events in Central Florida in their first season.
Founded in 1986, United Soccer Leagues has become the largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America by building on the vision, commitment, and passion of players, fans, and investors. Now in its third decade of operation, USL continues to be a driving force in the growth of soccer in the United States.
“This is the first of many important announcements we will make as USL moves forward with its plans to re-establish the USL First Division in 2011,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said. “We’re most excited about the quality of ownership joining USL in the Orlando Titans and Steve Donner. Steve has an extensive and successful background with USL, and he’s the perfect person to bring a professional team to soccer-hungry Central Florida. There’s no doubt in our minds that Orlando will become one of our most successful teams.”
Orlando is already home to USL Premier Development League (PDL) franchise Central Florida Kraze, who will partner with the new professional franchise.
“The Central Florida Kraze is truly excited for the Orlando soccer community,” Kraze head coach Joe Avallone said. “Our local youth players now have a full progression of soccer to aspire to. We feel with the sports marketing knowledge of Mr. Donner and his history in professional sports, Orlando will have a sports franchise to be proud of.”
What do you think? Excited that mroe soccer is in FL? Can Orlando be a successful soccer town? Could ti one day make the jump to MLS? What would give Orlando a better chance than say Miami? Like the ambition of a partnering with a European team? Excited to see the connection with lower league teams like the Kraze already? Like the name of Orlando Titans or would something else be better?
-Patrick Beatty
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Good, I am glad to see the 2nd division adding teams to their league and not just the MLS poaching the 2nd division, hopefully this helps towards promotion/relegation.
However Florida in the MLS…haven’t they tried that twice? and neither time it worked, maybe the third time is a charm…I mean look at all the Soccer fans from Florida all over this message board…of course this is MLS rumors so maybe USL-Rumors.net is just blowing up with Orlando fans.
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Isn’t Donner the guy who bankrupted Rochester Rhinos back in 2007?
How can he be allowed to have a new franchice now if he failed with a already stabilish franchise in western ny?
Thats really weird, but congrats to USL and Orlando. USA really need mores soccer clubs around and with USL and NASL fighting to become the trully second division in US, it might help the soccer in the country (or destroy it… O_O)
Cheers
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USL sucks…who d like to join it…..there are as bad as MLS….it could be even worse…..ULS sn’t trusted organization…where s NY Qeen and what has happened to it….? …isn’t supposed to play in USL this season ? …
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Totally with you DerekSSFC, may this help to eventually bring about promotion/relegation.
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Just name and the Orlando Pirates and I’ll be happy
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why, that is a rip off of the south african team.
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Given the structure of the USL and NASL, I’m not really sure what the draw is to join the USL at present. NASL backers seem to have much more energy and larger plans for what they’re doing. See Miami FC’s, (owned by Traffic Sports- who control a very large swath of soccer broadcast rights across South America) development this week of 1) securing Lockhart Stadium for their games; 2) taking over operation of the Baltimore Orioles former spring training stadium next door to Lockhart- to the tune of $673,000 for a proper fiield in the stadium and two more pitches betond the outfield fence (to be completed in short order); 3) that would just be round one of a the development of a year round academy; 4) they’re applying for the rights to the old NASL Ft. Lauderdale Strikers name for a rebranding to grow the organization in Ft.L., ditching Miami where they get damn little support.
Look at what AC STL is doing with their organization…
Just seems like the USL is playing with the weaker hand.
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@JerseyMob
I know its a rip off, but it works.
I don’t understand why they would want to be the Ft Lauderdale Strikers. Would they do that because Lockhart is in Ft LD? I agree with Steve the Arsonist. The NASL has more energy and passion then the USL right now. I’d join them. Let the USL fold and merge with the NASL, or merge the USL 1 and 2 divisions into one and become the third teir soccer league
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soccer in the US is finally turning a corner!!!! I want to see both USL and the NASL succeed. I really believe at this point in the game in the US a defined structure of who is second and third tier like in Europe is irrelevant. The reason is we are much larger country and need access to the game in every municipality as possible. Now with the emergence of close proximity of Orlando USL club and NASL Tampa club, this is not exactly what I want too see in which two clubs are fighting for small group soccer fans in basically same area. With that said competition has a way of bring out the best in an enterprise and lets hope they find a way to both be successful. Just imagine these two clubs fighting it out in the US cup game.
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The situation of soccer in America s really miserable 3 separated leagues run by 3 different organizations, no players’ rights no regulation system, no media attention and media coverage. It s only me or everyone else too that don’t feel there s a bright future in American soccer, as long as it continually runs that way.
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“However Florida in the MLS…haven’t they tried that twice? and neither time it worked,”
Every time someone posts an idiotic comment like this, God kills a kitten.
Seriously, look up the attendance figures. Tampa Bay and Miami were not the worst supported teams in MLS. If it were a matter of attendance, San Jose, Colorado, Kansas City, Dallas, etc. would be gone from MLS and Tampa Bay and Miami would still be in MLS. Miami was cut because their owner couldn’t hack it. Tampa Bay was cut because they had no owner at all, and were managed/mismanaged by MLS itself.
Go look at attendance figures from the old NASL: the Tampa Bay Rowdies were massive, and the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers drew pretty respectable crowds as well, comparable to MLS attendance (and from my experience back then, the old NASL didn’t cook the books on the attendance figures the way MLS does).
“why, that is a rip off of the south african team.”
That would only be fair, and would be returning the compliment. Look at the South African teams that “ripped off” their names from NASL teams: Jomo Cosmos (NY Cosmos), Kaizer Chiefs (Atlanta Chiefs), etc. Soccer is the world’s game, you have to expect people will copy names they like. It’s been going on for a century and a half now, so no point in stopping.
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Reposting this to avoid moderation/spam filter…please delete duplicate post if moderator sees this….posting fractured URL below as FYI to avoid spam filter:
“Isn’t Donner the guy who bankrupted Rochester Rhinos back in 2007?”
Why, yes, yes he is:
http: // blogs. democratandchronicle. com /devo/2010/03/04/ melt-with-me-snow-removed-at-stadium/
“How can he be allowed to have a new franchice now if he failed with a already stabilish franchise in western ny?”
It’s because USL doesn’t do their due diligence on new owners and has no standards as long as the new owners initial check doesn’t bounce (think of all the owners who either didn’t make it through an entire USL season, or who only managed to last a single USL season), and also because USL is now desperate to add as many new teams as possible to “save” USL1.
“Given the structure of the USL and NASL, I’m not really sure what the draw is to join the USL at present. NASL backers seem to have much more energy and larger plans for what they’re doing.”
There isn’t any draw; with USL you fork over a boatload of cash, and you have absolutely no say in how the league is run or how your money is spent. With NASL, you, as an owner, have a say in how the league is run and how your money is spent. Big difference. Seriously, why would you chose USL over NASL (especially since NASL now has the overwhelming majority of D2 clubs)? Unless, of course, you are someone like Donner who has a very questionable history? Would NASL have accepted Donner if he had applied to join? One wonders.
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Orlando United sounds like the best fit for a name, considering some of the comments on the organizations philosophy and culture. Can’t wait to see them on the field.
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