By Ben Nicholson
September 18 – MLS newcomers Orlando City SC are looking to establish itself in the women’s game, while, concurrently, Kaka and co continue to build on the success of the men’s side debut season.
The club is expected to be named a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team for the 2016 season, though NWSL commissioner, Jeff Plush, is yet to confirm the rumors.
Orlando City SC expressed interest in the opportunity following the US national team’s success at the 2015 Women’s World Cup but there were reportedly “well over a dozen” clubs vying for an expansion spot.
Given the club’s late arrival to the party, and the presence of other established MLS clubs also in the running, their prospects did not appear great at first.
Plush had said it would be “challenging” given how late it was in the year before saying that if an organisation “has the resources and the specific soccer pedigree and infrastructure, it’s not too late.”
The club already has plans in place for a 25,500 capacity stadium, which could be used as the home for both the men and women’s teams.
Additionally, they carry the second highest attendance figures of MLS clubs, sitting at an average 36,911 fans per game.
This is perhaps a concern in that when the club moves from the American Football stadium the Citrus Bowl into their soccer-specific stadium, they will be missing out on willing ticker consumers.
However, it indicates that the overspill could be put to benefit with an additional forum for soccer support.
Club president Phil Rawlins stated, “We’ve made no secret of the fact that we would like to bring a women’s professional team here. We continue to have dialogue with the NWSL. We’ve not taken that to a point where we can make any announcements on it, but we’ve certainly declared our interest; it’s something we’d be very, very interested in.”
Orlando City SC would be the third MLS club to have a NWSL counterpart. Currently the Portland Timbers of the MLS has a successful marriage with the Portland Thorns of the NWSL, where both clubs often lead the tables of their respective divisions, and the Houston Dynamo of the MLS are affiliated with the Houston Dash of the NWSL.
As things stand, the NWSL are to talk about possible expansions at a meeting during the league championship game in Portland on October 1.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1738764247labto1738764247ofdlr1738764247owedi1738764247sni@n1738764247osloh1738764247cin.l1738764247uap1738764247