Orlando City B has confirmed that it will spend the 2017 USL season at a new stadium in downtown Orlando.
The move will put Orlando City B (OCB) in the same facility as its MLS parent, Orlando City SC, and the NWSL’s Orlando Pride. Construction on the new Orlando City Stadium is expected to be complete by next spring.
“I’d like to thank Eastern Florida State College for their warm hospitality and outstanding supporters,” OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. “We are all extremely excited to play in Orlando in such a beautiful stadium next season.”
After playing the 2016 season at Titan Soccer Complex on the campus of Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Orlando City’s USL side returns to the City Beautiful where it saw unparalleled success during its first stint in the league. The Club won the 2011 and 2013 USL Pro Championships. In 2014, the Lions finished the regular season atop the league, earning their third Commissioner’s Cup before moving to MLS.
Last year, the Lions consistently drew crowds of over 1,000 and had strong support from the Harbor City Hooligans. OCB qualified for the USL playoffs in its expansion year with a thrilling 2-0 win on the final day of the regular season.
OCB will join Orlando City of MLS and Orlando Pride of the NWSL in the Club’s new 25,500-seat, privately financed stadium. The stadium, which is on Church Street in the heart of downtown Orlando, will have a canopied roof to keep noise in and weather out, and a natural grass pitch.