All Systems Are “GO” For Orlando City’s MLS Bid
Important news for Orlando City Soccer fans in their quest to see MLS soccer in the City Beautiful… the important votes will happen this month.
The dates for both the City of Orlando and the Orange County Commissioners to vote on the approval of funds for the new downtown multi purpose soccer stadium have been finalized. First up, the City will vote on Monday, October 7th and then, just two weeks later, on Tuesday, October 22nd Orange County Commission will have their turn. Hopefully both of these votes will bring positive news and enable the team to enter into final negotiations with Major League Soccer to award an expansion team to Central Florida.
In other important club news, Forrest Eber, who previously served as Assistant Commissioner of Business and Operations for the West Coast Conference, has officially joined the Orlando City SC front office. Eber has spent extensive time working with the U.S. Soccer Federation, holding a strong soccer and business background that will transition over to the Lions’ front office as the club heads into 2013 off season.
Eber officially joined the Orlando front office on September 30 and becomes the club’s Chief Financial Officer. His primary duties will be to assist Orlando City’s ownership group on all fiscal aspects of the club, including Major League Soccer (MLS) efforts. Eber will also be hands-on with Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS), working closely with the Youth organization.
“I’m thrilled for this opportunity to join the Orlando City front office,” said Eber. “What the club and fans already established is amazing and truly unprecedented. I can’t wait to get started and look forward helping bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) to Orlando.”
Prior to joining Orlando City, Eber oversaw business and operations of the West Coast Conference, a 10-member conference consisting of such schools as BYU and Gonzaga. The University of North Carolina graduate spent more than five years working with U.S. Soccer, where he oversaw multiple departments and had oversight of the Youth National Teams programs.
Eber also served on the management team for the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which became the most profitable women’s sporting event of all time, and was selected by FIFA to work at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany.
“I’m excited to welcome Forrest to our front office,“ said Orlando City President Phil Rawlins. “Forrest has extensive knowledge of soccer in the United States, and we look forward to working with him as our organization continues its upward growth toward MLS in 2015.”
Exciting times are ahead and the club certainly seems to be expecting to make a major announcement in the near future. “We are excited as we begin this final step of securing a downtown soccer stadium for the Central Florida area,” added Rawlins. “We encourage all of our fans to call their commissioners to show their support in the upcoming weeks.”
The October 7 vote will occur at the City Hall Council Chambers in Downtown Orlando at 400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801. Supporters are encouraged to park in the garage behind City Hall and cross over the walkway bridge to go through security. The Chambers are around the corner on the right.
The October 22nd vote will take place at Orange County Administration Building at 201 S Rosalind Avenue with parking available around the building.
