Orlando City opens new state of the art training ground with ribbon cutting ceremony
In a landmark moment of club investment, Orlando City SC cut the ribbon at the Orlando City SC Training Ground on Friday morning. Housed at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, the new facility will serve as the permanent and exclusive home for Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer (MLS), Orlando City B (OCB) of the United Soccer League (USL League One), and the Orlando City Development Academy – putting the entirety of the Club’s development pyramid under one roof for the first time in its history.
Orlando City Chief Executive Officer Alex Leitão kicked off the morning with a welcome message to the crowd, and was followed by comments from Osceola County Commissioner Viviana Janer. First Team captain Nani was also in attendance, representing the Club’s MLS side.
“This is a very special day for our Club. The opening of our own, state-of-the art training facility is a monumental step towards our long-term vision for the organization and has been something we have been looking forward to since day one,” said Orlando City CEO Alex Leitão. “After opening our first-rate soccer stadium downtown in 2017, we have continued to work toward our commitment to put Orlando City over the top when it comes to recruiting top talent and supporting player development. With the opening of this new facility, we are very excited about the impacts it will have, both on and off the field, for our entire development pyramid across the First Team, Orlando City B and our Development Academy.”
“For me it is a pleasure to be a part of such an important day for our Club, our staff and our players. We are all so happy to have a new facility to put all of our effort, every day and every week to improve our quality,” Orlando City captain Luis Nani (pictured above) said. “I want to thank ownership for this opportunity and for the investment in this facility to give us the ability to work here every day with no excuses. This is one of the best facilities I’ve worked with in all of my career. I’m so excited to be here, to put forth all of my ambitions and excitement to perform with my teammates and my coach.”
The 20-acre training complex features four fields – three natural grass and one artificial turf – with each natural grass field comprised of Latitude 36 Bermudagrass, the same playing surface found at Exploria Stadium. In addition, the facility will house a fitness, training and recovery center; a players’ lounge and a meal room. In addition, the Orlando City Training Ground will feature the first Audi Performance Center as part of an MLS-wide initiative to further elevate the game of soccer in North America.
Also located on the grounds of the facility is Osceola County Stadium, a 5,400-seat venue set to become the new home of Orlando City B. The former baseball park will undergo a full redevelopment to become a soccer-specific field, set to host OCB matches and other events.
The First Team will begin its preseason training at the Orlando City Training Ground on Monday, January 20. OCB will play it’s first game at the new facility on Saturday, April 11th against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.
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