ORLANDO, FL – February 17, 2015 – On February 5, 2015, GrayRobinson’s Orlando office hosted a Community Leader Forum featuring Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer (MLS). Garber discussed "The State of Major League Soccer and Orlando’s Place in our Exciting Future." Phil Rawlins, President and Founder of the Orlando City Soccer Club also spoke and encouraged the crowd to attend the first soccer game that they will play in as an MLS team.
Garber began his presentation by giving a little background on the Orlando City Soccer. They were approved as a new MLS expansion team largely because of the partnership opportunities in central Florida. Both city and county officials approved the use of tourism taxes to help fund the construction costs for the new downtown soccer-specific stadium. That was the final hurdle the MLS said the city needed to clear to be awarded a team. The new soccer stadium is currently under construction and will be ready for 2016 season. Over 14,000 season tickets have already been sold in the stadium that can hold 20,000 fans.
Rawlins spoke about the soccer game that will take place March 8, 2015, where the Orlando City Soccer Club will play their first game as a MLS team. The match will be televised live on ESPN and will be against the New York City Football Club, another MLS expansion team debuting in the 2015 season. Rawlins launched operation #FillTheBowl to ensure that fans can be a part of this historic event. Purchase group tickets here, or individual tickets here. For more information, visit the Orlando City Soccer Club’s website.
Garber’s entire career has been in the sports industry, working in everything from marketing, television and League administration. He has been Commissioner of Major League Soccer since 1999. During his tenure, MLS has added 19 new investors, including 12 new expansion teams. Garber has also led the effort to develop soccer-specific stadiums for MLS teams. Thirteen stadiums have been built and two more have been renovated with soccer in mind. Prior to becoming Commissioner of MLS, Garber worked with the National Football League (NFL). He began with NFL Properties in 1984 and then became the League’s director of marketing in 1988. In 1992, he was appointed the NFL’s senior vice president of business development. He finished his tenure as the senior vice president/managing director of NFL International, where he managed all of the NFL’s business outside the United States.
Rawlins is Founder and President of the Orlando City Soccer Club and is responsible for all aspects of the Club’s operation, performance and service. Prior to that, he founded and developed OnTarget, a sales and marketing consultancy which worked with most of the world’s leading technology companies. In addition to his tech experience, Rawlins spent over fifteen years in sports management as an owner and director of his hometown English Premier League team, Stoke City FC. He was voted Orlando’s Downtowner of the Year in 2013, and he was honored by MBA Orlando (LGBT Chamber of Commerce) as Community Champion 2014.
Through its Community Leader Forums, GrayRobinson brings together clients, attorneys and friends of the firm to hear high-profile business and community leaders and elected officials discuss issues of importance to the state of Florida.
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