2017 NWSL Championship match to be played at Orlando City Stadium
During halftime of the Orlando Pride’s home opener on Saturday, the club made a major announcement that Orlando City Stadium has been chosen to host the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League Championship this year.
Orlando City SC majority owner Flávio Augusto da Silva (pictured above right), Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer (pictured above center) and NWSL managing director of operations Amanda Duffy (pictured above left) took to the field to announce the venue of the title match, which will be played on October 14.
“A new, state-of-the-art venue that has already become one of the best soccer settings in the country will be the site of the 2017 NWSL championship,” Duffy said in a statement released by the club. “The city of Orlando has proven its overwhelming support for the sport and for the Orlando Pride, and we are confident all the necessary components are in place for a successful and historic championship to conclude the league’s fifth season of operation.”
“The appetite for soccer in Orlando is at an all-time high, and we are thrilled to contribute to this movement by bringing the NWSL Championship to Orlando,” said da Silva. “A huge driving force to invest in our stadium was to bring this community the best soccer opportunities possible, not only with our three teams, but with major events and matches around the world.”
The privately-funded stadium has a capacity of 25,500 people and opened in March for the club’s Major League Soccer team, Orlando City, to host its 2017 season opener against NYCFC. Since then the stadium has garnered national attention for features such as the standing-only supporters section and the 49 rainbow-colored seats dedicated to victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. The Lions remain undefeated at home with a 4-0 record so far.
The top four teams in the NWSL standings at the end of the regular season advance to the playoffs, with the higher seeds hosting the semifinal matches Oct. 7-8.
Season ticket members for any of the soccer teams under the Orlando City SC umbrella will receive exclusive ticket information for the event at a later date. All fans interested in attending the NWSL championship can sign up at www.orlandocitysc.com/pride/final to receive updates.
