MLS Soccer In Orlando? Want It? Here’s how to take action…
It’s not often a city like Orlando gets a chance to become a major player in the sports field but that opportunity is now with us and we’re asking all supporters of the most popular game in the world to join us and support the Orlando City Soccer MLS bid.
Last Friday, I posted a press release from the Central Florida vacation Rental Manager’s Association in regard to the issue and now today, I’m personally asking you for your support. The action you need to take is very simple and won’t take more than a couple of minutes of your time. Hopefully, that two minutes of time will play a very important role in the future of Orlando as a sporting city.
The action required is contained in a letter recently sent by Orlando City President Phil Rawlins:
“Orlando City Soccer Club has been working hard for the past two years to secure a Major League Soccer franchise for Florida. Opportunities to add a top-tier professional sports franchise to the state are very rare, and cities from across the country are competing with Florida for the rights to this franchise.
MLS has publically announced expansion of their league and a desire to have a team located in the southeast. MLS’s expansion into Florida will depend on the City of Orlando being able to build soccer-ready stadium for us. The club is committed to investing $30M in the stadium, a third of the overall costs. To help fund their portion of the stadium, the City of Orlando is seeking legislation from the State of Florida that would provide a sales tax rebate for the development. This funding is no different than what is currently available to all other major league sports teams in Florida.
There are only seven days left in the 2013 legislative session in Tallahassee, but legislation to give MLS equal standing with the other professional sports leagues is currently stalled in the Florida House of Representatives.
If legislation does not get passed this year it is likely MLS will choose to locate their expansion team in Atlanta or Nashville rather than in Orlando! This means Orlando and the entire State of Florida will lose the opportunity to create new jobs, generate economic growth, bring additional international visitors, and highlight Florida to the millions of international soccer fans!
We need your help! We need YOU, along with your co-workers, friends and family, to help break through the logjam in Tallahassee.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP – PLEASE TAKE THIS ACTION NOW OR FIRST THING TOMORROW!
Please call and email House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz’s office and your House Representative using the number and email links below. Mention House Bill #219 and Senate Bill #306. Tell them how much MLS can do for Orlando ($1.3 billion in economic impact), how much an MLS team would mean to you and the region and URGE THEM TO PASS THE BILL – above all else keep your message positive and upbeat!”
Speaker Weatherford
Phone: 850-488-1450 (Call between 8:00am and 5:00pm)
Email: will.weatherford@myfloridahouse.gov
Twitter: @willweatherford
Senate President Gaetz
Phone: 850-487-5229 (Call between 8:00am and 5:00pm)
Email: gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov
Facebook: Facebook.com/dongaetz
How to find your House Representative:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx
Sincerely,
Phil Rawlins, President
Orlando City SC
Thank you in advance for taking the time to communicate with Speaker Weatherford and Senate President Gaetz. I appreciate it and please feel free to share this blog post and appeal with as many of your friends and family as you can.Here’s some more information:
