ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Owners hope to turn the new Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Orlando into a global brand.
Orlando City Soccer Club owners said Wednesday the combination of Orlando as a top international tourist destination and the international popularity of soccer will help make the team well known.
Major League Soccer announced the franchise agreement with Orlando City on Tuesday.
Orlando City becomes MLS’ 21st franchise and will start playing in the league in 2015. The team currently plays in the United Soccer Leagues.
Team owners Flavio Augusto da Silva and Phil Rawlins also said on a conference call Wednesday they intend to keep Adrian Heath as the head coach. They said the team’s current players will have to prove themselves to make the MLS team.
