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Fate of soccer stadium rests with Orange County commission vote

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando city commissioners said they are unanimous in favor of a new soccer stadium.

Supporters turn their attention Tuesday to what may be a far more challenging task: securing the support of Orange County commissioners.

The commission votes two weeks from Tuesday.

"A little harder to predict what the outcome will be at Orange County. We're still counting votes. We have to have five votes. It calls for an extraordinary vote of five because of the use of the change in the tourist development tax plan," Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said.

Orlando City Soccer Club, which packed the city commission with purple, asked supporters to email county commissioners and urge them to vote for a stadium.

The most recent rendering showed a gleaming facility that supporters said would transform downtown lots into a centerpiece facility designed to host a variety of sporting competitions.

With a county contribution of $20 million, it's not a sure thing.

"Personally I think that there are some serious questions. One, why can't they play at the Citrus Bowl? What's the appropriate level of funding?" Orange County Commissioner Ted Edwards said.