ORLANDO, Fla. — Hundreds of people were able to watch the first game in Orlando City SC’s new stadium Thursday as part of a charity game ahead of the team’s first real match Sunday.
The game featured 100 kids age 8 to 10 versus Orlando City, Orlando Pride and OCB players for two 20-minute halves.
Proceeds from the match went to benefit the Orlando City Foundation.
While it wasn’t a real game, diehard Orlando City fans made a point to be there.
“Of course, we are not going to miss a game,” Wanda Popham said.
The Popham family traveled from Melbourne to Parramore for the charity game and plan to make the trip for the rest of the season.
“We’ve already got every game written down on the calendar,” Erik Popham said.
While construction is still going on at the new stadium, fans were impressed by the new facility.
“It’s fantastic,” Paul Webb said. “It’s nice to have a soccer-specific stadium.”
Crews will be working down to the wire on the $155-million project and fans who attended the game were confident it would be ready for Sunday’s game.
“It is pretty big,” Wanda Popham said. “They’ve been on a time crunch.”
The stadium has a capacity of 25,000 and includes a section dedicated to the 49 victims of the June 12 Pulse nightclub shooting.
Orlando City’s season opener against NYC FC will kick off at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cox Media Group
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