Important vote nears as Orlando attempts to secure MLS team

ORLANDO, Fla. — The drive to bring Major League Soccer to Orlando and build a brand new stadium downtown is coming to an important crossroads.

The city of Orlando is clearing the way for the brand new MLS stadium blocks from the Amway Center. It's the vision of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who spent the day in Tallahassee trying to lock up support for a critical vote giving cities the same support for soccer they already get for the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball.

But even if everything goes perfectly in Tallahassee, the city still has two big goals it has to kick and that includes the land and whether MLS will guarantee Orlando a team.

The city has spent millions buying up property in Parramore for the new stadium, but there's more they need to get.

And MLS is set to expand, but right now, there's no guarantee the expansion city will be named Orlando.

Orlando City Soccer set an attendance record over the weekend, putting more fans in the Citrus Bowl than many existing MLS clubs do for an average match, and the team is urging their rabid fan base to burn up phones, email and Twitter to Tallahassee.

Team President Phil Rawlins sent a message to fans warning, “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.”

WFTV