ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando City Soccer Club and thousands of its fans gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new MLS stadium in downtown Orlando.
Preparations started early Thursday at the stadium site in Parramore where crews brought in 24 tons of purple sand for the ceremonial big dig, which involved players, as well as city and county officials.
But the main party started about a half-mile away at Church Street Station, where thousands of fans kicked off a purple party like never before with a march to the construction site.
The March to the Match is something many fans said they’re going to recreate for every home game starting in 2016.
The new stadium is a vision four years in the making and the anticipation showed.
“It was amazing and exciting. The kids loved it,” said fan Melissa Mastroianno.
After the march, players and city and county leaders sunk shovels into 24 tons of purple sand.
“I get a little teary eyes thinking about the new stadium,” said fan Danny Voss.
The new downtown stadium will seat 20,000 fans and comes at a $110 million price tag made possible by tourism and tax dollars.
While it won’t be ready for the team’s inaugural MLS season, fans and families will still be cheering them on until the gates open in 18 months.
Orlando City will play its first major league game at the newly renovated Citrus Bowl in March.
Construction will be complete by the end of next year.
WFTV
