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Warehouse torn down at proposed Orlando soccer stadium location

ORLANDO, Fla. — On Friday, crews bulldozed the area where an old warehouse used to stand at the proposed site of a new soccer stadium in downtown Orlando.

The city of Orlando bought the land for $8.2 million with hoping a new stadium will draw Major League Soccer to choose Orlando for its next franchise.

Either way, city officials said they still felt it was important to buy the land and knock down the old warehouse so they could put something better in its place.

Right now, city leaders as well as officials with Orlando City Soccer are in Tallahassee waiting for lawmakers to decide if they will allow MLS to get millions in annual sales tax rebates that Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA and NHL teams already take advantage of for stadiums.

Currently, soccer doesn't get anything, so soccer officials have been reaching out to fans to help with the fight.

"Let them know by email, by phone, just how passionate you are about this and what a big impact this would make for the central Florida economy and how much we want this to happen," said Phil Rawlins, Orlando City Soccer president.

Without the sales tax dollars, soccer officials believe Orlando could lose out on trying to bring an MLS team to the city.