Exploria_Stadium

Inter&Co Stadium

Inter&Co Stadium

Soccer stadium in Orlando

"Orlando City Stadium" redirects here. For the stadium in Orlando used predominantly for American football, see Camping World Stadium.
This article is about the stadium of Orlando City SC. For the stadium used by Orlando Pirates F.C., see Orlando Stadium.

Inter&Co Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in downtown Orlando, Florida. The stadium is located along West Church Street in the Parramore neighborhood west of Downtown Orlando. It is the home of Orlando City SC, which entered Major League Soccer (MLS) as an expansion franchise in 2015, and their National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) affiliate club, the Orlando Pride. The stadium was completed in time for Orlando City's home opener of the 2017 season on March 5 and it became the first ever venue to permanently host MLS, NWSL, and USL teams all in the same location that year.[17] Originally known as Orlando City Stadium, on June 4, 2019, it was announced that Exploria Resorts (a timeshare entity based in nearby Clermont) had acquired naming rights to the stadium.[18] On January 18, 2024, Brazilian digital bank Inter&Co secured the naming rights to the stadium.[19][20]

Quick Facts Former names, Location ...

As well as home matches for Orlando City, Orlando Pride, the stadium has also been used as a host venue for both the United States men's and women's national teams, the finals for both the NWSL Championship and NCAA Women's College Cup, numerous Florida Cup games, the MLS Combine in 2018 and 2019, and the 2019 MLS All-Star Game.

Aside from soccer, the stadium hosted the 2019 and 2021 Cure Bowl, a college football bowl game, as well as the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games opening ceremony.[21][22]

History

In April 2013, the City of Orlando purchased downtown land for $8.2 million to be used towards the construction of a $110 million MLS soccer stadium.[23] However, in May, the Florida House of Representatives failed to vote on a bill that had passed the Senate that would have provided up to $30 million in state funds towards the stadium project. Orlando City SC President Phil Rawlins responded by expressing his intent to find alternative funding and keep seeking MLS expansion.[24]

The Orlando downtown soccer stadium moved closer to securing funding on August 8, 2013, when Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer reached an agreement on a deal to provide financial support for a variety of Orlando projects including the new MLS soccer stadium.[25] The last piece in stadium funding was an October 2013 vote on using an existing tourism tax to fund the final quarter of the $80 million stadium project.[26] On October 22, 2013, the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted 5–2 to approve the use of $20 million in tourist development tax funds to build an $84 million multi-purpose soccer stadium in downtown Orlando.[27]

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced on December 11, 2013, that the 2016 and 2017 NCAA Women's College Soccer Championship would be held at the new stadium.[28][29]

On August 4, 2014, the team announced that the stadium location would be moved one block west, to avoid having a delay to the opening day, due to Faith Deliverance Temple fighting the city's eminent-domain claim. The new location resulted in the closure of Parramore Avenue between Church Street and Central Boulevard in February 2015,[30] as the stadium was built right on top of where the road currently runs.[2][3]

The club played their 2015 MLS inaugural season home matches at Citrus Bowl.[31] On January 13, 2016, club president Phil Rawlins announced that construction of the team's stadium was taking four months longer than expected and that the team would remain at the Citrus Bowl (since renamed Camping World Stadium) for the 2016 season.[32]

On March 5, 2017, Orlando City began the 2017 season by hosting New York City FC in the stadium's inaugural match. Cyle Larin scored the first goal in stadium history as Orlando won 1–0 in front of a sellout crowd of 25,550.[33]

On July 10, 2019, Orlando City progressed to their first U.S. Open Cup semi-final, defeating New York City FC on penalties after a 1–1 draw. The game received viral media coverage for what became known as "The Running of The Wall" when NYCFC won the coin toss for the penalty shoot-out and elected to kick the penalties in front of an empty South Stand, the opposite side of the stadium to The Wall where the Orlando City supporters were located. The Orlando supporters took it upon themselves to run en masse down the length of the concourse and fill up the stand directly behind the goal the penalties were being taken. Adam Grinwis saved two penalties during the shootout win.[34]

On May 12, 2021, Orlando City majority owner Flavio Augusto da Silva announced he was in advanced negotiations with Zygi and Mark Wilf, owners of the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL, for the sale of the club including the stadium and other related soccer assets. The combined value of the deal was estimated at $400–450 million.[35] The sale was completed on July 21, 2021. [36]

Financing

Orlando City SC's owners announced on May 29, 2015, that the stadium would be privately funded by Orlando City SC and not the city. They also announced they would upgrade the stadium's capacity from 19,000 seats, to somewhere between 25,000 and 28,000 seats. The new plan was unveiled on July 31, increasing capacity to 25,500 by adding seats to the south end to maximize seats without major design changes that would set back the project by an additional year. Costs also rose from $110 million to $155 million.[37]

As part of the private funding venture for the new stadium, at least $15 million has come from 30 foreign investors in countries such as Brazil and China via the EB-5 investment program, which grants American visas in exchange for a $500,000 investment in the project.[38]

More foreign investors looking to obtain green cards through the EB-5 program are joining this project, which has already created around 1000 jobs and is expected to create around 1000 more in an area that much needed its economic growth.[citation needed]

Design

The team released artistic renderings of the stadium on December 11, 2012.[39] On September 30, 2013, the architectural firm Woods Bagot released their drawings of the stadium on their website. The team announced that these drawings were released without their knowledge or input, and that they had not selected an architect yet. Woods Bagot proceed to remove the images from their website.[40] The design phase began on January 7, 2014, when Mayor Buddy Dyer and some of the Orlando City SC staff traveled to Kansas City to begin working with the design firm Populous.[14]

The original renderings of the stadium proposed 18,000 seats, including 2,500 club seats. It would also have 300 seats in specialty suites. The stadium's square footage is about 290,000 square feet (27,000 m2), with 120,000 square feet (11,000 m2) devoted to the bowl. It was also supposedly going to have bars, retail shops, and restaurants.[41]

Additional renderings and information about the stadium were released on June 10, 2014. The stadium has an open plaza, where those passing by can see inside, since the field is 8 feet (2.4 m) below street level.[42] It was initially planned to have a seating capacity of 19,500, with the structural ability to expand to 25,000 in the future. This was changed in May 2015 to simply building room for 25,000 in the initial construction, rather than waiting for another construction period.[43] The field is grass, with canopies over fans to protect them from the elements and to increase noise levels.[5] Just before a game began, the lion would rotate 180° to "watch" the action. A festival plaza lined with palm trees on the south end of the plaza, just outside the main entrance at Church Street and Terry Avenue was built (the streets are closed to vehicles during events). A balcony-style bar just below the video scoreboard with a 360° view was planned as well. A seating section on the north end is dedicated to members of supporters' clubs. As proposed — and if building codes allow — it has no seats, but rails and extra room for "safe standing". The 3,811-capacity section, known as "The Wall" began as a small but ardent collection of fans from the two main supporter groups, The Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm.[44] The supporters' section would also have its own "pub-style" area.[4][45]

Aerial view of Inter&Co Stadium

Heineken announced a partnership with multiple MLS teams on November 12, 2014, including Orlando City, making Heineken the official beer of the team as well as giving Heineken naming rights to the ground level bar on the south side of the stadium. In addition to the announcement, a new rendering of the south side from inside the stadium was released.[46]

Panasonic was announced as the team's "Official Technology Partner" on December 17, 2014, in exchange for Panasonic providing on-field and fascia LED boards, the main scoreboard on the south end of the field, and dozens of flat panel TV screens throughout the stadium in suites, offices and work areas. In addition, Panasonic provides security cameras, control room and other key components for the new stadium.[7]

The stadium includes 49 rainbow-colored seats in Section 12 as a memorial that honors the victims of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting.[47][48]

International soccer matches

Men's matches

More information Date, Team #1 ...

Women's matches

More information Date, Team #1 ...

Other notable soccer matches

CONCACAF Champions League

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, CONCACAF selected Exploria Stadium to host the latter stages of the delayed 2020 CONCACAF Champions League in one centralized and neutral location. With the competition paused in March at the quarter-final stage, three of the four ties had already had the first leg contested. Los Angeles FC vs Cruz Azul was the only outstanding first leg and was changed to a single-leg match as a result. All games were played behind closed doors.[76]

More information Date, Team #1 ...
  1. 2–2 on aggregate, Olimpia progressed on away goals rule.
  2. UANL won 5–0 on aggregate.
  3. América won 3–1 on aggregate.
  4. Single-legged tie.

Exhibitions

More information Date, Team #1 ...

Florida Cup

More information Date, Team #1 ...

Friendlies

More information Date, Team #1 ...

MLS All-Stars

More information Date, Team #1 ...

NCAA

More information Date, Team #1 ...

NWSL

More information Date, Team #1 ...

U.S. Open Cup

More information Date, Team #1 ...

Other sports

Football

In May 2019, Cure Bowl officials announced the college football game would be moved to Exploria Stadium from Camping World Stadium. It was the stadium's first non-soccer event.[89] It moved back to Camping World Stadium in 2020 after it was acquired by ESPN Events,[90] but returned for two additional playings, in 2021 and 2022.

More information Date, Team #1 ...

Other events

Concerts

More information Date, Act(s) ...
Exploria Stadium.
Overview of Exploria Stadium.
Night game at Exploria Stadium.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Wiebe, Andrew (November 20, 2013). "Orlando City President Expects New Stadium to Have "Most Intense Atmosphere in the Whole of MLS"". Major League Soccer. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. [2]
    "Orlando City Soccer announces new stadium location". WOFL. Orlando. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  3. [3]
    Wiebe, Andrew. "Orlando City SC shift soccer-specific stadium site one block west as city drops eminent-domain claim". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  4. [4]
    "Orlando City Launches Public On-Sale for 2016 Season Tickets; Provides Update on Downtown Stadium". July 31, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  5. [5]
    "Exploria Stadium". Orlando City SC. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  6. [6]
    de los Rios, Gabriel; Calderon, Rudy (March 2, 2017). "All 22 MLS stadiums for the 2017 season". Major League Soccer. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Orlando City SC Forms Multi-year Partnership with Panasonic". OrlandoCitySC.com. Orlando City Soccer Club. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  8. [8]
    "Orlando City Stadium Groundbreaking Set For October 16". Orlando City Soccer Club. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  9. [9]
    "Your City Your Stadium: Update on Proposed Stadium Opening". Orlando City Soccer Club. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  10. [10]
    Kelly, Jason (February 24, 2017). "Orlando City Soccer Club unveils new Parramore stadium". WFTV. Orlando. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  11. [11]
    DelGallo, Alicia. "Orlando City to hold ribbon-cutting, tours at new stadium". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  12. [12]
    DelGallo, Alicia. "Orlando City Stadium ribbon-cutting focuses on Parramore community". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  13. [13]
    Tenorio, Paul (July 31, 2015). "Orlando City reveals new design of $155 million, 25,500-seat stadium". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  14. [14]
    Schlueb, Mark (January 7, 2014). "Architects, Dyer and Lions to Brainstorm Ideas for MLS Stadium Design". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  15. [15]
    "Populous, Barton Malow and ICON Venue Group Announced as Core Members for New Downtown Stadium Project". Orlando City Soccer Clube. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  16. [16]
    Burney, Teresa (June 26, 2015). "New Orlando City Soccer Stadium Bidding Delayed". Growth Spotter. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  17. [17]
    "Orlando City B To Play 2017 USL Season in New Downtown Soccer Stadium". Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  18. [18]
    "Orlando City SC Announces Central Florida-Based Exploria Resorts as Stadium Naming Rights Partner". Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  19. [19]
    "Inter&Co Secures Long-Term Naming Rights for Orlando's Soccer-Specific Stadium". Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  20. [20]
    "Orlando City's home venue renamed Inter&Co Stadium". Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  21. [21]
    "Exploria Stadium to Host 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Opening Ceremony". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  22. [22]
    Wilson, Sarah. "2022 Special Olympics USA Games opening ceremonies to be held at Exploria Stadium". WFTV.
  23. [23]
    "Dyer Opens Up About Land Purchase for New MLS Stadium". WFTV. Orlando. April 17, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  24. [24]
    "Orlando City Determined to Join MLS Despite Legislation Impasse in Florida House". Major League Soccer. May 6, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  25. [25]
    Kennedy, Paul (August 9, 2013). "Mayors Line Up Behind Orlando Stadium Deal". SoccerAmerica. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  26. [26]
    Straus, Brian (September 13, 2013). "MLS Expansion Team Likely Heading Atlanta's Way". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 13, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  27. [27]
    Schlueb, Mark; Damron, David (October 22, 2013). "'We Are Going MLS!' Pro Soccer Stadium Is Coming to Orlando". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  28. [28]
    "2014–18 NCAA Championship Sites". NCAA.com. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  29. [29]
    "Women's College Cup returning to Cary, North Carolina in 2016". NCAA.com.
  30. [30]
    Hudak, Stephen (February 9, 2015). "Part of Parramore Avenue to close for soccer stadium". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  31. [31]
    "Orlando City SC Launches Season Ticket Deposit Campaign for Inaugural MLS Season". Orlando City SC. May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  32. [32]
    "Orlando City delays debut of new downtown stadium until 2017". Orlando Sentinel. January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  33. [33]
    "Lions Capture Clean Sheet Victory in Orlando City Stadium Debut". March 6, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  34. [34]
    Gaydos, Ryan (July 11, 2019). "Orlando City SC fans storm empty seats to distract NYCFC during penalty kicks". Fox News.
  35. [35]
    Poe, Julia (May 12, 2021). "Orlando City owner Flávio Augusto da Silva sells club, stadium to Minnesota Vikings owners". MSN.com via Orlando Sentinel.
  36. [36]
    wilf, Mark. "Wilf Family Completes Purchase of Orlando City Soccer Club and Orlando Pride". orlandocitysc.com. Orlando City SC. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  37. [37]
    Tenorio, Paul (July 31, 2015). "Orlando City unveils plans for new $155 million, 25,500-seat soccer stadium". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  38. [38]
    Belson, Ken (May 16, 2016). "Price for a Green Card: $500,000 Stadium Stake". The New York Times. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  39. [39]
    Bilbao, Richard (December 12, 2012). "Orlando City Soccer Talks More About Future Stadium". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  40. [40]
    Savino, Christopher (September 30, 2013). "UPDATE: Woods Bagot Releases Renderings of Proposed Orlando City SC Stadium". Business of Soccer. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  41. [41]
    "Details Released on New Orlando Soccer Stadium". WFTV. Orlando. March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  42. [42]
    "General Info". orlandocitysc.com. Orlando City SC. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  43. [43]
    Tenorio, Paul (May 29, 2015). "Orlando City to privately finance soccer stadium, pay back city". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  44. [44]
    "The Wall Effect: How Orlando's Supporters' Section Gives The Lions a Leg Up". Orlando City Soccer Club. April 12, 2017.
  45. [45]
    "Orlando City SC release renderings of new downtown stadium to be completed in 2016". Major League Soccer. June 10, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  46. [46]
    "Orlando City SC Joins Heineken Roster". orlandocitysc.com. Orlando City SC. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  47. [47]
    "Orlando City Dedicates June 18 Match to #OrlandoUnited". orlandocitysc.com. Orlando City SC. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  48. [48]
    "Orlando City SC stadium honors Pulse shooting victims". Sports Illustrated.
  49. [49]
    Wahl, Grant (October 7, 2017). "USA stars point to stout planning to cure WCQ woes". Sports Illustrated.
  50. [50]
    "Friendly Highlights: USMNT vs. Ecuador". SI.com.
  51. [51]
    Echegaray, Luis Miguel. "Zardes, Morris Shine as the USMNT Dominates vs. Canada in Nations League". Sports Illustrated.
  52. [52]
    "USA 7 – Trinidad & Tobago 0: Match Report & Stats". www.ussoccer.com.
  53. [53]
    "Larin, Davies team up to help Canada crush Bermuda in World Cup qualifier". CBC.ca.
  54. [54]
    "Jamaica v Suriname 2021 Gold Cup". CONCACAF Gold Cup. March 11, 2021.
  55. [55]
    "Costa Rica v Guadeloupe 2021 Gold Cup". CONCACAF Gold Cup. March 11, 2021.
  56. [56]
    "Guadeloupe v Jamaica 2021 Gold Cup". CONCACAF Gold Cup. March 11, 2021.
  57. [57]
    "Suriname v Costa Rica 2021 Gold Cup". CONCACAF Gold Cup. March 11, 2021.
  58. [58]
    "Costa Rica v Jamaica 2021 Gold Cup". CONCACAF Gold Cup. March 11, 2021.
  59. [59]
    "Panama v Grenada 2021 Gold Cup". CONCACAF Gold Cup. March 11, 2021.
  60. [60]
    "Christian Pulisic Hat Trick Leads U.S. Men's National Team To Brink Of World Cup Qualification After 5–1 Win Vs. Panama". www.ussoccer.com.
  61. [61]
    "U.S. Men's National Team Returns To Nations League Final Four After 1–0 Win Against El Salvador". www.ussoccer.com.
  62. [62]
    VAVEL.com (March 8, 2018). "France dominates Germany 3–0 in SheBelieves Cup". VAVEL. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  63. [63]
    "USA claims SheBelieves Cup with 1–0 win vs. England". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  64. [64]
    "'Magic' España se impone en grande a Japón en la SheBelieves Cup (3–1)". sefutbol (in Spanish). March 5, 2020.
  65. [65]
    "2020 SheBelieves Cup: USA 2 – England 0". www.ussoccer.com.
  66. [66]
    "USA 4 – Colombia 0: Match Report & Stats". www.ussoccer.com.
  67. [67]
    "USA 6 – Colombia 0: Match Report & Stats". www.ussoccer.com.
  68. [68]
    "Brazil Defeats Argentina 4–1 to Open 2021 SheBelieves Cup". www.ussoccer.com.
  69. [69]
    "2021 SheBelieves Cup: USA 1 – Canada 0 | Match Report, Stats & Standings". www.ussoccer.com.
  70. [70]
    "2021 SheBelieves Cup: USA 2 – Brazil 0 | Match Report, Stats & Standings". www.ussoccer.com.
  71. [71]
    "Sarah Stratagakis Scores in Second Half Stoppage Time as Canada Defeats Argentina 1–0 on Second Match Day of 2021 Shebelieves Cup". www.ussoccer.com.
  72. [72]
    "Debinha and Julia Score First-half Goals as Brazil Defeats Canada 2–0 to Finish 2021 Shebelieves Cup". www.ussoccer.com.
  73. [73]
    "2021 SheBelieves Cup: USA 6 – Argentina 0 | Match Report, Stats & Standings". www.ussoccer.com.
  74. [74]
    "Brazil Rides Debinha Goal To 1–0 Win Over Japan To Open The 2023 SheBelieves Cup". www.ussoccer.com.
  75. [75]
    "U.S. Women's National Team Opens 2023 SheBelieves Cup With 2–0 Win Over Canada Behind Brace From Mallory Swanson". www.ussoccer.com.
  76. [76]
    "Orlando's Exploria Stadium to Host Final Stages of 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  77. [77]
    "Montreal Impact 1, Club Olimpia 0 Concacaf Champions League Recap". www.mlssoccer.com.
  78. [78]
    "New York City FC 0, Tigres UANL 4 Concacaf Champions League Recap". www.mlssoccer.com.
  79. [79]
    "Atlanta United 1, Club America 0 Concacaf Champions League Recap". www.mlssoccer.com.
  80. [80]
    "Los Angeles FC 2, Cruz Azul 1 Concacaf Champions League Recap". www.mlssoccer.com.
  81. [81]
    "Tigres 3–0 Olimpia en vivo por las semifinales de Concachampions 2020: Partido, alineaciones y suplentes". www.goal.com.
  82. [82]
    "Los Angeles FC 3, Club América 1 Concacaf Champions League Recap". www.mlssoccer.com.
  83. [83]
    "Tigres break LAFC hearts as MLS' wait for CCL glory goes on". ESPN.com. December 23, 2020.
  84. [84]
    "Exploria Stadium to host 'The Beautiful Game' on June 23, featuring icons and legends of the global game". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  85. [85]
    "Bienvenidos al sitio Oficial del Club de Futbol Pachuca". Tuzos (in Spanish).
  86. [86]
    "River Plate derrotó 3–0 a Vasco da Gama en su último partido en la gira por los Estados Unidos". OneFootball (in Spanish).
  87. [87]
    "Exploria Stadium to host Fulham FC and Aston Villa FC in Premier League Summer Series". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  88. [88]
    "MLS All-Stars 0, Atletico Madrid 3 2019 MLS All-Star Game Recap". www.mlssoccer.com.
  89. [89]
    Murschel, Matt (May 1, 2019). "Orlando City Stadium to host Cure Bowl". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  90. [90]
    "ESPN Events Reveals 13-Game College Football Bowl Schedule for 2020–21". ESPN Press Room U.S. October 30, 2020.
  91. [91]
    "Liberty wins 2019 Cure Bowl over Georgia Southern". CollegeFootballTalk | NBC Sports. December 21, 2019.
  92. [92]
    "Coastal outlasts NIU in thrilling Cure Bowl". CBSSports.com.
  93. [93]
    "No. 23 Troy rallies past No. 22 UTSA 18–12 in Cure Bowl". The Star. December 16, 2022.
  94. [94]
    "Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra To Perform at Exploria Stadium". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  95. [95]
    "Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games". Special Olympics USA Games.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Exploria Stadium.
Preceded by Home of Orlando City SC
2017–present		 Succeeded by
none
Preceded by Home of Orlando Pride
2017–present		 Succeeded by
none
Preceded by Home of Orlando City B
2017		 Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of the NCAA Women's College Cup
2017		 Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of the MLS All-Star Game
2019		 Succeeded by
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Exploria_Stadium, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.