Photo : Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel

It’s an exciting time for everyone involved with Orlando City SC.

Presentations are currently being made to Orange County by Orlando City officials to finalize a stadium plan to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to Orlando, the last step before entering final negotiations with the MLS.

Supporters showed up with numbers on Tuesday in the club’s first public presentation to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, watching Orlando City President Phil Rawlins make his case to finalize the financing structure of a multi-purpose soccer stadium in downtown Orlando.

Rawlins addressed multiple benefits of MLS in Orlando, including economic impact ($1.2 billion over 30 years*), bringing international matches and MLS All-Star games, signing of a ‘Brazilian Beckham’ Designated Player and much more.

Over half the room wore City purple in support, backing Rawlins’ presentation to bring a second major league franchise to Central Florida. He touched upon multiple points throughout the 20 minute presentation, including filling a void of MLS in the Southeastern United States.

“There is a vacuum (of MLS teams) in the Southeast,” Rawlins said. “We aim to fill that vacuum. We’re helping elevate Orlando’s brand, bringing economic impact to this community like no team has ever done.”

Since the club’s operations began in early 2011, the main goal has always been to land a MLS franchise for the Central Florida area. The public discussions with Orange County move Orlando City one step closer to doing so.

“The market here is proven for top-level soccer,” Rawlins said. “We have a great chance to bring a second major-league franchise to the area. Orlando deserves a second major-league team.”

The road is almost completed on the path to bring MLS to Orlando, with Friday the second of two public workshops in which the club can make its case to complete a financing plan using Tourist Development Tax (TDT) dollars. Unlike Tuesday, Rawlins will discuss the $20 million from the TDT with the Tourist Development Council. The Council will ultimately give recommendations to the Board of Commissioners, upon which they will vote.

That vote on the $20 million of TDT is expected at a later date.

The public meeting will be held in the County Administration Building, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The club is again asking you to wear your #PurplePride and come out in support one more time. It’s the final stretch to bring MLS to Orlando.

Will you be there?

Click here to join the event.

*Based off CS&L study