Lion Links: 1/7/15

Guess what day it is? GUESS…WHAT…DAY…IT…IS?

You're right, it's Wednesday. No fooling around, let's just dive into your daily helping of Lion Links…

Good Job, Good Effort, Ticketmaster!

In addition to Hump Day, it's also the day the MLS schedule comes out. If you're impatient, you can find out Orlando City's home slate right away because (in case you missed it), Ticketmaster leaked it yesterday. Oops!

Show Me Orlando the Money

Yesterday Orlando City SC announced that the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) Winter National Tournament, hosted by Orlando City Soccer Club, the Seminole County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Central Florida Sports Commission, generated more than $5 million (estimated) in economic benefit for Seminole County and the surrounding areas.

The national female youth tournament, which took place on December 28-30, 2014, included thousands of participants at Seminole Soccer Complex and Sylvan Lake Park — the official training facilities for Orlando City SC and Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS).

Report: New York Red Bulls Fire Mike Petke

If you went to bed before midnight, you might have missed this bombshell from Metro New York: the Red Bulls have reportedly fired head coach Mike Petke. This (reportedly) after a season in which Petke led RBNY to an upset first-round win over Eastern Conference top seed D.C. United in the MLS Cup playoffs. Petke also led the club to the 2013 Supporters Shield.

Makes you wonder…

Yes things are a bit crazy in New York. Speaking of which…

Mix to NYCFC?

In the wake of the Lampard affair, New York City FC needs a public relations win. They’ll reportedly become approximately the 643rd club (again, that number is approximate) to try to bring USMNT midfielder Mix Diskerud to MLS. Goal.com reports that the expansion club is putting the final touches on a deal to bring the glorious-haired one to U.S. soil to play his club football.

MLS Roundup

It was a busy day in MLS yesterday. Goalkeeper Zac MacMath finally has a place to play, as the Philadelphia Union loaned him to Colorado Rapids yesterday in exchange for a second-round SuperDraft pick…Sporting Kansas City welcomed back midfielder Roger Espinoza…Seattle Sounders FC officially named Garth Lagerwey general manager…The Chicago Fire signed Brazilian striker Guly do Prado, formerly of Southampton…If the Petke thing is true, he isn’t the only member of the New York Red Bulls coaching staff to be gone. Assistant Coach Robin Fraser eschewed a one-year contract extension to sign a three-year deal with Toronto FC.

That's it for today. It was pretty busy yesterday. If you have a favorite link we missed, please clue us in below in the comments section.