Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City’s Home Stadium Gets New Name

The new name for the home of the Lions and Pride is kind of cringe but the partnership will be a positive for OCSC.

Published

11 months ago

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Exploria Stadium is no more. Orlando City Stadium is long gone. The next time you step into the purple palace on Church Street in Parramore, chances are you’ll be walking into Inter&Co Stadium. Yes, you read that correctly. The Lions and Pride will play in a building that shares part of its name with Orlando City’s southern, in-state rivals.

The club has entered into a long-term naming rights agreement with the financial and digital commerce services company — one that many of you may not have ever heard of before (it’s based in Brazil) unless you’ve seen its previous promotions at the stadium. It is a “founding partner” on the Orlando City partners page. The deal was officially announced today at a press conference at the stadium.

In September, Inter&Co became the club’s official financial institution of both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. The Brazilian-based company is the club’s first international partner.

Orlando City President of Business Operations Jarrod Dillon said that the initial partnership grew into the current stadium naming rights agreement. There wasn’t a widespread search for a new stadium name sponsor. Inter&Co leadership, he said, experienced firsthand the passion the city had for both the MLS and NWSL teams, wanted to be a bigger part of it, and asked how they could make it happen. That led to the discussions that eventually culminated in today’s announcement.

“It’s only fitting that as we enter our 10th season in the MLS here in Orlando and ninth in the NWSL that we would partner for the next decade with a global company, not only committed to our community, but with a shared vision for the future,” Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride Owner and Chairman Mark Wilf said in a club press release. “We are truly excited about what we will build together, enhancing the fan experience in the venue and further connecting our soccer cultures in meaningful ways.”

Who or What Is Inter&Co?

In addition to being the holding company of Inter Group, it is the first financial institution with Latin-American roots to own the naming rights of a major stadium in the U.S. Based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, it holds all of Banco Inter’s shares. (Banco Inter is a large, Brazilian bank.) Inter bills its digital financial services platform as a “super app” which sounds fancier than a normal app, but that simply means it combines multiple services into one platform. It claims to provide financial and digital commerce services to more than 30 million customers. What services? Banking, investments, credit, insurance, and cross-border services.

The company has other soccer-based relationships with Clube Atlético Mineiro, Athletico Paranaense, and Fortaleza Esporte Clube. Its sister company, MRV, has naming rights to the MRV Arena in Belo Horizonte.

“I think one area that’s going to be exciting for fans is the synergies with soccer, and soccer leadership,” Dillon said. “There’s not a lot of partnerships on the business side that necessarily soccer and business are kind of talking about together and strategizing around. This happened to be one. Inter&Co has, I would say significant history of partnerships with major Brazilian top flight clubs. They could have partnered with anybody in the world — you know, EPL, Barcelona, Real Madrid, these clubs, like they could have partnered with anybody. And for us to know that we’re working with them, that that’s how much they believe in Orlando City and Orlando Pride, in our region, and our city, and our community is really an honor.”

Inter, per the club’s press release, will provide Orlando soccer fans with exclusive access to as-yet unnamed products on the company’s app as well as rewards, perks, and unique stadium experiences. There are also plans to bring more cultural and music events to the stadium, including a post-game concert for ticketholders following an Orlando City match this season. There is no word yet on the musical act, but Dillon said an agreement is nearing completion.

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

What It Means for Orlando City/Orlando Pride

According to the club, the company has already started to make technology upgrades to the stadium. These include new LED lighting, a new video board with upgraded resolution, a new LED video wall in the West Club, and new television monitors in the suites, premium spaces, concession stands, and lower-level concourse. There are also plans for new interactive concourse displays, Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, 5G antennas for improved cell service, and new hospitality options.

It also means that if you’re on social media, you will likely be extra annoyed at all the jokes that write themselves if and when Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami wins at the newly renamed stadium against Orlando City.

“It absolutely was a conversation point with our executive team and soccer operations and business operations,” Dillon said about the coincidence of having “Inter” written on the side of the club’s stadium. “I think, essentially, where we landed is we just really felt like we’re going to give our fans the benefit of the doubt to understand all the great things that this partnership is going to bring to our club, for business, for soccer, to help provide the resources for us to continue to be competitive, to continue to win, to continue to pour in those resources to both clubs on the pitch and off the pitch. And we really feel as we go through this, that all the benefits far outweigh that.”

It’s obviously great for the club to find a naming rights partner, and it’s not always easy to do that. It helps the club financially and the technology amenities Inter promises will benefit fans.

But the name that goes on the front (and side, and top) of the stadium matters. It may not matter to everyone what it’s called. However, most people prefer a “cool” name (we’re still stanning Publix Park and pining for a rotating lion statue out front…and at least it’s not a shady crypto or NFT company, a pyramid scheme or…ahem…a timeshare firm). Many fans would at least settle for a name that’s not embarrassing. The new name isn’t exactly cool (it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, and the lack of spaces in the way it’s stylized is annoying). And while not outright embarrassing, it is at least in the neighborhood of it to have part of the name of the club’s biggest rival so prominently displayed. The fan banter will be insufferable if Orlando City loses at home to its southern neighbors.

Dillon said this naming thing could even help intensify the rivalry.

“I am as competitive as anybody else,” Dillon said. “This does not give our rival any competitive advantage. What matters is going out and playing and our fans and supporters being in the crowd, supporting the players. We just really believe that our fans are going to understand the greater good when they see all the different elements of this partnership and what it’s going to bring resource-wise and allow us to hopefully go out and do for both City and Pride.”

If it helps you think about it this way, at least the stadium isn’t being named after fellow club “founding partner” and noted fan-fleecing firm Ticketmaster. And we’ll all need to get used to it, as the partnership is a 10-year agreement.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Orlando City

2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Jack Lynn

The young striker played a career high in minutes for Orlando City and played in all four
competitions.

Published

10 hours ago

on

December 11, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Jack Lynn joined Orlando City through the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, when he was selected in the first round by the Lions with the No. 18 overall pick out of Notre Dame. He primarily played with OCB during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, scoring 15 goals in 2022 and 19 in 2023 while earning the MLS NEXT Pro MVP for that season. He was a depth player for most of the 2024 season with Orlando City, but late in the season he returned to playing more frequently with OCB, and quickly found his goal-scoring form once again with the Young Lions.

Let’s take a look back at Lynn’s 2024 season.

Statistical Breakdown

After two seasons of double-digit goal scoring in MLS NEXT Pro, the young forward looked to be a leading candidate to serve as the backup to Duncan McGuire, and in the opening few months he was frequently in the game day squad. However, the signing of Luis Muriel meant that he often was an unused substitute as the Lions used McGuire and Muriel as their strikers. Ramiro Enrique then returned from a prolonged absence and took over the starting spot with McGuire as the primary sub off the bench, and in the second half of the season, Lynn did not dress for Orlando City as frequently. He got some starts for OCB and scored four goals and had one assist in his eight games played with the Young Lions.

For Orlando City, Lynn appeared primarily in MLS regular-season games, making 11 appearances with two starts, playing 253 minutes. He took six shots, putting three on target and scoring two goals. He passed at a 66.7% completion percentage but did not have any key passes or assists. On the defensive side deuces were wild, as he won two tackles, made two blocks and had two clearances. He committed five fouls, drew two on the opposition, and was not booked.

Lynn also made one appearance late in the Lions’ final MLS playoff match, coming in for two minutes and recording just one touch of the ball, with no shots, passes attempted or defensive actions, and he did not receive a booking.

During Concacaf Champions Cup play, the Notre Dame product came off the bench in both games against Cavalry FC, playing 21 total minutes without a goal contribution, recording one shot that was off target, completing all three of his passes, and suffering one foul. He did not contribute any defensive actions or get booked.

Lynn participated in one Leagues Cup match, subbing in against CF Montréal. He played 12 minutes and did not have a goal contribution or take any shots, but he completed both of his passes, with one being a key pass. On the defensive side, he made two recoveries and committed one foul, but he wasn’t booked.

Best Game

The 24-year-old striker earned his first-ever starting nod for Orlando City on March 23 against Austin FC, and in the 42nd minute, he scored his first MLS goal. He timed his run perfectly to get wide open at the back post and finished with a powerful header off a cross from Dagur Dan Thórhallsson to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

Lynn went on to play 73 minutes, completing 10 of his 13 passes (76.9%) and adding one additional off-target shot. He contributed a tackle and a clearance on defense. Orlando City won the game 2-0, making Lynn’s goal in the opening half the game-winner. Head Coach Óscar Pareja said he was pleased with Lynn’s performance, praising him in the post-game press conference:

“(Jack) is a player who patiently has been waiting (for) his opportunity,” Pareja said. “I could say that maybe he should have more games at this point with the way he has performed in the second group and what he has achieved as an individual. He’s very lethal and he has goals. Today, he opened the game. Jack’s discipline and constant effort has paid off and we’re happy.”

2024 Final Grade

With only 288 minutes on the field across all competitions in 2024, Lynn did not play enough minutes to get a grade for the season, receiving an incomplete from The Mane Land staff. Still, he showed that he was capable of contributing when called upon to play first-team minutes.

2025 Outlook

After watching how prolific Lynn was in MLS NEXT Pro in 2023, and then once again this season when he returned to play a few matches with OCB, Lynn has clearly proven that he is above the level of play in that league. In limited minutes at the MLS level, he has shown flashes, but based on the substitution patterns as the season went along, it was clear that he was at best the third option at striker. Orlando City appears to be bringing back both Enrique and McGuire, so while they picked up Lynn’s option for 2025 season, I expect that it will be another season similar to 2024, where he is a depth player who primarily comes in off the bench, if he comes in at all.

I believe that Lynn is an MLS-caliber player, as he is an excellent finisher of the “fox in the box” ilk, but my projection is that 2025 will look similar to 2024 and he will be fighting for minutes off the bench at the MLS level.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/11/24

Orlando City’s protected players, Orlando Pride roster update, the USMNT is returning to Inter&Co Stadium, and more.

Published

13 hours ago

on

December 11, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The season might be over, but there’s still plenty of news to be found. I’m glad that we have all the movies and specials to watch since there are no MLS or NWSL matches. There are quite a few that my family watch each year including Elf, Scrooged, and of course, Die Hard. Let me know your favorites in the comments below. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Protected List Released

The addition of San Diego SC to MLS means another expansion draft this off-season. Yesterday, Orlando City released its protected players list. There are a total of 19 players on the list, though seven of those are automatically protected due to either Homegrown or Generation Adidas status. San Diego will be able to pick up to five players from across the league, but only one from any given club. There aren’t many surprises in which players Orlando City chose to protect.

Pride End-of-Season Roster Update

Following a historic season that saw the club win both the NWSL Shield and the 2024 NWSL Cup, the Pride have released their end of season roster update. We already knew that Celia, Carrie Lawrence, and Megan Montefusco retired. Given how the club works its contracts, often re-signing players during the season, there weren’t a lot of surprises. Marta and Evelina Duljan were the two players out of contract, and we now know that Duljan won’t be returning, while the club is negotiating a deal that would keep Marta in Orlando.

USMNT Returning to Inter&Co Stadium

The USMNT is heading back to the City Beautiful, as the team will play Costa Rica Jan. 22 at Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff for the match will be 7 p.m., allowing fans in the Orlando area to make it after work. It will be the second match in Florida, as the Americans will take on Venezuela Jan. 18 at Chase Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale. Pre-sale tickets went on sale Tuesday, and ticket sales for the general public start Friday.

USWNT vs. Brazil

If you were hoping for a rematch of the 2024 Women’s World Cup final between the USWNT and the Brazilian Women’s National Team, you are in luck. The two teams will square off on April 5 and April 8, 2025 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and at PayPal Park in San Jose, respectively. The match at SoFi Stadium will be the first soccer match played in the venue, which will also host matches for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • It’s no surprise to those of us who work with the Pride regularly that Jackie Maynard, Lucas Medeiros, and the rest of Orlando’s comms staff was named the first-ever NWSL Communications Team of the Year winner. We congratulate Jackie and her team and look forward to continuing to work with a great group of professionals.
  • Take a trip down memory lane with this compilation of Facundo Torres’ goals from 2024.
  • Today, FIFA will award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia. The circumstances leading up to this “decision” are exactly as forthright, transparent, and without any hint of shenanigans as one expects from FIFA. Give me a minute, my eyes got stuck in the back of my head because of how hard I rolled them.
  • In related news, Norway plans to protest the decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia and will abstain on the basis that not enough has been done to protect human rights at the event.
  • Orlando City wasn’t the only team to drop its list of protected rosters. Here are the lists for every MLS club.
  • Plenty of teams were in action in the UEFA Champions League Tuesday. Liverpool won its sixth consecutive first round match 1-0 over Girona, and Mbappe scored and got injured in Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Atalanta.

That will do it for today. Keep checking in for our Season in Review pieces for both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/10/24

Facundo Torres linked with move to Palmeiras, Pride players in FIFPRO Women’s World 11, Amanda Allen suffers injury, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

December 10, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone. I hope your week is getting off to a good start and that you’re on top of any Christmas shopping that you still need to do, because I’m just now realizing that I’ve done exactly zero of mine. Alas, the only way out is through. As usual, we have a lot to talk through this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Facundo Torres Linked With Palmeiras

Tom Bogert reported on Monday evening that Orlando City has agreed to a deal with Brazilian club Palmeiras for the transfer of Facundo Torres. While Bogert says the two clubs have reached an agreement, the transfer is still pending as Torres and Palmeiras still need to agree on personal terms. While no price tag was given, the fee would reportedly eclipse the $9.5 million fee that West Bromwich Albion paid for Daryl Dike, which is OCSC’s current outbound transfer record. Torres is the club’s record signing, as he joined from Penarol for roughly $7.5 million, and has been central to the team’s success ever since. We will bring you more from this story as it develops.

Familiar Faces in FIFPRO Women’s World 11

FIFA announced the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11 on Monday and there are two familiar faces in the lineup, as Marta and Barbra Banda were named to the team. This is the third time in Marta’s career that she has been chosen for the award, which is the only global player award decided exclusively by the players themselves. Banda is included in the team for the first time, with this also being the very first time that an African player has made the team. Both players had incredible seasons for the Orlando Pride and were instrumental in the team winning its first two pieces of silverware. Congratulations to both for all their hard work and justified recognition!

Amanda Allen Suffers Injury

The Orlando Pride announced on Monday that forward Amanda Allen has suffered a torn labrum in her right shoulder and will undergo surgery to repair it. As a result, Allen’s loan with USL Super League team Lexington Sporting Club has been terminated, and she has been placed on the season-ending injury list. It’s a tough break for Allen, who became the youngest player to debut for the team back during the 2023 season, as she was getting good minutes and experience on loan. We wish her all the best and hope to see her back on the field soon!

Christian Pulisic Injury News

AC Milan announced on Monday that United States Men’s National Team forward Christian Pulisic has torn a muscle in his right calf, and will spend time on the sideline. The winger went off injured during the team’s game on Friday, and Milan has said that he could be on the shelf until January. While the USMNT won’t play a competitive game until March’s Concacaf Nations League semifinals, the timing is a tough blow for Pulisic, who has had an excellent start to the season with eight goal contributions in Serie A and three UEFA Champions League goals. Here’s hoping that he makes a speedy recovery.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will take part in games this week, so make sure you get everything marked down on your calendar. Things get started later today as Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Celtic take on Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Malik Tillman, and PSV Eindhoven face Brest in the same competition. Tomorrow has Yunus Musah and AC Milan hosting Crvena Zvezda in the Champions League, while Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus welcome Manchester City to Allianz Stadium. Things then finish up on Friday as Mark McKenzie and Toulouse host St-Etienne in Ligue 1 play.

MLS Transfer Happenings

We have a lot of MLS transfer moves and roster changes to cover this morning. Cruzeiro has declined the purchase option on FC Cincinnati winger Alvaro Barreal, meaning he has returned to the club following the conclusion of his loan. Expansion side San Diego FC has acquired Tomas Angel and a second-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft from LAFC in exchange for $200,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM). Austin FC also bought out Gyasi Zardes’ contract, making the 10th-highest scorer in MLS history a free agent.

The Colorado Rapids signed center backs Ian Murphy and Chidozie Awaziem from FC Cincinnati in exchange for $1 million in General Allocation Money. Tom Bogert is also reporting that Bournemouth is finalizing a deal to sign American center back Matai Akinmboni from D.C. United in a deal worth up to $2.5 million. Finally, in the wildest piece of MLS transfer news I’ve seen in awhile, I simply present the following tweet.

Free Kicks

That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Trending