Reeves' Army

Orlando City manager Adrian Heath spoke to Premier League side Everton F.C.’s website in a video debuted today. (video link requires free registration; they have USMNT members Tim Howard and Landon Donovan, so it’s okay)

The Lions’ manager was a midfielder for the People’s Club throughout the 1980s, and has an impressive resume. He help them to First Division titles in 1985 and 1987 (runners-up in 1986), the FA Cup in 1984 (runners-up in 1985 and 1986), the Charity Shield in FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS (1984-87), and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (predecessor to the modern UEFA Europa League) in 1985. They were also runners-up in the League Cup (currently the Carling Cup) in 1984, and also in the one-off Football League Super Cup in 1986.

After reflecting on visiting his old stomping grounds, which were recently renewed when he first got there and have been upgraded recently, he talked about his place in the U.S. He made it clear that Orlando City wants to be in MLS in 2014. Which, right now, would mean team #20.  He specifically mentioned the visit MLS has planned in late February.

He also said the team’s new HQ is by a pub whose owner supports Everton, so he’s been getting a lot of free food lately. He also noted that Orlando is very rich in Premier League fans, and he’s found plenty of Everton fans in particular

United Soccer Leagues has announced that the Ocala Stampede will join the USL Premier Development League in 2012.

The team will be owned by Ted Strawbridge, head pastor of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, and Bill and Burt Reed. Bill Reed is a CEO of Cardiovascular Insights; in short, among other things, he builds cardiac bypass machines.

The team will announce coaching and stadium soon.

As you can see here, the website is finally back up. Unfortunately, I lost all my linked-up images. I will see about re-uploading them eventually. Maybe.

Acropolis, an advertising and PR management company based in Orlando, has announced that it has taken Orlando City as a client. And it has some pretty bold statements already.

Acropolis is a full-service brand management agency that uses a process they call “Brandsight 360″ to manage all aspects of public relations; everything from brand design, to advertising, to social media management. Among their clients include The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Lucasfilm, Arby’s, the University of Florida, Valencia College and McDonald’s.

Their announcement includes mentions of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic (Disney is also a client), and City’s MLS aspirations. In fact, they go so far as to say their goal is to have Orlando City be Major League Soccer’s 20th franchise.

We’ll see about that.

Orlando City is about to finish the sale prices for season tickets.

Tomorrow is the final business day for the discounted season ticket prices. The supporters’ section is currently $150, the sideline ends are $199, and the midfield sections are $259. In addition, youth soccer players get tickets at any section for $99 each. After Christmas, season ticket prices will rise.

Make sure you get them tomorrow by calling 855-675-2489.

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Graham Zusi has been called up to the U.S. men’s national team for the first time.

Men’s head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named 20 teams to the full roster, including five players seeking their first cap. Twelve MLS sides are represented in the squad. Six players are coming over from Europe, including Brek Shea, who is training with Arsenal right now.

As for Zusi, an alumnus of Central Florida Kraze, this is doubtlessly the reward for his epic 2011 campaign, where he came of age for Sporting Kansas City and struck a 2011 MLS Goal of the Year candidate.

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In a bit of an aside, Philadelphia Union has announced a travel package for their fans to come to Orlando for their preseason training, including Orlando City’s 2011 preseason opener.

The three-night hotel package, being organized through TicketLeap by Union’s primary supporters’ group, the Sons of Ben, including hotel stay at the Sheraton Downtown Orlando, busing to practice events in Deltona, hotel transportation to the game on February 18, and game tickets. Air transportation to Orlando is not included.

The ticket packages for Orlando City are now available through the Orlando City ticket office. Of course, the game is included in season ticket packages.

The USL is holding its Annual General Meeting in Clearwater Beach this weekend. Last night, Orlando City was awarded Organization of the Year and the Marketing Award for 2011.

Further events this weekend include organizing the schedules for PDL, W-League and USL Pro on Sunday. Earlier this week, prior to the meeting proper, organizations forming to begin play next year received training.

The Rowdies were here, the Rowdies were there… and now they’re finally back.

Over a year after the NASL team was forced to drop “Rowdies” from “FC Tampa Bay” by Classic Ink, their ownership group, Citrus Sports Group, has acquired the trademark. This allows the team to restore the name “Tampa Bay Rowdies” in the same way that Miami FC was able to buy and use the Fort Lauderdale Strikers trademark.

There are now six classic NASL identities active in pro soccer: the two in the current D2 NASL, and four in MLS (San Jose Earthquakes, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps).

For the time being, the Rowdies logotype from the 1970s will be its shield.

Hopefully this means we will see a Strikers-Rowdies-Lions triad rivalry someday.

The Orlando Sentinel is showing off the Freedom High School chorus singing an original song, “The 12 Days of Central Florida Christmas“. (Video in link)

Full spoiler list after cut (and there IS a reason I’m posting this)

(more…)

Orlando City announced today that they have acquired controlling interest in the Florida Soccer Alliance youth soccer club and its training facility, the Seminole Soccer Complex in West Sanford. The youth club, which includes several boys and girls USL Super-Y League teams, will re-brand as Orlando City Youth Soccer Club

As part of the acquisition, Orlando City now controls the Seminole Soccer Complex on Markham Road in West Sanford. The facility has eleven fields, including a 1,500-seat stadium. Orlando City will move their training there; last year, they did their training in Deltona.

Seminole Soccer Complex has, at various points in the past, been the home facility of the Central Florida Kraze. Last year, they played most of their home games at Showalter Field in Winter Park, though they played two at the Citrus Bowl, and one at Cahall-Sandspur Field at Rollins College.

Orlando City is now a unified soccer development structure within the United Soccer Leagues, with teams at various levels of the Super-Y Leagues, a PDL team, and USL Pro.

Orlando City S.C. has announced that their sophomore season will launch on February 18, 2012, at the Citrus Bowl with their preseason friendly against Philadelphia Union. The match is the second of four annual preseason meetings as Union trains in Orlando.

As you might recall, Orlando City started this party off with a bang last year, stealing a 1-0 win in their first ever match last February 19.

This year, Union has added to its team with U.S. national team player Freddy Adu, in addition to French-American star striker Sebastien Le Toux, American defender Danny Califf and Colombian international goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon.

The game will be included in the 2012 season ticket package. If it goes like last year, Orlando City will probably have its select-a-seat event for season ticket holders prior to the game.

If you wish to purchase individual seats, 4-seat family packs are available for the holidays for purchase through the Orlando City team office (855-675-2489). Among them, you can get four tickets and four team scarves for $100. I believe the scarves are normally $20, so that would be a steal. There are also cheaper packages for the game, starting at $50. It’s not available on Ticketmaster yet, so I don’t know what single-ticket prices for the game are yet.

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As stated this weekend, a major announcement is forthcoming from the team later today. Stay tuned…