Orlando City will play its entire 2016 season at the Orlando Citrus Bowl, saving the debut for its new stadium for the 2017 season, the team announced Wednesday.
“We continue to make progress on our new Downtown Stadium, and we expect to begin steel installation – a major construction milestone – later this month,” Orlando City chairman Phil Rawlins said in a press release. “At that time, we will also launch our 3D seat viewer, which will allow fans to get a first glimpse inside the stadium from their new seats.
“Unfortunately, stadium construction is taking a little longer than anticipated. Therefore, in order to provide enough time, we have taken the prudent decision to play the entire 2016 season in the Orlando Citrus Bowl, and concentrate our construction efforts on being fully prepared for opening in 2017.”
There were some initial thoughts Orlando City could move stadiums in the middle of the season.
The stadium site that sits on Parramore Avenue in Downtown Orlando is still under construction. Steel installation has not begun as construction continues on the site to prepare the property for buildup.
The bad news is the delay in the stadium means the NCAA will move the Women’s College Cup from Orlando in 2016, although it will still host the national championship game and semifinals in 2017 at the Orlando City stadium.
More: Due to soccer stadium construction delay, NCAA is expected to announce Orlando will no longer host 2016 Women’s College Cup.
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) January 13, 2016
This is the smart move though.
There is no need to rush construction and play in a half-completed stadium with the season half over. The moving alone and getting accustomed to a new pitch — switching playing surfaces at that from artificial turf to real grass — would be asking a lot for a team that hopes to make the Playoffs this year.
It is frustrating to see the delays for sure — there were financing delays too before Flavio Augusto de Silva opted to pay for the stadium himself without public funds — but the stadium is still ambitious and should still be one of the best in the MLS when it is completed.
