sports teams have a voice in their community unlike any other and it’s my
community unlike any other and it’s my
community unlike any other and it’s my belief that they can and should use it
belief that they can and should use it
belief that they can and should use it to make their community a better place
to make their community a better place
to make their community a better place soccer’s tapped into the millennial
soccer’s tapped into the millennial
soccer’s tapped into the millennial generation unlike any other sport and it
generation unlike any other sport and it
generation unlike any other sport and it uses their method of communication
uses their method of communication
uses their method of communication social media to great effect at orlando
social media to great effect at orlando
social media to great effect at orlando city across all our platforms we have
city across all our platforms we have
city across all our platforms we have about one one and a half million
about one one and a half million
about one one and a half million followers but if we add in superstars
followers but if we add in superstars
followers but if we add in superstars like cacar and alex morgan that number
like cacar and alex morgan that number
like cacar and alex morgan that number rises to 65 million which gives us a
rises to 65 million which gives us a
rises to 65 million which gives us a very unique platform to get a message
very unique platform to get a message
very unique platform to get a message out both nationally and internationally
out both nationally and internationally
out both nationally and internationally when I came to Orlando in 2011 there’d
when I came to Orlando in 2011 there’d
when I came to Orlando in 2011 there’d been a history of failure for sports
been a history of failure for sports
been a history of failure for sports teams and we were told this will never
teams and we were told this will never
teams and we were told this will never work
work
work so we not only had to make this
so we not only had to make this
so we not only had to make this community aware that there was a new
community aware that there was a new
community aware that there was a new team in town but we also had to persuade
team in town but we also had to persuade
team in town but we also had to persuade them to come to Camping World Stadium a
them to come to Camping World Stadium a
them to come to Camping World Stadium a sixty two and a half thousand seat
sixty two and a half thousand seat
sixty two and a half thousand seat stadium built for football the other
stadium built for football the other
stadium built for football the other kind so what did we do well the first
kind so what did we do well the first
kind so what did we do well the first thing we did community is the pillar of
thing we did community is the pillar of
thing we did community is the pillar of this this actual this club and so we
this this actual this club and so we
this this actual this club and so we sent our players out into the community
sent our players out into the community
sent our players out into the community we went to events we went to youth clubs
we went to events we went to youth clubs
we went to events we went to youth clubs we went to hospitals and we made them
we went to hospitals and we made them
we went to hospitals and we made them very accessible to this community we
very accessible to this community we
very accessible to this community we also involved our supporters in every
also involved our supporters in every
also involved our supporters in every single thing that we did and social
single thing that we did and social
single thing that we did and social media became a really kind of marketing
media became a really kind of marketing
media became a really kind of marketing tool for us and our VP of Marketing had
tool for us and our VP of Marketing had
tool for us and our VP of Marketing had this great idea that we did not realize
this great idea that we did not realize
this great idea that we did not realize was going to take off quite in the way
was going to take off quite in the way
was going to take off quite in the way that it did we made it difficult to
that it did we made it difficult to
that it did we made it difficult to obtain an Orlando city magnet you could
obtain an Orlando city magnet you could
obtain an Orlando city magnet you could only get them on magnet Monday and of
only get them on magnet Monday and of
only get them on magnet Monday and of course everyone wanted one and so it
course everyone wanted one and so it
course everyone wanted one and so it became this incredible success story and
became this incredible success story and
became this incredible success story and now you see them not just in Central
now you see them not just in Central
now you see them not just in Central Florida they’re there I mean we get
Florida they’re there I mean we get
Florida they’re there I mean we get pictures from abroad with people with
pictures from abroad with people with
pictures from abroad with people with them on their their vehicles the the
them on their their vehicles the the
them on their their vehicles the the other thing we did was when we were
other thing we did was when we were
other thing we did was when we were awarded the Major League Soccer
awarded the Major League Soccer
awarded the Major League Soccer franchise the normal idea is that you
franchise the normal idea is that you
franchise the normal idea is that you have a press conference
have a press conference
have a press conference in a hotel somewhere but that’s not who
in a hotel somewhere but that’s not who
in a hotel somewhere but that’s not who we are we wanted to involve our fans and
we are we wanted to involve our fans and
we are we wanted to involve our fans and we wanted a party so we we closed off
we wanted a party so we we closed off
we wanted a party so we we closed off part of Church Street we managed to cram
part of Church Street we managed to cram
part of Church Street we managed to cram 1700 people into the venue and then we
1700 people into the venue and then we
1700 people into the venue and then we had 4,000 people partying outside with
had 4,000 people partying outside with
had 4,000 people partying outside with purple beer for quite a long time
purple beer for quite a long time
purple beer for quite a long time actually as well similarly when we were
actually as well similarly when we were
actually as well similarly when we were about to break ground on our new stadium
about to break ground on our new stadium
about to break ground on our new stadium we closed down part of the street again
we closed down part of the street again
we closed down part of the street again and our supporters came and we marched
and our supporters came and we marched
and our supporters came and we marched so we had flags banners drums smoke
so we had flags banners drums smoke
so we had flags banners drums smoke flares and we marched from from downtown
flares and we marched from from downtown
flares and we marched from from downtown and to the site of the new stadium we
and to the site of the new stadium we
and to the site of the new stadium we had special hand-painted shovels that we
had special hand-painted shovels that we
had special hand-painted shovels that we broke ground with but we’d also shipped
broke ground with but we’d also shipped
broke ground with but we’d also shipped in 25 tons of purple sand so anyone who
in 25 tons of purple sand so anyone who
in 25 tons of purple sand so anyone who was there that day managed to take home
was there that day managed to take home
was there that day managed to take home a special Orlando City container with a
a special Orlando City container with a
a special Orlando City container with a memento of the day as part of being
memento of the day as part of being
memento of the day as part of being awarded the franchise Major League
awarded the franchise Major League
awarded the franchise Major League Soccer stipulated that we had to have a
Soccer stipulated that we had to have a
Soccer stipulated that we had to have a downtown stadium and it was going to be
downtown stadium and it was going to be
downtown stadium and it was going to be a public-private partnership which is a
a public-private partnership which is a
a public-private partnership which is a you know kind of the norm in all of
you know kind of the norm in all of
you know kind of the norm in all of these things and we needed 20 million in
these things and we needed 20 million in
these things and we needed 20 million in tourist tax dollars from the county so
tourist tax dollars from the county so
tourist tax dollars from the county so it had to obviously go to a vote so we
it had to obviously go to a vote so we
it had to obviously go to a vote so we decided we would galvanize our
decided we would galvanize our
decided we would galvanize our supporters so we chose a different
supporters so we chose a different
supporters so we chose a different Commissioner each day we knew the Mayor
Commissioner each day we knew the Mayor
Commissioner each day we knew the Mayor was on board but we had to get four of
was on board but we had to get four of
was on board but we had to get four of the other six commissioners to also vote
the other six commissioners to also vote
the other six commissioners to also vote yes so we chose a commissioner each day
yes so we chose a commissioner each day
yes so we chose a commissioner each day and we asked our fans to call them email
and we asked our fans to call them email
and we asked our fans to call them email them go in person tell them why this
them go in person tell them why this
them go in person tell them why this stadium was so important which they did
stadium was so important which they did
stadium was so important which they did and then on the day of the actual vote
and then on the day of the actual vote
and then on the day of the actual vote we also galvanized the fans again and we
we also galvanized the fans again and we
we also galvanized the fans again and we said please come to the council chambers
said please come to the council chambers
said please come to the council chambers and give actual public testimony did
and give actual public testimony did
and give actual public testimony did they come they came in huge numbers this
they come they came in huge numbers this
they come they came in huge numbers this sea of purple we took over the whole of
sea of purple we took over the whole of
sea of purple we took over the whole of the council we were even in the
the council we were even in the
the council we were even in the cafeteria there were so many people
cafeteria there were so many people
cafeteria there were so many people there it was just amazing to see it was
there it was just amazing to see it was
there it was just amazing to see it was our support groups iron lion firm it was
our support groups iron lion firm it was
our support groups iron lion firm it was the ruckus it was soccer families it was
the ruckus it was soccer families it was
the ruckus it was soccer families it was businesses nonprofits that we’d we’d
businesses nonprofits that we’d we’d
businesses nonprofits that we’d we’d worked with it was obviously our staff
worked with it was obviously our staff
worked with it was obviously our staff players everyone was there the main
players everyone was there the main
players everyone was there the main council chamber was just this it was
council chamber was just this it was
council chamber was just this it was packed to the rafters there was people
packed to the rafters there was people
packed to the rafters there was people standing all around the back and we
standing all around the back and we
standing all around the back and we found out afterwards 200 people had
found out afterwards 200 people had
found out afterwards 200 people had registered to speak for two minutes
registered to speak for two minutes
registered to speak for two minutes pretty incredible it was so loud and
pretty incredible it was so loud and
pretty incredible it was so loud and noisy in there as well the people had
noisy in there as well the people had
noisy in there as well the people had got scars and people were chanting and
got scars and people were chanting and
got scars and people were chanting and yelling in fact at one point we were
yelling in fact at one point we were
yelling in fact at one point we were asked instead of cheering every single
asked instead of cheering every single
asked instead of cheering every single time could we do a little silent pretty
time could we do a little silent pretty
time could we do a little silent pretty funny to see actually a whole audience
funny to see actually a whole audience
funny to see actually a whole audience just doing this little quiet fist pump
just doing this little quiet fist pump
just doing this little quiet fist pump so after two hours the mayor called a
so after two hours the mayor called a
so after two hours the mayor called a recess and she implored us to call off
recess and she implored us to call off
recess and she implored us to call off the fans so we tried but they were
the fans so we tried but they were
the fans so we tried but they were determined to have their say and it was
determined to have their say and it was
determined to have their say and it was honestly one of the most incredible
honestly one of the most incredible
honestly one of the most incredible outpouring of fan loyalty that I’ve ever
outpouring of fan loyalty that I’ve ever
outpouring of fan loyalty that I’ve ever seen
seen
seen and I they really believed that they
and I they really believed that they
and I they really believed that they could affect the result and that this
could affect the result and that this
could affect the result and that this was something they could do for their
was something they could do for their
was something they could do for their club so three hours later and by this
club so three hours later and by this
club so three hours later and by this time by the way we were passing candy up
time by the way we were passing candy up
time by the way we were passing candy up and down the rows to try and keep
and down the rows to try and keep
and down the rows to try and keep everyone’s energy levels up we’d been
everyone’s energy levels up we’d been
everyone’s energy levels up we’d been there a long time if people were
there a long time if people were
there a long time if people were flagging but it came to the vote and we
flagging but it came to the vote and we
flagging but it came to the vote and we we did get the vote it was five to two
we did get the vote it was five to two
we did get the vote it was five to two against and so afterwards of course
against and so afterwards of course
against and so afterwards of course spontaneous parties broke out all over
spontaneous parties broke out all over
spontaneous parties broke out all over Orlando and that we went and visited
Orlando and that we went and visited
Orlando and that we went and visited with with the fans in one of the pubs
with with the fans in one of the pubs
with with the fans in one of the pubs and when I was talking to them what they
and when I was talking to them what they
and when I was talking to them what they were saying was if that vote hadn’t gone
were saying was if that vote hadn’t gone
were saying was if that vote hadn’t gone through and I hadn’t spoken I would have
through and I hadn’t spoken I would have
through and I hadn’t spoken I would have felt I would never forgive him myself so
felt I would never forgive him myself so
felt I would never forgive him myself so it was it was all of that kind of
it was it was all of that kind of
it was it was all of that kind of community outreach came back to us in
community outreach came back to us in
community outreach came back to us in encounter with interest so after that
encounter with interest so after that
encounter with interest so after that various funding things happened that
various funding things happened that
various funding things happened that meant it was going to drag on and on and
meant it was going to drag on and on and
meant it was going to drag on and on and on and so our majority owner took a very
on and so our majority owner took a very
on and so our majority owner took a very brave decision and he decided to fund
brave decision and he decided to fund
brave decision and he decided to fund the stadium privately
the stadium privately
the stadium privately just pretty unheard of in the sports
just pretty unheard of in the sports
just pretty unheard of in the sports world but it was great for us because it
world but it was great for us because it
world but it was great for us because it meant it was our stadium and we had
meant it was our stadium and we had
meant it was our stadium and we had autonomy and we could do what we wanted
autonomy and we could do what we wanted
autonomy and we could do what we wanted with our stadium and what’s what’s now
with our stadium and what’s what’s now
with our stadium and what’s what’s now happened has also meant it kind of toned
happened has also meant it kind of toned
happened has also meant it kind of toned down any of the objections that there
down any of the objections that there
down any of the objections that there were to the site of the stadium and in
were to the site of the stadium and in
were to the site of the stadium and in fact what it’s done is it’s it’s it’s
fact what it’s done is it’s it’s it’s
fact what it’s done is it’s it’s it’s given growth and rejuvenation to that
given growth and rejuvenation to that
given growth and rejuvenation to that area it’s an underserved area our two
area it’s an underserved area our two
area it’s an underserved area our two colleges are coming in UCF in Valencia
colleges are coming in UCF in Valencia
colleges are coming in UCF in Valencia they’re building a downtown campus
they’re building a downtown campus
they’re building a downtown campus there’s a new school in the area there
there’s a new school in the area there
there’s a new school in the area there hasn’t been one there for 50 years and
hasn’t been one there for 50 years and
hasn’t been one there for 50 years and that opens this fall and there’s also at
that opens this fall and there’s also at
that opens this fall and there’s also at least a billion dollars in in other
least a billion dollars in in other
least a billion dollars in in other projects that are going to come to that
projects that are going to come to that
projects that are going to come to that area so what are we doing with the space
area so what are we doing with the space
area so what are we doing with the space that we have well the first thing we do
that we have well the first thing we do
that we have well the first thing we do is we use our foundation to improve the
is we use our foundation to improve the
is we use our foundation to improve the health and wellness of our community
health and wellness of our community
health and wellness of our community especially in those underserved areas
especially in those underserved areas
especially in those underserved areas where childhood obesity and all of its
where childhood obesity and all of its
where childhood obesity and all of its knock-on effects are prevalent we build
knock-on effects are prevalent we build
knock-on effects are prevalent we build safe places to play their size of a
safe places to play their size of a
safe places to play their size of a tennis court purple of course there are
tennis court purple of course there are
tennis court purple of course there are many pitches and then we bring our
many pitches and then we bring our
many pitches and then we bring our programming there as well and that
programming there as well and that
programming there as well and that teaches not only soccer skills it
teaches not only soccer skills it
teaches not only soccer skills it teaches those healthy lifestyle choices
teaches those healthy lifestyle choices
teaches those healthy lifestyle choices too we also invest in community gardens
too we also invest in community gardens
too we also invest in community gardens so residents are actually able to grow
so residents are actually able to grow
so residents are actually able to grow their own fresh food and we use our
their own fresh food and we use our
their own fresh food and we use our players to reinforce all of those
players to reinforce all of those
players to reinforce all of those healthy messages we bring them into our
healthy messages we bring them into our
healthy messages we bring them into our programs to help those children but more
programs to help those children but more
programs to help those children but more than that we’ve become an advocate for
than that we’ve become an advocate for
than that we’ve become an advocate for equal rights it’s something that’s
equal rights it’s something that’s
equal rights it’s something that’s become very important to us we’ve had a
become very important to us we’ve had a
become very important to us we’ve had a pride night every year at our stadium
pride night every year at our stadium
pride night every year at our stadium but we’ve also funded the Pride Parade I
but we’ve also funded the Pride Parade I
but we’ve also funded the Pride Parade I think there was 50,000 people there last
think there was 50,000 people there last
think there was 50,000 people there last year and we’ve gotten involved in LGBTQ
year and we’ve gotten involved in LGBTQ
year and we’ve gotten involved in LGBTQ organizations and our response to the
organizations and our response to the
organizations and our response to the pulse tragedy in 2016 was to provide an
pulse tragedy in 2016 was to provide an
pulse tragedy in 2016 was to provide an avenue to begin that healing process we
avenue to begin that healing process we
avenue to begin that healing process we honored the victims families the first
honored the victims families the first
honored the victims families the first responders the pool staff we had a game
responders the pool staff we had a game
responders the pool staff we had a game six days after the tragedy had happened
six days after the tragedy had happened
six days after the tragedy had happened and so this was an opportunity for our
and so this was an opportunity for our
and so this was an opportunity for our community to come together so we had
community to come together so we had
community to come together so we had everyone down on the field we actually
everyone down on the field we actually
everyone down on the field we actually put 49 ray
put 49 ray
put 49 ray balloons up in one of the stands to
balloons up in one of the stands to
balloons up in one of the stands to represent those taken from us the
represent those taken from us the
represent those taken from us the players came out to all you need is love
players came out to all you need is love
players came out to all you need is love not the usual anthem and we stopped the
not the usual anthem and we stopped the
not the usual anthem and we stopped the game in the 49th minute which is
game in the 49th minute which is
game in the 49th minute which is something for a moment silence which is
something for a moment silence which is
something for a moment silence which is something that’s never been done before
something that’s never been done before
something that’s never been done before and our fans are incredible they’ve made
and our fans are incredible they’ve made
and our fans are incredible they’ve made signs and banners thousands of rainbow
signs and banners thousands of rainbow
signs and banners thousands of rainbow flags I don’t think I’ve ever seen so
flags I don’t think I’ve ever seen so
flags I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many and they actually managed to
many and they actually managed to
many and they actually managed to organize the stadium into a rainbow
organize the stadium into a rainbow
organize the stadium into a rainbow itself where each section was a
itself where each section was a
itself where each section was a different color which is such an amazing
different color which is such an amazing
different color which is such an amazing an amazing thing to see and since then
an amazing thing to see and since then
an amazing thing to see and since then we’ve obviously memorialized the 49 in
we’ve obviously memorialized the 49 in
we’ve obviously memorialized the 49 in our new stadium we have 49 rainbow seats
our new stadium we have 49 rainbow seats
our new stadium we have 49 rainbow seats in one of the stands we also designed a
in one of the stands we also designed a
in one of the stands we also designed a t-shirt that had a rainbow heart on the
t-shirt that had a rainbow heart on the
t-shirt that had a rainbow heart on the front with the hashtag Orlando United
front with the hashtag Orlando United
front with the hashtag Orlando United and that raised over half a million
and that raised over half a million
and that raised over half a million dollars for the one Orlando fund and we
dollars for the one Orlando fund and we
dollars for the one Orlando fund and we also have received awards for our
also have received awards for our
also have received awards for our response to to pulse including the ESPN
response to to pulse including the ESPN
response to to pulse including the ESPN inspire award it’s given to people and
inspire award it’s given to people and
inspire award it’s given to people and teams who take a risk and who used their
teams who take a risk and who used their
teams who take a risk and who used their position in sports to help the
position in sports to help the
position in sports to help the disadvantaged it actually came with a
disadvantaged it actually came with a
disadvantaged it actually came with a hundred thousand dollar check which
hundred thousand dollar check which
hundred thousand dollar check which we’re going to give back to the
we’re going to give back to the
we’re going to give back to the nonprofit’s that are still working with
nonprofit’s that are still working with
nonprofit’s that are still working with those affected by pulse we will continue
those affected by pulse we will continue
those affected by pulse we will continue to be a champion and a voice for those
to be a champion and a voice for those
to be a champion and a voice for those oppressed and marginalized communities
oppressed and marginalized communities
oppressed and marginalized communities and we hope that you will join us
and we hope that you will join us
and we hope that you will join us [Applause]
”
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