(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
In just its first active year, Orlando City Stadium will host a championship match.
National Women’s Soccer League managing director of operations Amanda Duffy, Orlando City SC majority owner Flávio Augusto da Silva and Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer jointly announced the 2017 NWSL Championship will be played at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday.
The announcement was made during halftime of the Pride’s home-opener against the Washington Spirit, the Pride’s first match in Orlando City Stadium.
“The appetite for soccer in Orlando is at an all-time high, and we are thrilled to contribute to this movement by bringing the NWSL Championship to Orlando,” da Silva said, per a Pride press release. “A huge driving force to invest in our stadium was to bring this community the best soccer opportunities possible, not only with our three teams but with major events and matches around the world.”
For Duffy and the NWSL, Orlando is an ideal location for the league’s fifth championship match.
“The city of Orlando has proven its overwhelming support for the sport and for the Orlando Pride,” Duffy said, per a Pride press release. “We are confident all the necessary components are in place for a successful and historic championship to conclude the league’s fifth season of operation.”
So far, the Pride are 0-1-1 with one point, following a 1-1 draw with the Washington Spirit. Pride rookie Danica Evans scored Orlando’s first-ever goal in the new stadium in the 87th minute to salvage a draw with the Spirit.
“Investing in our women’s team is a priority for our club this year,” da Silva said. “The team is entering its second year in the league, and we’ve recently brought two outstanding athletes in Marta [Vieira da Silva] and Ali Krieger to enhance the team’s competitiveness.
“We expect a great season for our fans.”
The Pride return to action with a two-match away trip, starting with a matchup with the North Carolina Courage on Saturday at 4 p.m.
[…] In addition to hosting a World Cup qualifier, Orlando City Stadium will also host the 2017 NWSL Championship. […]
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