It wasn’t the news Orlando City Lions officials wanted to hear, but it wasn’t altogether a surprise.
Major League Soccer has announced a partnership between Manchester City Football Club and MLB’s New York Yankees, which has acquired the League’s 20th expansion club which will take the field in 2015.
Orlando had actively sought to bring the 20th franchise to central Florida, and recently advanced to build a new soccer stadium in the downtown area.
New York has long been MLS’ target location for its next franchise, and hopes for the effort in Florida were bolstered by a running number of unsettled issues in Gotham City.
Those included ownership and location of a new stadium. With the MLS announcement, the ownership issue was settled. Discussions will continue regarding building the stadium in Queens in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and in the meantime an interim home for the team will be sought.
“We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country.
“The New York area is home to more than 19 million people, and we look forward to an intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this city.”
Manchester City will be the majority owner of the new club.