Richard Bilbao
Orlando City Soccer Club Founder Phil Rawlins (right) and owner Flavio Augusto da Silva discuss the new Major League Soccer players deal during a press conference.
It was late into the evening of March 4 when Orlando City Soccer Club founder Phil Rawlins heard the good news: Major League Soccer's season will begin on time.
Rawlins said he got a call from MLS Commissioner Don Garber about the sealed deal moments before the news blew up on Twitter, which let the rest of the world know that the league and Orlando City's March 8 game were still on. After that, he said he enjoyed a glass of wine, maybe two, to celebrate.
"I was confident we would get a deal done. We have been focused since day one to have this done. It was important we didn't have a stoppage," Rawlins said, during a press conference.
The deal gives both the league and the players union five more years to play, as well as negotiate any other changes when its expiration comes around again.
"We are building a league that will be able to sustain itself and have the right foundation to continue the success for the MLS," he said.
The Lions open their season at the Orlando Citrus Bowl this Sunday against the New York City FC.
Also, don't miss our recent videos leading to the big game and let us know in the poll below what your office is doing to prepare for Orlando's MLS debut.
Covers tourism, hospitality and sports businessSource: http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/blog/2015/03/game-on-orlando-city-soccer-founder-on-new-mls.html
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