Commissioner’s Memo Slams MLS for “Fraudulent Statements”

Orange County Commissioner Ted Edwards has re-ignited the soccer stadium controversy with a harsh memo to Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, where the Commissioner ended saying: “I am concerned about the league’s apparent double standard on stadium requirements and am worried that they may have conducted stadium negotiations with us in bad faith. To the extent MLS made fraudulent statements to our community, it should be held accountable.”

There is absolutely no way Major League Soccer is happy to hear words like that about a new franchise city of theirs. The memo blasts the “double standard” by the MLS:

“Major League Soccer demanded that soccer in our community could not play in the Citrus Bowl but the standards for MLS required a soccer-specific stadium. During negotiations with the City of Orlando and Orange County, MLS made it clear that it would not award a franchise without a soccer-specific stadium. The league found the Citrus Bowl to be unsuitable for MLS play even though it is located in an urban area, has a natural playing surface, and will seat 6,000 fewer people than Atlanta’s stadium. The Citrus Bowl is also undergoing a $205 million renovation which made it an even more attractive option…

Evidently the soccer-specific stadium requirement was apparently a false and inaccurate statement by MLS. The new Atlanta stadium will far exceed MLS supposed seating requirements. The stadium will also feature an artificial playing surface inconsistent with league guidelines. I am concerned MLS was in negotiations to place an expansion team in football facility stadium in Atlanta while simultaneously telling both Orlando and Orange County that the existing Citrus Bowl was inadequate.”

Commissioner Edwards called on Mayor Jacobs to revisit the soccer-stadium issue back before the Board of County Commissioners at the May 6th meeting. With Commissioners looking into the soccer stadium and Citrus Bowl, it may have an impact on another ongoing controversy regarding historic Tinker Field. Commissioner Pete Clarke differed with Mayor Jacobs back in February and urged a County role in saving Tinker Field from Dyer’s destruction. Could this issue be put back in play as well?

The growing stadium controversy was sparked by Atlanta’s new MLS franchise, which will play in the Falcons’ NFL football stadium. That was more proof Orlando was duped by MLS and Buddy Dyer. The controversy escalated when WFTV Channel 9 News broke the Edwards story. It’s definitely far from over.