Ajax Orlando submits application for national soccer franchise
A-League team would require new soccer
stadium
30 September: Ajax Orlando Football Club (AOFC) announced
this week that it has officially applied for membership in two
national soccer leagues, the Premier Development League (PDL)
and the A-League, a top U.S. professional soccer circuit.
"We are very excited at the prospect of playing in the PDL
during the 2004 season, and bringing A-League soccer back to
the area in 2005," said Ajax Orlando President Mark
Dillon.
The PDL franchise that Ajax Orlando seeks would be the
second premier development team in the greater Orlando Florida
area, joining the Central Florida Kraze in North Orange and
Seminole Counties. The PDL has approximately 60 teams
throughout the US, comprised of a mix of young talent and
college athletes.
Dillon said that Ajax Orlando and its financial partner ATP
Online plan to field highly competitive teams in both leagues
featuring young players who will be developed within the
teaching regimens implemented by the Orlando club's technical
partner, AFC Ajax Amsterdam.
"One of our top priorities will be to secure a permanent
stadium where our A-League team will play its games," Dillon
said. "It is a mutual goal of Ajax, the A-League and Ajax
Orlando, and we have already started that process with both
private and public interests."
Echoing Dillon's statement about the need for a new stadium
for the Orlando market was USL Chief Operating Officer David
Askinas, who said he was pleased that Ajax Orlando was entering
the PDL and had also applied for an A-League franchise.
"The addition of an important city such as Orlando would be
a plus for A-League," Askinas said. "The affiliation with Ajax
of Amsterdam, one of the most famous soccer clubs in the world,
enhances the attraction of adding the Orlando club to the
league.
"A key element of the application that we will examine is
the construction of a soccer venue that can offer professional
amenities to ensure spectator enjoyment. In an
entertainment-rich area such as Orlando, it is critical to be
able to deliver a state of the art, small soccer stadium to the
growing number of soccer fans in the area, especially
international fans who are faithful to teams like Ajax.
"Our teams must be able to deliver a comfortable seat,
quality food and beverage and corporate hospitality areas in
order to compete for the sports and entertainment dollar,"
Askinas said. (JM)
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