ORLANDO, Fla. – Jan. 29, 2016
– Orlando City SC and Lake Nona today announced a partnership for the development of a brand new, state-of-the-art 23-acre training facility at the Lake Nona Sports & Performance District, next to the U.S. Tennis Association’s National Campus currently under construction. The new training facility will house the Lions of Major League Soccer (MLS), Orlando City B of the United Soccer League (USL), and the Club’s Elite Youth Academy.
Construction is expected to begin immediately, with a targeted completion date in 2017. The project will be privately financed. Tavistock Development Company will develop the campus, which includes six practice pitches (two lighted) and a training facility with a training facility with a state-of-the-art fitness center, player’s clubhouse, locker rooms, film rooms, offices and an injury prevention and rehabilitation center.
Orlando City Soccer Club is proud to maintain its presence at the recently renovated Sylvan Lake Training Center in Seminole County. That facility will become the permanent training home for the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Orlando Pride beginning in 2017.
“This development in Lake Nona is another great example of the Club’s expanding footprint, and the resulting economic benefit, throughout Central Florida,” said Club Founder and President Phil Rawlins. “It complements the construction of our new home in downtown Orlando, and provides our MLS and USL teams with a great training facility also featuring a host of synergistic amenities in Lake Nona. We are thankful for this partnership with Tavistock and Lake Nona, who have been longtime supporters of Orlando City and the sport of soccer, and we look forward to a successful, championship future together.
“We will also continue to have a major footprint in Seminole County for the foreseeable future. We are proud residents of that community, which has been very welcoming to Orlando City Soccer Club for many years. We are grateful to call Sylvan Lake our home for the Orlando Pride. It is a first class facility which has served us well since our first season in MLS, and will continue to serve an important role in the training and development of our NWSL program.”
“We are thrilled to welcome the Lions to Lake Nona, as we have the utmost respect for Flavio, Phil and the entire first-class organization they have created,” said Rasesh Thakkar, senior managing director of Tavistock Group. “Orlando City and its leadership are a natural fit with the family of innovative anchors and partners bounding out of bed every day collaborating at Lake Nona. The dream we have of making a difference in the world starts within our community first and will only be enhanced with Orlando City further expanding on the synergies between Lake Nona Medical City and the Sports & Performance District, elevating our entire region and beyond in the process.”
The Lake Nona Sports & Performance District is designed to serve the full spectrum of sports and related fields, focused on improving human performance potential and enhancing the health and wellness of society-at-large. The sports complex is one of the cornerstones of Lake Nona, an 11-square-mile, integrated and collaborative community designed from scratch in the City of Orlando, Orange County. In addition to the sports & performance cluster, the community is anchored by “clusters of excellence” in health and wellness, education and technology. Driven by the vision and resources of Tavistock Group, Lake Nona works as an ecosystem designed to inspire healthy living, encourages life-long learning, embraces technology and emphasizes sustainability.
About Lake Nona:
Orlando’s Lake Nona is one of the fastest growing communities in America with more than $3 billion in construction to date across 7.1 million square feet of world-class residential and commercial facilities – and it’s just getting started. The 11-square-mile master-designed community is home to thoughtfully designed neighborhoods, world-class education facilities, Lake Nona Medical City, a sports & performance cluster highlighted by USTA’s New Home of American Tennis – the largest tennis facility in the world, diverse work spaces, recreational facilities, retail centers, and entertainment venues encompassing the best Orlando has to offer with all the conveniences of a dynamic, vibrant community. Driven by a long-term vision, Lake Nona is committed to building an innovative community focused on sustainable design, healthy living, and groundbreaking gigabit fiber optic technology. Adjacent to the Orlando International Airport, Lake Nona will feature more than millions of square feet of commercial space, thousands of hotel rooms, 25,000 residents and in excess of 100 shops and restaurants. For more information visit www.lakenona.com.
About Tavistock Group:
Tavistock Group is an international private investment organization founded by Joe Lewis. With investments in more than 200 companies across 11 countries, Tavistock Group’s investment portfolio includes: life sciences, sports teams and sporting events, manufacturing and distribution, and energy, financial services, restaurants, commercial properties, private luxury residential properties, resort properties and master-planned real estate developments. Tavistock’s deep roots in sports spans from its ownership of private luxury residential properties: Albany, Lake Nona and Isleworth; and the English Premiership’s Tottenham Hotspur, to hosting world-class sporting events with the Tiger Woods Foundation World Challenge. For more information, visit www.tavistock.com.
