June 14, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Orlando City SC News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Soccer Club and Orlando Health have announced the continuation of their long-standing partnership, agreeing to terms on a long-term renewal.
“We are thrilled to be able to continue our long-standing partnership with Orlando Health,” Orlando City CEO Alex Leitão said. “A foundational element in our Club’s history, our friends at Orlando Health have been with us through both our happiest and most trying times. To have this level of commitment from our presenting partner and Official Medical Team is vital to our success both on and off the field and we look forward to all that we will accomplish in bettering the Orlando community for years to come.”
“Orlando City SC energizes this town and we’re very proud to be one of the original organizations to partner with the team and ride that wave of excitement,” says Andy Gardiner, senior vice president of external affairs and community relations at Orlando Health. “In Orlando City SC, we have a partner with a winning tradition on and off the field, a passion for charitable work and a commitment to serving our community as strong as Orlando Health’s. We’re excited to see what the future brings for our growing partnership.”
The longest-serving partner in Club history, Orlando Health will hold naming rights for the Club’s two training facilities, introducing the Orlando Health Training Ground at Osceola Heritage Park for Major League Soccer (MLS) side Orlando City SC and the Orlando Health Training Ground at Sylvan Lake Park for the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). With that, the naming rights deal at Sylvan Lake Park will serve as the first of its kind for a NWSL-exclusive facility in league history.
Both of the Club’s state-of-the-art facilities feature a gym, meal room, film room, players’ lounge and a locker room designed to replicate the teams’ locker room at Exploria Stadium. In addition, each facility holds two, Club-maintained grass training fields that are exclusive to the respective First Teams, while Osceola Heritage Park includes two additional fields that house the Orlando City Academy, with every field comprised of Latitude 36 Bermudagrass, the same playing surface found at Exploria Stadium.
Orlando Health will continue to serve as the presenting partner and jersey partner of Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride, the Orlando City Academy and the Orlando City Youth Soccer Network. As part of the new agreement, Orlando Health will also serve as the Official Jersey Partner of Orlando City’s eMLS player.
The Club’s Official Medical Team marked its 11th-consecutive year across the front of the Lions’ jersey with the unveiling of the Thick N Thin kit this past March, followed by the historic launch of the Orlando Pride’s Ad Astra kit ahead of the 2021 NWSL season, commemorating six-years of partnership between the two parties. Continuing with years past, Orlando Health will also remain the entitlement partner for the season openers of Orlando City and Orlando Pride, as well as the presenting sponsor of both sides’ regular-season schedules and starting lineups.
As part of the new agreement, all of the Club’s medical teams will fall under the care of the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, with Dr. Craig Mintzer serving as Chief Medical Officer and Head Orthopedic Surgeon, while Dr. Justin Mullner will serve as Head Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician.
In an effort to continue the Club’s community outreach initiatives through the long-standing partnership, the new agreement will see an increase and expansion in current charitable and increased grassroot efforts throughout the Orlando community, as well as the return of “Winning Women”, a panel event that features members of the Orlando Pride and focuses on topics centered around empowering women.
In addition, the Club will continue its collaborative efforts with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children as part of Kick Childhood Cancer Month with Orlando City and MLS Works, as well as with Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies for the Orlando Pride’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month events, among other community initiatives.
Over the airwaves, Orlando Health will continue as an integrated element into Orlando City local broadcasts, adding in an additional branding element on the home team bench at Exploria Stadium.
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