ORLANDO CITY STADIUM BRINGS SAFE STANDING New soccer venue to feature first-ever North American 3,800-capacity stand-only space

first-ever safe standing section in North America, a 3,800-capacity section with a steep rake that starts just 15 feet

As white steel continued to rise from Orlando City Soccer Club’s new downtown home, providing a glimmering reflection for Florida sun and Major League Soccer’s latest venue, the purple seats that fill the 25,500-capacity venue provided a distinct contrast for a venue hosting its first regular-season match March 5.

And while capacity at Orlando City Stadium was a major focal point for the project—the original scope was to accommodate 18,000 fans. The change forced a quick evolution of design from architect Bruce Miller’s team at Kansas City-based Populous to reach 25,500 by opening day.

A supporters’ section inside a soccer-specific stadium takes on a life of its own. These all-in fans simply stand on benches and seats, often beating up the equipment and posing a safety risk. So Miller introduced the first-ever safe standing section in North America, a 3,800-capacity section with a steep rake that starts just 15 feet from the pitch in the north end.

“It took a lot of thought and discussion internally to get it right,” Miller said. “We think we have gotten it right. It will create an atmosphere that is conducive to the fan experience.”

A rail between each 24-inch row eliminates any possibility of crushing, while offering an anchor for a much-needed cup holder. Along with the safe standing, the north end section includes platforms for drummers and group leaders. “The whole building feeds off their energy,” he said. “It is going to be intimidating.”

Orlando City brings one of the largest soccer-specific venues to North America for the team’s third season. The 100 percent privately funded project sits two blocks from the Amway Center with a 360-degree lower bowl, a galvanized-metal canopy to enhance crowd noise and provide fan shelter from weather, LED field lighting and fan plazas spanning 10,000 square feet.

With the goal of putting all the attention on the 90 minutes worth of action on the field, Miller said this soccer venue has fewer aisles than a typical stadium—in-game concessions aren’t as popular in soccer—and a seating bowl less broken up by premium seating. Instead, the premium seats and fan-gathering areas take on new locations.

The corners of the venue offer terrace opportunities, one with a giant bar and another directly underneath the videoboard. The supporter’s section has its own dedicated balcony overlooking the outside streets.

For its suites, Orlando City Stadium has two contrasting opportunities, both on the west side of the north-south oriented stadium, one a skyline suite style in the upper level and the other lower down, just 10 rows from the playing surface. “The two premium products for suites suit different types of viewers,” Miller said.

Also, a midlevel stadium club has an oversized internal space with a terrace that looks out to the pitch to create “really unique premium spaces in the building.” The spacing of premium seats was made easier by dropping the field eight feet below ground level and splitting the bowl. Fans enter at grade and the main concourse, which wraps the entire stadium, allows 12 rows below the entrance, with the rest of the seats above the concourse.

By keeping the concourse open, not only can the seating bowl welcome breezes to flow through and create an “airy” feel even though it is a 25,000-seat building,” but it also allows fans to remain oriented to the field at all times. “You always have a view back to the field,” Miller said. “The supporter’s section is always in view. It really has a Florida feel to the building with all the open space.”