MLS Orlando City SC

Exploria Stadium to Host Final Stages of 2020 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League

Published on November 10, 2020 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Orlando City SC News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - Concacaf has announced that Exploria Stadium, home to MLS club Orlando City SC and the NWSL's Orlando Pride, will host the final matches of the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (SCCL).

The confederation's flagship club competition will resume with centralized Quarterfinals, Semifinals and a Final played in Orlando from December 15-22.

Through the introduction of an adjusted format with single leg ties in a neutral venue, the 2020 SCCL will be concluded after a total of seven (7) games to crown a champion.

Quarterfinals: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, December 15 and 16, 2020

CD Olimpia (2) vs (1) Impact Montreal

Atlanta United FC (0) vs (3) Club America

Tigres UANL (1) vs (0) NYCFC

LAFC vs Cruz Azul (single leg)

Semifinals: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, December 19, 2020

Semifinal 1: Club America or Atlanta United FC vs LAFC or Cruz Azul

Semifinal 2: Tigres UANL or NYCFC vs CD Olimpia or Impact Montreal

Final: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, December 22, 2020

Final: Winner Semifinal 1 vs Winner Semifinal 2

Exploria Stadium is one of the premier venues in MLS and the NWSL. It is a soccer-specific stadium which includes a high quality all grass playing surface and excellent facilities for competing teams. Additionally, as a modern stadium built in 2017, the venue provides excellent services for broadcasters which will allow Concacaf and the clubs to produce a world class production for fans watching at home.

To resume this important competition, Concacaf has developed extensive new SCCL regulations to ensure the delivery of a safe and highly controlled environment for all the players, coaches, team staff and officials who will participate. These include a high-frequency COVID-19 testing regime before and during the competition and robust health and safety protocols which will be strictly applied. Concacaf will work with Exploria Stadium to ensure the high level of health and safety measures they currently operate in the stadium for Orlando City SC MLS games are in place for the centralized SCCL matches.

Concacaf has made the decision that these centralized final rounds of the 2020 SCCL will be played behind closed doors. Discussions are ongoing with the Confederation's broadcast partners to ensure all matches are widely available for fans across the region to follow and enjoy.

"The Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League is our flagship club competition and a huge amount of work has gone into ensuring we can safely resume the tournament, and crown a regional club champion in 2020", said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President, Victor Montagliani.

"Orlando's Exploria Stadium will provide a great host venue for the final seven matches of this competition. I want to thank the team at the stadium for being so supportive in working with Concacaf to plan for what will be a great finale to the 2020 SCCL for the clubs and their fans across the region," added Montagliani.

"We're honored that Concacaf has selected the City of Orlando and our amazing venue, Exploria Stadium, to host one of the most marquee events in world club soccer," Orlando City SC CEO Alex Leitão said. "This year, the City Beautiful has proven to be the center of sport - hosting some of the world's biggest events - and we are humbled to be able to host another such event at our home. We're looking forward to seven very exciting games."

The winner of this competition will be crowned Concacaf's regional club champion. The current holder is CF Monterrey, who defeated Tigres UANL in the 2019 SCCL final, earning their fourth championship.

A reminder of the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 results, attendances and broadcast audience figures can be read here: ‚ Fans enjoy SCCL R16 in record numbers.

About Exploria Stadium:

Opened in March 2017, Exploria Stadium is home to Orlando City of Major League Soccer (MLS) and Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The 25,500 seat soccer-specific stadium is located in the heart of Downtown Orlando and was the first MLS stadium to open with five consecutive victories.

Exploria Stadium was 100 percent privately funded at a cost of $155 million. It features a 360-degree lower bowl, North America's first safe-standing supporters' section - dubbed "The Wall" - and a four-sided canopy roof to keep the noise in and weather out. In Section 12, there are 49 rainbow-colored seats to memorialize the victims of the tragedy at Pulse Night Club. The stadium also houses the Club's Front Office.

To date, the stadium has hosted a U.S. Men's National Team's 2018 World Cup Qualifier, the U.S. Women's National Team in the 2018 & 2020 SheBelieves Cup, as well as the 2017 NWSL Championship, 2017 NCAA Women's College Cup, 2018 & 2019 MLS Combines, the Florida Cup, the 2019 MLS All-Star Game and the 2019 Cure Bowl - the first non-soccer event at the venue.

Check out the Orlando City SC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from November 10, 2020


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central