June 5 – The United Soccer League (USL), operators of men’s second and third tier pro leagues and a women’s pro league in the US, have taken another step into the sports real estate business with the unveiling of a plan with Central Florida Pro Soccer to bring a professional team to Winter Garden, Florida.
The team will be anchored around a new 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium that will be constructed as part of a mixed-use development in Winter Garden.
The USL is based in Tampa on Florida’s west coast, Winter Garden is based on 15 miles outside of Orlando on Florida’s east coast and 80 mile north east of Tampa.
In March 2025, Central Florida Pro Soccer’s international ownership group secured a letter of intent with the City of Winter Garden for a 72-acre site in East Winter Garden.
The development plan for site is for a 5,000-seat multi-purpose soccer stadium, 14 acres of recreational fields with three practice fields, baseball fields, pickleball courts and padel courts. There will also be more than 150,000 square feet of commercial space, multi-family units, a 160-room hotel, nearly 100,000 square feet of retail, public parks, and a walking trail.
Justin Papadakis, Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer with the USL said: “Central Florida Pro Soccer’s project is an ambitious mixed-use development that will serve as a true community asset and local gathering place.
“As the centerpiece of the project, the soccer stadium will unite residents, drive economic growth and inspire youth athletes for generations to come.”
Central Florida Pro Soccer was founded by Federal Finance’s Tan Bahia and Austin Root, who also launched Federal Sports Alliance – a sports and real estate management firm.
Bahia, who is the company’s CEO, works between London and Florida, and set up the Federal Group, a private equity fund and debt advisory firm, in 2009.
“Given soccer’s incredible growth trajectory in the United States and The World Cup right around the corner, it’s time that Winter Garden – one of America’s top 10 cities to live in – joins the movement with its own professional team,” said Bahia.
“With games broadcasted nationally and on streaming services, our club will help Winter Garden become known around the world as not only a great place to live but one with a world-class soccer club, too. Central Florida has a strong youth soccer culture, and we’re excited to join the USL ecosystem and provide a pathway for homegrown players to move up to the professional ranks.”
No cost or timeline was given for the development which is currently waiting for local authority approval.
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