WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Central Florida learned Thursday who the likely tenant is for the multipurpose stadium planned to anchor a major development in Winter Garden.
The United Soccer League (USL), in partnership with Central Florida Pro Soccer, announced its intent to bring one of the league's teams to the area.
Central Florida Pro Soccer's ownership group, Federal Finance, secured a letter of intent with Winter Garden in March for a 72-acre site in the eastern part of the city that will be a mixed-use development, including a 3,000-5,000-seat stadium.
Pending city approvals, Central Florida Pro Soccer plans to move forward with a development that would feature more than 150,000 square feet of commercial space, multifamily units, a 160-room hotel, nearly 100,000 square feet of retail, public parks, a walking trail and 14 acres of recreational fields — including three practice fields, baseball fields, pickleball courts and padel courts. Those facilities are in addition to the stadium.
“Central Florida Pro Soccer’s project is an ambitious mixed-use development that will serve as a true community asset and local gathering place," said Justin Papadakis, deputy chief executive officer and chief real estate officer with the USL. "As the centerpiece of the project, the soccer stadium, will unite residents, drive economic growth and inspire youth athletes for generations to come.”
The men behind Central Florida Pro Soccer are Tan Bahia, the founder and chief executive officer of Federal Finance, and Austin Root, who is co-founder and chief operating officer and also started sports and real estate management firm Federal Sports Alliance. Bahia has a background in banking, private equity, debt advising and real estate projects in the United Kingdom and United States. Root began his career in Merrill Lynch's Global Markets and Investment Banking Group on Wall Street in 2000.
Other leaders include Development Director Joe Giannuzzi and Siddharth Shankar, a partner and board member. Giannuzzi specializes in developing single-family and multi-family residential communities ranging from 10 to 500 units. Shankar is the co-founder of Tails Trading Group, a company that connects British brands with Asian markets.
The USL is not new to the Orlando area. Before Orlando City SC began playing in Major League Soccer, the Lions were a charter member of USL Pro and played four seasons in that league.
In February, the USL announced plans to launch a new Division One league in 2027-28 to establish a fully integrated three-tier professional system. The USL Championship (Division Two) and USL League One (Division Three) already provide a strong foundation for player development and competition, and the three leagues would be interconnected through a structured promotion and relegation system similar to pro soccer systems in Europe.
Founded in 1986, and based in Tampa, the USL operates men’s and women’s leagues at multiple levels.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies currently play in the USL Championship tier.
A photo of the Central Florida Pro Soccer leadership team included with the announcement Thursday showed them holding a USL League One banner.