Orlando City Soccer's popularity is growing

The signs are hard to miss these days.

Between the logos on the back of cars to the purple jerseys, hats and shirts, Orlando City Soccer Club has a fan base that keeps on growing.

For many around Brevard County like Titusville resident Scott Stella, it is "about time."

Stella has been going to Orlando City games since they were in their first season as a USL Pro team in 2010. Around that same time he started a Facebook account looking for other fans of the team around Brevard County.

The group has grown over the years and now gather at Malibu's in Rockledge to watch away games and meet in Lot 11 before home games.

He always believed this team had the potential to get to this point.

"You could just sense that this team could be special," Stella said before watching a recent road game at Malibu's in Rockledge. "Even back then, as soon as they made the announcement (to go to MLS), I knew it would gain in popularity."

Part of that was the atmosphere around the game as fans begin tailgating hours before the game, chanting and singing all the way until the now-famous walk into the stadium. While it has grown from the early days, Stella said it has always been good.

It was that atmosphere that hooked Port St. John's Owen Russell.

Russell was just surfing the Internet for soccer tickets when he came across an Orlando City game.

"We just decided to buy tickets, figured let's see what it is all about," Russell said.

That was the second game in the history of Orlando City soccer.

"From there I was hooked," Russell said.

He has even gone on the road, watching the team play in Charleston as well as other places.

The game surprised Russell, who admits he was one of those fans who had left soccer because "American fans just aren't excited for it."

But that is not the case with Orlando City, where the pre-game excitement can be felt hours before the start of the contest.

And during the game the fans are loud as chants, drums and cheering fills the stadium from the moment Orlando City Soccer Club hits the field.

"America, well at least here, has finally started to embrace the game of soccer," Russell said. "It brought me back."

After the first eight home games, Orlando City Soccer Club is averaging 35,750 fans per game, the second highest in the MLS this season.

It was seen a week ago when Orlando City's Brek Shea and Harrison Heath were at Academy Sports in West Melbourne. The crowd stretched all around the new sports center as fans waited in long lines for a chance to meet the players.

Stella and Russell believe it is just the beginning.

"It is growing, people reach out to us every day wanting to be a part of it," Stella said.