Stadelon District Holdings buys land for Melbourne soccer stadium

Developers purchased 54 acres of land near the Melbourne Airport for $9 million to house a proposed 8,000-seat soccer stadium. The project, led by Orlando City SC founders John Bonner and Adrian Heath, aims to launch a men's professional team in the United Soccer League by March 2028. The site plan includes 55,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space intended to serve as a mixed-use destination. Melbourne City Hall officials are currently reviewing the proposal and a conditional-use permit for the project. If approved, the complex would host USL matches along with community events such as concerts and school athletics. Previous attempts to develop the property for other purposes did not proceed past the planning stages.

• 4:25 PMYahoo Sports — $9M land sale moves Melbourne pro soccer stadium closer to reality