It’s unreal to think I’m entering my 11th season covering this team. 

So to start, the purpose of this letter is to update not only my followers, but readers on how I’m going to cover Orlando City, Pride and OCB in 2022.

I still remember walking up to the old Citrus Bowl stadium during a February preseason friendly against the Philadelphia Union in 2012. It was the first-ever Orlando City game I covered. Maxwell Griffin scored deep into stoppage time to tie the game 1-1. 

From that epic 2013 USL season and final… that one season spent at Disney before the inaugural 2015 MLS season. The downtown stadium opening and the weird 2020 season that saw Orlando make the MLS playoffs for the first time. 

Every now and then I ask myself how long I can keep doing this. And honestly, I don’t even know. I’ve learned to accept that this is my purpose in life, a gift from God — and I’m going to enjoy the ride.

Of course, I wouldn’t be here today without the guidance and belief of my recent and past fellow journalists and editors. I’ve learned so much from them on how to cover a team accurately and respectfully. 

So this season, nothing changes. I’m still covering this team, but you’ll see my bylines in other outlets as well. 

When I started this website back in 2014, its sole purpose was to document everything about Orlando City and Pride. And that will still be the case this year. 

But you’ll also see more stories published at the Orlando Sentinel as I and my good friend Austin David will be helping the newspaper’s soccer coverage. So buy a subscription, support local journalism. 

I had someone tell me that soccer is good for the soul. So this 2022 season, let’s play it, watch it, enjoy it, write about it – all for the love of the game. 

Cheers, 

Gramajo

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