Rawlins earns MLS honor
LOS ANGELES — A long week of events ended with celebration, an award ceremony where Orlando City life-president Phil Rawlins was a recipient.
But the honor was a solemn one.
The National Soccer Coaches Association of American gave Rawlins its Presidential Recognition Award for Orlando City’s response to the Pulse nightclub shooting that killed 49 people.
“[NSCAA president Amanda Vandervort] called me about eight weeks ago and said they wanted to award me ... for what we’d done to bring the community together,” Rawlins told the Orlando Sentinel after the ceremony Friday night. “I was quite shocked. I was very taken aback. I was obviously very delighted, but it kind of took my breath away a little bit to be recognized in that way, and make such a big award of it.”
The Lions’ 2-2 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes June 18 at Camping World Stadium was the first major community event after the shooting and drew an announced crowd of 37,193 people.
The club planned multiple tributes during the game, including a moment of silence in the 49th minute, special Tshirts emblazoned with #OrlandoUnited — a social media campaign launched to mobilize the community that also was recognized in a separate award given to Orlando City’s social media team — a blocked-off section of 49 seats marked with balloons and more.
Orlando City also made a large donation to the OneOrlando Fund and dedicated 49 rainbowcolored seats in its new stadium to the Pulse victims.
The awards ceremony was among many events at the L.A. convention center during the past week. The venue also the annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention, MLS SuperDraft and NWSL college draft.