Kicking It Into Summer
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the Lake Nona area, and sometimes there’s nothing better than a bit of healthy and friendly competition. Whether you play for fun, play seriously/professionally, or just love being a spectator, XL Soccer World Lake Nona has something for all soccer lovers! XL Soccer World is a fully air-conditioned indoor soccer facility with two 5G astro turf soccer fields, two multi-use hard courts for futsal and volleyball, a leisure bar/lounge area, three birthday party rooms, and enough seating for full field viewing.
Adrian Jones is the national marketing director for XL Sports World, the parent company of XL Soccer World.
“XL Sports World started as a travel company that specialized organized trips for Americans going over to England to watch LIVE Premier League games. The owners, Ciaran McArdle and Kris Lamb, decided to invest in an indoor facility in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2008, and this was closely followed by Orlando, Winter Park, in 2010. XL Sports World now has 10 locations in the USA and entertains over 3 million visitors annually,” Jones explained.
It’s no surprise that yet another business wanted to call Lake Nona home, and with the eruption of soccer in the Orlando area over the past decade, Jones described how the community we all know and love was the ideal location for XL Soccer’s newest home.
“Lake Nona as a community is growing fast, and the opportunity to build an XL Soccer World from the ground up was extremely appealing to Ciaran, who moved to Lake Nona as a resident in 2015,” Jones detailed. “Research indicated that our customer base in Winter Park is predominantly from within a 30-minute drive time, and the market demand was viable for another facility to be built somewhere else in the City Beautiful. Lake Nona’s product offering is the amalgamation of all that is right at all our other facilities, and despite owner Ciaran joking that ‘it was the most expensive way to get a very short commute to work,’ we are all very proud of this landmark facility.”
So why should you consider XL Soccer World Lake Nona? Living in Florida, we know how temperamental the weather can be. It might be raining or just too hot to really enjoy playing soccer outdoors. The indoor fields at XL Soccer make playing often even more accessible. Jones explained that they offer one program that is completely unique to Central Florida – a full-time school for elite soccer players, hosted by former English Premier League player Alan Smith, to educate and develop students into the next generation of soccer stars.
“We ultimately will be opening a full-time school here in the fall, XL Academy – which offers an exciting opportunity for elite athletes to grow and learn in a truly unique environment. Our academy director is an ex-Leeds United and Manchester United star, supported by a team of ex-professional players who offer the very best in coaching experience, backed up by a full-time education team committed to creating the very best environment for learning.”
But what about over any other indoor soccer facility? One noteworthy amenity at the Lake Nona location is that it’s home to the only air-conditioned-dedicated indoor futsal courts anywhere in Central Florida. Another extremely important difference is that at XL Soccer World, the staff understands that soccer is more than just a sport.
“[Soccer] is a lifestyle, and players and spectators can all play the part in creating an incredible social environment. As a consequence, a visit to XL Soccer World is not just about physical exercise or competition but a place to compete with friends, laugh, and share a drink in an open, relaxing environment,” Jones expressed. “Soccer lovers will enjoy the facilities, the turf, and the incredible organization that is expected for all our leagues. Our coaches are our ambassadors and always of the highest standard, and we look to constantly develop them along with our programs to make sure we offer the very best hospitality possible.”
XL Soccer World is currently promoting its summer camps. Jones explained how these camps are different from other locations.
“Lake Nona summer soccer camps are different from the Winter Park location as we are offering field trips and enrichment programs as well as the themed soccer experience. Summer camps cater to kids ages five to 14 and are a real specialty for XL Soccer World. Each day is themed differently, and we offer early dropoff at 8 a.m. and late pickup to 5:30 p.m. for no extra charge.”
Our local XL Soccer World also gives back to the community through its charity, Kicking Kids’ Cancer, which has raised over $350,000 since its inception.
“Our XLent [Excelling Exceptional Needs Through Soccer] program offers children with learning disabilities the opportunity to play soccer in a rewarding, relaxing environment that introduces our children to the sport but more importantly builds confidence via interpersonal skills and teamwork activities,” Jones described.
With a vision to never stop playing and a mission to create sporting occasions that are the highlight of guests’ days, it’s no wonder soccer lovers, new and experienced, are spending more and more time at XL Soccer World. XL Soccer offers field rentals for individuals, teams, corporations, or family occasions; a variety of organized leagues; regular pickup sessions; and after-school soccer programs.
XL Soccer World Lake Nona is located at 12314 Suttner Ave., Orlando, FL 32827 near the Valencia campus and Lowes off of Narcoossee. For more information, you can visit their website at xlnona.com, email nona@xlsportsworld.com, or call (407) 863-3101.
Photos Courtesy of XL Soccer World
