Soccer
Soccer has seen varying degrees of success in Orlando. The original Orlando Lions were formed in 1985, and played in the American Soccer League in 1988-90. A second incarnation played in the USISL from 1992–1995, winning the regular season title in 1992 and 1993.
In 1994, Orlando took part in the United States Soccer Federation's hosting of the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The stadium hosted five matches—one in Group E, three in Group F, and one Round of 16 match—with an average attendance in excess of 61,000 per game.
Orlando would also host six group stage matches—three each in Groups B and D—for the 1996 Summer Olympics men's soccer tournament, with an average attendance of over 20,000 per game. They would also host three Group E matches for the women's tournament, with similar attendance figures. This permitted U.S. women's soccer star Michelle Akers to play for her team before her hometown fans, being a product of UCF.
Orlando made another attempt at pro soccer with the Orlando Sundogs, who played in the USISL A-League in 1997. They finished in the middle of the pack, but suffered poor attendance, and folded after one year.
In 1998, Orlando hosted the 1998 MLS All-Star Game. The U.S. All-Stars beat the World All-Stars, 6-1, before an attendance of 34,416. Orlando was considered for a Major League Soccer franchise following its World Cup success, but no willing investors were identified at the time.
The Central Florida Kraze formed in what is now the USL Premier Development League, the highest amateur league (4th tier overall) in the United States soccer pyramid, in 1998. Playing games in Orange and Seminole Counties, the team won the PDL championship in 2004.
In 2008, Orlando hosted the Orlando Sharks of the Major Indoor Soccer League. After poor performance their first year, plans to shift to the new National Indoor Soccer League were eventually shelved.
Orlando has continued to seek professional soccer. In 2010, Steve Donner formed a group named Orlando Pro Soccer which was awarded a future United Soccer Leagues pro expansion slot for 2011. Later that year, Phil Rawlins, an investor in the Premier League club Stoke City F.C., moved the organization of Austin Aztex FC to Orlando and formed Orlando City S.C. The team began play in USL Pro in 2011, and won that year's USL Pro Championship.
Orlando City eventually took over several youth soccer groups and the Kraze to form a unified soccer development system under their brand. Orlando City is now represented by teams in several levels of the United Soccer Leagues, including the Super Y-League, Super-20 League and PDL. They have also renewed speculation of potential MLS expansion.
Read more about this topic: Sports In Orlando, Florida
Famous quotes containing the word soccer:
“Our first line of defense in raising children with values is modeling good behavior ourselves. This is critical. How will our kids learn tolerance for others if our hearts are filled with hate? Learn compassion if we are indifferent? Perceive academics as important if soccer practice is a higher priority than homework?”
—Fred G. Gosman (20th century)
“If we were doing this in the Falklands they would love it. It’s part of our heritage. The British have always been fighting wars.”
—British soccer fan. quoted in Independent (London, Dec. 23, 1988)
“We want beans, not goals.”
—Mexican steelworkers’ banner at opening ceremony of 1986 World Cup soccer championship.