Arena Football One, the governing body of the Arena Football League (AFL), announced on March 4 that it has officially terminated the membership of the Orlando Predators, effective immediately.
In a statement released Monday morning, AFL says the move was made due to an alleged secret deal to sell the local team, which would have them withdraw from the 2025 season.
The Orlando Predators, a storied franchise with roots dating back to 1991, before suspending ops in 2016, had returned to the AFL as part of its 2024 relaunch. However, sources close to the league cited financial instability and internal management conflicts as key factors contributing to the termination.
In response, John Cheney, the owner of Orlando Predators, issued the following statement.
Arena Football One has not announced any plans for a replacement team in Orlando for the remainder of the 2025 season.
