Major League Soccer comes to Orlando in 2015 when Orlando City Soccer joins MLS as an expansion team. The announcement was held at the historic Cheyenne Saloon on Church Street. (RetroPost: Historic significance of Church Street) The Cheyenne Saloon was where the Orlando Magic, our other current major league team, was announced in 1987.
The Orlando City Lions add to a long list of professional sports teams in Orlando covering the minor leagues to major leagues in almost every team sport. Some lasted a few years — WNBA Orlando Miracle — hibernated and returned a decade later — Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL Hockey) — or played a single season XFL’s Orlando Rage.
Some Orlando sports history highlights:
Baseball
Baseball in Orlando goes back to the 1910’s, and might be most notable for hosting spring training. The Minnesota Twins trained here for decades (RetroPost: The Twins in Orlando). Orlando had a baseball team off and on- from 1919 until 2003 largely in the Florida State League. Known as the Orlando Rays for the majority of 40 years when the team dissolved in 2003, there were previous clubs, incarnations, and affiliations: Orlando Tigers, Orlando Twins, Orlando Dodgers, Orlando Seratomas, and Orlando Cubs.
1967 Divison Playoff Program for the Orlando Panthers (source)
Football
Orlando football’s most recent success was indoors with the Orlando Predators (since 1991). However, professional football goes back to the 1960’s and the time of the Continental Football League and the Orlando Panthers. The Panthers played from 1966 until the league folded in 1969, and won two league championships during that time.
Other football in Orlando (all of which played in the Citrus Bowl):
- Orlando Renegades (1985) United States Football League
- Orlando Thunder (1991-92) World League of American Football
- Orlando Rage (2001) XFL
- Florida Tuskers (2009) United Football League
Orlando City should see greater success and longevity because of an existing and enthusiastic fan base and the investment of a new soccer stadium west of I-4. Perhaps Orlando’s greatest football glory will not come in American Football but in futball (okay, soccer).
A look back at past Orlando football club logos:
Orlando Thunder
1991-92
Orlando Renegades
1985
Orlando Rage
2001
orlando retro 
Orlando has a rich tradition of professional soccer as well, and the nickname of Orlando City “Lions” actually comes from the original “Orlando Lions” from the 1980s. There have been a few others, but I think the Lions are the one that was most successful. Cool blog!
Thanks for the comment and the background on the Lions name!
Orlando was also home to the Florida Blazers back in the early 70’s. They we part of the quickly defunct World Football League. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Blazers-Fans-Friends-and-Former-Players/272537266146295