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Orlando Predators move to CFE Arena at UCF campus

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Predators arena football team will no longer call the Amway Center home.

After years of tumultuous relations with the city, the team will play all future games at the CFE arena on the campus of UCF.

The Orlando Predators arena football team struggled to get a strong footing and following at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando.

The team announced its relocating to a new and much smaller venue: the CFE arena on the University of Central Florida campus.

"Well, if it's right here and it's close by I'd definitely be willing to check it out," UCF student Julian Solarte said.

Students said they'd go to games there but many never made the trek to downtown Orlando to watch the team at the Amway.

"I'd probably watch one or two games -- but I'm not that big of a sports fan," UCF student Dylan Ramidular said.

Some people Eyewitness News spoke with see the move as a loss to the city.

Obviously Orlando loves and embraces any activity here in downtown," resident Sally Frazier said.

The city's relationship with the Predators wasn't heartfelt.

In July, Eyewitness News reported on the city suing the Predators and its previous owners for breach of contract.

It claimed the team hadn't paid its bills and tried to make money off a sponsor at the Amway that was solely for the Orlando Magic.

The city tried to work with the team's new owners but the sides couldn't come to terms.

A city spokeswoman said nine games were planned at the Amway next year and those vacancies must be filled with other events.

She said if the city holds just one concert, it'll break even.