Magic fever strikes Orlando

Magic fever is spreading across Orlando…you can see it with the local residents wearing dark blue T-shirts at Disney World, or the banners draped across the downtown buildings bordering I-4. Orlando has never had a reputation as a big sports town, but the one professional team it does have in town—the NBA’s Orlando Magic—has done pretty well for itself during its relatively brief franchise history.

Founded in 1989, the Orlando Magic drafted Shaquille O’Neal in 1992, who led the team to two division titles and one conference title. After Shaq left Orlando for LA in 1996, the team took several seasons to regroup, but a new generation of Magic fans look up to Dwight Howard as their Superman.

Last season, the Magic went all the way to the finals before losing to the LA Lakers, and this year Orlando seems poised to take on another championship run. This fall the Amway Arena (formerly the TD Waterhouse Center) will be replaced by the brand new Amway Center as the new home for Orlando’s favorite pro team, where fans are eager to see some championship banners hanging from the rafters.