Join Orlando Magic as they celebrate their 30th anniversary!

Professional sports are a big part of the American culture and identity, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the second biggest league in terms of revenue in the country! The NBA is composed of 30 teams (one of which is based in Canada) and is seen as the pinnacle of the sport. The 2018-19 season (the NBA’s 73rd in its history) will begin on 16th October and end on 10th April with the finals being held in the following June.

So while you are in Florida, why not take the opportunity to be a part of this larger than life sport by attending an Orlando Magic game, as they celebrate their 30th anniversary year! They start the 2018-19 season with their new head coach Steve Clifford, who has joined the club after five years with Charlotte Hornets.

Only established in 1989 as a new expansion to the NBA, Orlando Magic launched the career of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. Nowadays the Magic play their home games at the modern Amway Center in Downtown Orlando, which opened in 2010. This venue is also home to the Orlando Solar Bears ice hockey team, with capacity for 18,846 basketball fans at NBA games. You can reach Amway easily by public transport (Church Street railway station is less than a five-minute walk away) or if you are driving, it is just off the I-4.

Since the 2017-18 season Orlando Magic has been sponsored by Walt Disney World Resort, and their logo can be seen adorning the team kit. If you want, you can even buy some official Disney-branded gear at the Orlando Magic shop in the Amway Center and show your support for your new favourite team!

You won’t want to miss an appearance from the official team mascot Stuff the Magic Dragon, who has been an integral part of Orlando Magic from the beginning.

Before the game starts Stuff does an on-court skit and throws T-shirts into the crowd, you never know, you might be lucky enough to catch one!

If you want to see Stuff before the game, head to Stuff’s Magic Castle on the Promenade Level of the Amway Center. Here you will find a children’s play area that the kids are bound to love! Designed for those over the age of two who are under 122cm (48”) tall, kids can grab a pregame photo with Stuff, or play in the magic castle, shoot some hoops, test their memory with matching games or just climb through the play area!

Watch out for a stunning display of dance and athletics by the Magic Dancers, an elite team of performers who give their all to their routines, and as half-time is sounded your eyes won’t be able to leave the court; look out for the various shows that are bound to impress with music, dance and spectacle!

If all this action and excitement has worked up your appetite, grab a bite to eat at Jernigan’s Restaurant, which has some amazing views overlooking the arena. If you want something more casual then head over to Magic Grill, which features two large bars and serves a selection of foods, including burgers, wings and loaded nachos as well as a range of American beers and cocktails.

The club has to date made it to the NBA Finals twice – in 1995 and 2009; will this season be the third time? Be a part of the action at the home games that we list below, and watch some famous NBA teams competing against the Magic! Tickets are available from $15 per person (plus fees) and can be purchased from the NBA site.

Pre-season exhibition games 2018

• v Flamengo: Friday 5th October
• v Memphis Grizzlies: Wednesday 10th October
• v San Antonio Spurs: Friday 12th October

Regular season home games 2018

• v Miami Heat: Wednesday 17th October
• v Charlotte Hornets: Friday 19th October
• v Portland Trail Blazers: Thursday 25th October
• v Sacramento Kings: Tuesday 30th October
• v LA Clippers: Friday 2nd November
• v Cleveland Cavaliers: Monday 5th November
• v Detroit Pistons: Wednesday 7th November
• v Washington Wizards: Friday 9th November
• v Philadelphia 76ers: Wednesday 14th November
• v Los Angeles Lakers: Saturday 17th November
• v New York Knicks: Sunday 18th November
• v Toronto Raptors: Tuesday 20th November
• v Denver Nuggets: Wednesday 5th December
• v Indiana Pacers: Friday 7th December
• v San Antonio Spurs: Wednesday 19th December
• v Miami Heat: Sunday 23rd December
• v Phoenix Suns: Wednesday 26th December
• v Toronto Raptors: Friday 28th December
• v Detroit Pistons: Sunday 30th December

Regular season home games 2019

• January 2019: 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th, 25th, 29th, 31st
• February 2019: 2nd, 7th, 14th, 22nd, 28th
• March 2019: 8th, 14th, 17th, 20th, 25th
• April 2019: 3rd, 5th