Experience the excitement of a live ice hockey game in Orlando

Coming out of hibernation in 2011 after the former Orlando Solar Bears franchise last took to the ice in 2001; the current ice hockey team of the same name are making good headway as they bring professional hockey back to central Florida.

The Orlando Solar Bears along with the Jacksonville Icemen and Florida Everblades, are one of Florida’s three East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) teams, and play in the South Division of the league. From August this year, the Solar Bears have entered into a three-year agreement to share players with the National Hockey League team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the prestigious Stanley Cup in the 2003-04 season.

For the six seasons that the Orlando Solar Bears have played in, they have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs an impressive four times. This year the current champions, the Colorado Eagles, will not be defending their title, after making the move to the American Hockey League (AHL). Will the Orlando Solar Bears take the opportunity to dominate this season, and will you be there to watch them make history?

Ice hockey is renowned for being a high-octane full-contact sport, and you are bound to find yourself caught up in the action! If you want to show your support for the Solar Bears you can head to their web shop and purchase a range of clothing or novelty items branded with their team logo which features Shades, the official team mascot, though orders can only be delivered to US or Canadian addresses.

Like Orlando Magic, the local basketball team that we looked at in a recent blog, the Solar Bears also play their home games at the Amway Center, though they do their training at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den, north of the city centre. You’ll easily be able to spot the Amway Center, with its signature spire towering 180ft above the city, and illuminated by a light display from the LEDs inside its steel mesh which change dependent on the event held on the night. In 2017 the DeVos family, who also own Orlando Magic, agreed to purchase the Solar Bears, bringing these two sporting teams under the same management.

The new ice hockey season for the Solar Bears began on Saturday 13th October, at the Amway Center against the Atlanta Gladiators, starting the run of 72 regular season games, 36 of which are played at home, and listed below.

Where to buy Orlando Solar Bear tickets

Tickets for each home game start from $12.25 per head plus fees. There is wheelchair accessible seating, though you should check the Amway Center Accessibility Guide for more information. If you were planning on bringing children with you, please note that the Amway Center requires that they must be aged two or older.

Tickets can be booked through their website or Ticketmaster.

After the game, chill out in the Coors Light Cold Zone, where you can get a refreshing ice-cold drink. If you want to grab a bite to eat, the Magic Grill offers a tasty range of traditional bar food, or if it’s warm outside, why not head to the open-air Sugar Skull Rum Landing overlooking the Church Street Plaza below and reflect on the team’s performance with friends?

If you would like to get a feel for the Solar Bears before heading to the stadium, then have a listen to some of their previous games from 2018 which are archived on the show reel page of their Mixlr site. During live games you are also able to keep up with all the action. If you can’t be there in person to cheer the Bears on, but want to see them playing, or you wish to continue to follow them upon your return to the UK, you can for $8.99 per game, (other packages are available) by viewing the match on ECHL.TV.

Orlando Solar Bears home games 2018:

All games start at 7pm (local time)

• v Atlanta Gladiators: Saturday 13th October
• v South Carolina Stingrays: Monday 15th October
• v South Carolina Stingrays: Tuesday 16th October
• v Florida Everblades: Friday 26th October
• v Jacksonville Icemen: Tuesday 6th November
• v South Carolina Stingrays: Wednesday 21st November
• v Newfoundland Growlers: Friday 23rd November
• v Newfoundland Growlers: Saturday 24th November
• v Norfolk Admirals: Saturday 1st December
• v Norfolk Admirals: Sunday 2nd December
• v Greenville Swamp Rabbits: Sunday 9th December
• v Atlanta Gladiators: Sunday 16th December
• v South Carolina Stingrays: Monday 17th December
• v Florida Everblades: Thursday 20th December
• v Florida Everblades: Friday 21st December
• v Jacksonville Icemen: Saturday 29th December

Orlando Solar Bears home games 2019:

• v Greenville Swamp Rabbits: Wednesday 2nd January
• v South Carolina Stingrays: Saturday 5th January
• v South Carolina Stingrays: Sunday 6th January
• v Jacksonville Icemen: Wednesday 6th February
• v Jacksonville Icemen: Friday 8th February
• v Jacksonville Icemen: Friday 15th February
• v Manchester Monarchs: Sunday 17th February
• v Norfolk Admirals: Thursday 21st February
• v Greenville Swamp Rabbits: Saturday 23rd February
• v Greenville Swamp Rabbits: Sunday 24th February
• v Florida Everblades: Wednesday 27th February
• v Florida Everblades: Saturday 2nd March
• v Florida Everblades: Wednesday 13th March
• v Idaho Steelheads: Saturday 16th March
• v Idaho Steelheads: Monday 18th March
• v Idaho Steelheads: Tuesday 19th March
• v Atlanta Gladiators: Thursday 21st March
• v Jacksonville Icemen: Tuesday 2nd April
• v Atlanta Gladiators: Thursday 4th April
• v Jacksonville Icemen: Sunday 7th April