Greetings sports fans! When you have had your fill of fun in the parks during the day, you could be left with some evenings free to try out something new. If you enjoy cheering on your favourite team back home, why not head down to Orlando’s Amway Center for a night of ice hockey or basketball, supporting some of Florida’s premier sports teams?

Both the ice hockey and basketball seasons begin in October, which could make them good places to visit as the nights start to draw in. The Amway Center is the home stadium to the ice hockey team Orlando Solar Bears, as well as the NBA’s Orlando Magic and can be found around 15 minutes north of the Disney parks.

Orlando Magic

Fresh from last season, which was ended by the Toronto Raptors in the first playoff round after they had finished seventh in the league, the Magic are raring to go again! They have three exhibition games before the first proper season home match begins in late October, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Prices for tickets to preseason games start at just $17 dollars each, and go all the way up to $701.50 for courtside seats! These are expensive, but do get you access to the Fields Auto Group Ultimate Lounge, as well as all-inclusive food and drink both in the lounge and in your seat. Scheduled preseason home games are:

• October 11 Vs Boston Celtics
• October 13 Vs Philadelphia 76ers
• October 17 Vs Miami Heat

Standard tickets to regular season games start at $19 and can go up to around $1000 for the courtside seats – again with lounge access and all the food and drink you can handle! Orlando Magic’s scheduled NBA matches are as follows:

• October 23 Vs Cleveland Cavaliers
• October 30 Vs New York Knicks
• November 1 Vs Milwaukee Bucks
• November 2 Vs Denver Nuggets
• November 8 Vs Memphis Grizzlies
• November 10 Vs Indiana Pacers
• November 13 Vs Philadelphia 76ers
• November 15 Vs San Antonio Spurs
• November 17 Vs Washington Wizards
• November 29 Vs Toronto Raptors
• December 1 Vs Golden State Warriors
• December 4 Vs Phoenix Suns
• December 11 Vs Los Angeles Lakers
• December 13 Vs Houston Rockets
• December 23 Vs Chicago Bulls
• December 27 Vs Philadelphia 76ers
• December 30 Vs Atlanta Hawks
• January 3 Vs Miami Heat
• January 4 Vs Utah Jazz
• January 6 Vs Brooklyn Nets
• January 8 Vs Washington Wizards
• January 22 Vs Oklahoma City Thunder
• January 24 Vs Boston Celtics
• January 26 Vs LA Clippers
• February 1 Vs Miami Heat
• February 8 Vs Milwaukee Bucks
• February 10 Vs Atlanta Hawks
• February 12 Vs Detroit Pistons
• February 21 Vs Dallas Mavericks
• February 28 Vs Minnesota Timberwolves
• March 2 Vs Portland Trail Blazers
• March 12 Vs Chicago Bulls
• March 15 Vs Charlotte Hornets
• March 19 Vs Cleveland Cavaliers
• March 21 Vs Sacramento Kings
• March 25 Vs Indiana Pacers
• March 27 Vs Brooklyn Nets
• March 29 Vs New Orleans Pelicans
• April 1 Vs Charlotte Hornets
• April 10 Vs Boston Celtics
• April 15 Vs Toronto Raptors

All ticket prices quoted are exclusive of fees. These can vary dependent on your location and how you wish to receive your tickets; you can have them posted to you – at a cost – or you can set up an NBA account, get their app on your phone and download your ticket there, this is free.

As with all NBA games, there is plenty of entertainment to be enjoyed before, during and after the match! Expect light and video shows, as well as half-time entertainment and cheerleaders! This year the Magic have held open auditions to assemble a troupe of hip-hop dancers aged 55 and over, as well as their more-traditional cheerleading stunt team and crowd-pleasing hype squad, who fire prizes into the stadium during timeouts!

Orlando Solar Bears

Plying their trade in the ECHL, the level below the top-flight of the NHL, Orlando Solar Bears are one of four major hockey teams in Florida, one other being the Florida Everblades, also of the ECHL. These are based in Estero, a three-hour drive away, with the Florida Panthers and *Tampa Bay Lightning*of the NHL making up the rest.

The Solar Bears had quite the rivalry with the Everblades last year, both teams finishing first and second in the Eastern Conference’s South Division. Both went to the playoffs stages and met again in the Division Finals, where the Everblades prevailed – as they had done in the league.

Tickets to the Solar Bears’ matches start at $12.25 each, going up to $42.75 (before fees) for rink-side seats. All prices quoted are exclusive of fees, so bear this in mind when booking. Home games scheduled are as below:

• October 12 Vs South Carolina Stingrays
• October 18 Vs Norfolk Admirals
• November 01 Vs South Carolina Stingrays
• November 02 Vs South Carolina Stingrays
• November 05 Vs Jacksonville Icemen
• November 10 Vs Jacksonville Icemen
• November 14 Vs Florida Everblades
• November 26 Vs Norfolk Admirals
• November 29 Vs South Carolina Stingrays
• November 30 Vs South Carolina Stingrays
• December 05 Vs Jacksonville Icemen
• December 06 Vs Atlanta Gladiators
• December 07 Vs Atlanta Gladiators
• December 17 Vs Kansas City Mavericks
• December 26 Vs Jacksonville Icemen
• December 27 Vs Jacksonville Icemen
• January 03 Vs Atlanta Gladiators
• January 04 Vs Brampton Beast
• January 05 Vs Brampton Beast
• January 24 Vs Jacksonville Icemen
• January 25 Vs Greenville Swamp Rabbits
• February 07 Vs Greenville Swamp Rabbits
• February 08 Vs South Carolina Stingrays

There are plenty of chances for you to watch your new team, and perhaps this could even kick-start a new passion, after you get swept up in the drama unfolding in front of you. If you don’t think you can make it to watch any of these games, there are many other ways to keep up to date with your favourite teams, as Orlando is home to leagues of sports bars and pubs screening the big matches, if this sounds more up your street refer to our previous blog for the full lowdown!

There are many reasons to visit the Amway Center, as it hosts many events, but for a true slice of American life, we think sampling the atmosphere at popular sporting events is as close as you can get to experiencing life as a local. Give it a try and tell us what you thought! Have you been before? Who did you see? Get in contact via our usual social media channels.

Image credits:

• CC by Jeff Kern
• CC by Jose Garcia
• CC by Keith Allison