Why You Should Check Out an Orlando Basketball Game

It’s true that there’s a lot to do in Orlando, but we’re going to add to your options by giving you one more thing to consider on your Central Florida holiday - a basketball game.

Now, with all the theme parks and other attractions, that might seem like one thing too many, but hear us out. You might just be missing out on one of the most authentic American experiences of them all.

This will especially appeal to those who are on their second, third - or more - Orlando visit and are looking for that “something different” factor.

The new season’s just ahead

The good news is that your timing couldn’t be better if you’re planning a trip any time from October 24 to April 14, because the new NBA season is barely a month away.

Pre-season training begins next week; the first warm-up games start on October 5, and the action tips off on October 24, when defending champs Denver take on the mighty Los Angeles Lakers.

The Orlando team, Orlando Magic, the date is October 25, when they begin their season at home to Houston at the glittering Amway Center in downtown Orlando.

It is the first of 40 home fixtures for the local stars, right the way through to April, and that means plenty of opportunities to take in a game.

All the fun of The Amway

Just to start with, a visit to the Magic’s home, The Amway, is highly recommended at any time to see the astounding level of comfort, facilities and technology packed into this fabulous 17,500-seat indoor arena, which maxes out at a whopping 875,000 square feet.

It opened in 2010 in a blaze of publicity and immediately gave the city bragging rights on one of the most impressive and high-tech stadium facilities in the country, an architectural marvel boasting a massive central LED display board with 18 individual screens and a flexible seating design that can accommodate multiple events.

As well as basketball, the venue can host ice-hockey and indoor American Football, while it is also a superb stage for big-name concerts (the likes of Lady Gaga, Andrea Bocelli and Elton John have all performed here), WWE wrestling and mixed martial arts shows.

The $380 million arena is packed with user-friendly features, including full-service dining and more than a dozen bars and drinks kiosks, most notably the huge Baseline Bar and open-air ULTRA Club, with magnificent views over the city. There’s even a children’s play area on game days.

Oh, and there are plenty of loos, sorry, restrooms. The latter also have their own TV screens, so you won’t miss a moment of the action!

Get set for a dining delight

For those used to the average fare served up at most football grounds, getting something to eat before or during the game will come as a very pleasant surprise at The Amway, where your choice runs the full gamut from fast food to fine dining.

Around the main concourse, look for almost two dozen kiosks featuring a variety of local and national favourites, plus two new concepts that were introduced this year.

The Orlando Table and Orlando Market were designed to present an ever-changing array of local flair and cuisines, from Cuban delicacies to the likes of the famous 4 Rivers BBQ fare, plus street food and food truck specialities.

You can even opt for full-service, sit-down dining at Jernigan’s, with a magnificent view of the main arena while you eat (available for pre-booking to all ticketed guests).

The Amway hosts more than 340 works of art, as well as 60 luxurious private suites, and it is fully disabled accessible at all levels. It is walkable from the central downtown area - notably Church Street with its inviting collection of bars and restaurants - and it has its own multi-storey car park, with a covered walkway into the arena for the most convenient of access points.

And then there is the team

The Orlando Magic’s most famous players are Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard, but Shaq has long since retired and the 37-year-old Howard is more in journeyman status these days. But that leaves the stage for a new, young crop of hoops stars to take to the court on game days, and that is certainly the team’s future.

The Magic have endured some lean times recently in terms of reaching the all-important end-of-season play-offs (April-June), with just two appearances in the past 11 years and no series wins.

But there is real hope the team took a big stride forward last year and they are now ready to make a breakthrough and be a serious contender, behind highly touted 20-year-old Paolo Banchero.

The young 6ft 10in prospect was Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 and heads a cast of highly promising talent, including third-year star Franz Wagner, as well as Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs, who are all poised for a breakout season.

The team’s average age is a youthful 24.5 years old, the second youngest in the league, which is VERY young in American sports terms, where most players must go through college to qualify to play professionally.

But that gives Magic fans hope for an encouraging future, hence the 2023-24 season stands to be one of growth and promise. It should mean that games will be well worth watching for basketball fans, while they continue to be a highlight as a one-off experience, and that’s REALLY where the attraction lies for British visitors.

The joy of American sports

Sport in the US is a completely different animal from UK sports like football, cricket and rugby. In the US, games are events as much as a sporting occasion, with plenty of hoopla before, during and after the game itself.

This is therefore a chance to revel in the entertainment-style atmosphere that exists within the Arena, an action-packed venue tailor-made for fans and full of family-friendly touches that ensure everyone is catered for.

For the grown-ups, you are never far away from excellent food and beverage options, while children can have fun with team mascot, Stuff (the Magic dragon), at STUFF’S Magic Castle play area. There are cheerleaders, dancers, games, giveaways and other activities going on around the concourses and arena, and that’s all before the game has even started!

And then there are fun diversions during breaks in the action, with more cheerleader sessions, a half-time show and the essential excitement of the T-shirt cannons - hand-held devices that the cheerleading team can fire into the audience, offering the lure of a free T-shirt if it comes your way.

It’s simply an all-round show, crowned by some truly top-notch basketball action and rounded out with comfortable seats and excellent views from every point in the arena - even most of the bars.

In fact, we’d go as far as to say this is an essential experience, especially if you have never been to the USA before. You don’t need to know the rules - just enjoy the razzamatazz!

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