Orlando, Florida has a fairly successful history in sports, both amateur and professional. The city is home to fans for the Orlando Magic professional basketball team, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers professional hockey teams. Football is very popular in Florida, they host two annual 'bowls' in the region each year: the Capitol One Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl.
The Orlando Magic basketball franchise was founded in 1989 as an expansion of the NBA. A few notable members of the team are Shaquille O'Neal, Pennyu Hardaway, Grant Hill and Vince Carter. They team has been in the playoffs many times and are to date the most successful of the four teams who were a part of the expansion that took place in 1989. It is important to note that the Orlando Magic is the only professional team of the 'big four' to be based specifically within the city of Orlando.
The National Hockey League has two Florida teams under its belt, the Tampa Bay Lightening and the Florida Panthers. Although they are not based in Orlando, specifically, a large part of their fan base comes from the city. The Lightening is an expansion team, first hitting the ice in 1992. The team started out with a bang, shocking the Chicago Blackhawks in a 7-3 win. Unfortunately, their success fell into failure during the next few seasons. In 1998, the team was sold to Art Williams, who had grand dreams for its turnaround and success. His vision was unfulfilled, as by the end of the 1999 season, his 'heart was broken' by the team's 54 losses. He sold the team once again, and by 2004, a Stanley Cup win was had.
The Florida Panthers were part of an expansion draft in 1993, which also brought the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Blockbuster Video magnate Wayne Huizenga owned the team, choosing to base it in Miami. The Panthers seasonal record is not consistent, and neither is its coaching record. They have qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs a handful of times, but never made it to the third round. The team currently holds the record for the most consecutive seasons of not qualifying for the playoffs.
The Citrus Bowl stadium was one of nine venues to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup, attracting attendance of over 60,000 fans. Orlando hosted group F, which consisted of the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Moroccan teams. Three preliminary games were played, of which the Netherlands advanced forward one round, but eventually lost to the international soccer behemoths, Brazil. The final was played in Pasadena Florida, with Brazil and Italy facing off. The game tied at zero in extra time and went to a penalty shootout with Brazil knocking Italy out in 3-2 shots.
Golf is definitely a destination sport in Orlando. In fact, the city is rated the fourth most popular place to golf in the US (according to the 2009 Pew Research Center study). The Bay Hill Club and Lodge are famous in golfing circuits and home to the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Many Orlando area hotels offer golf vacation packages that include greens fees and accommodations at Embassy Suites Orlando or the Sheraton Vistana Resort.
Football has a pretty deep culture in Florida but Orlando has yet to be home to their own professional team. The Orlando Predators are, however, an Arena Football League team and there is also the infamous Orlando Fantasy of the Lingerie Football League. This is a relatively new league in which all the team members are female. The Caribe Royale Orlando will often offer ticket packages to the LFL when travelers arrive.
Orlando as a vacation destination is often dominated by Walt Disney World Resort, but there is so much more to experience. Chances are, no matter what time of year you visit, there will be a world class sporting event to book yourself into.
The Orlando Magic basketball franchise was founded in 1989 as an expansion of the NBA. A few notable members of the team are Shaquille O'Neal, Pennyu Hardaway, Grant Hill and Vince Carter. They team has been in the playoffs many times and are to date the most successful of the four teams who were a part of the expansion that took place in 1989. It is important to note that the Orlando Magic is the only professional team of the 'big four' to be based specifically within the city of Orlando.
The National Hockey League has two Florida teams under its belt, the Tampa Bay Lightening and the Florida Panthers. Although they are not based in Orlando, specifically, a large part of their fan base comes from the city. The Lightening is an expansion team, first hitting the ice in 1992. The team started out with a bang, shocking the Chicago Blackhawks in a 7-3 win. Unfortunately, their success fell into failure during the next few seasons. In 1998, the team was sold to Art Williams, who had grand dreams for its turnaround and success. His vision was unfulfilled, as by the end of the 1999 season, his 'heart was broken' by the team's 54 losses. He sold the team once again, and by 2004, a Stanley Cup win was had.
The Florida Panthers were part of an expansion draft in 1993, which also brought the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Blockbuster Video magnate Wayne Huizenga owned the team, choosing to base it in Miami. The Panthers seasonal record is not consistent, and neither is its coaching record. They have qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs a handful of times, but never made it to the third round. The team currently holds the record for the most consecutive seasons of not qualifying for the playoffs.
The Citrus Bowl stadium was one of nine venues to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup, attracting attendance of over 60,000 fans. Orlando hosted group F, which consisted of the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Moroccan teams. Three preliminary games were played, of which the Netherlands advanced forward one round, but eventually lost to the international soccer behemoths, Brazil. The final was played in Pasadena Florida, with Brazil and Italy facing off. The game tied at zero in extra time and went to a penalty shootout with Brazil knocking Italy out in 3-2 shots.
Golf is definitely a destination sport in Orlando. In fact, the city is rated the fourth most popular place to golf in the US (according to the 2009 Pew Research Center study). The Bay Hill Club and Lodge are famous in golfing circuits and home to the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Many Orlando area hotels offer golf vacation packages that include greens fees and accommodations at Embassy Suites Orlando or the Sheraton Vistana Resort.
Football has a pretty deep culture in Florida but Orlando has yet to be home to their own professional team. The Orlando Predators are, however, an Arena Football League team and there is also the infamous Orlando Fantasy of the Lingerie Football League. This is a relatively new league in which all the team members are female. The Caribe Royale Orlando will often offer ticket packages to the LFL when travelers arrive.
Orlando as a vacation destination is often dominated by Walt Disney World Resort, but there is so much more to experience. Chances are, no matter what time of year you visit, there will be a world class sporting event to book yourself into.
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