Orlando Florida HotelsOrlando VacationsOrlando FloridaOrlando Florida BlogEn Español (beta)Home
 
(800) 210-3464
Orlando Theme Parks
Walt Disney World tickets Magic Kingdom ticketsDisney's Hollywood Studios ticketsEpcot ticketsAnimal Kingdom tickets Blizzard Beach tickets Typhoon Lagoon tickets Universal Studios tickets Islands of Adventure ticketsSea World ticketsBusch Gardens tickets
Walt Disney World Universal Studios Florida Sea World Aquatica
Orlando Are Travel Guide
Orlando AttractionsOrlando Day TripsOrlando NightclubsOrlando GolfOrlando AreaSeasonal EventsOrlando Restaurant Guide Orlando ConventionsOrlando Travel TipsFlorida Vacations Orlando Shopping & Malls Orlando VideosDisney World videos Bookmark this page
Orlando Florida > Orlando Press Releases & Travel Articles

Calendar Icon
Calendar Icon

A Comprehensive Guide to 2009 Orlando Spectator Sports



Central Florida sports fans – visitors and residents alike – will have plenty to cheer about with such popular spectator sports as the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League (AFL) and the University of Central Florida (UCF) Golden Knights football team. Orlando is also bustling with baseball action during Spring Training as the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros come to town this spring.

The Orlando Magic play all their home games at the 17,500-seat Amway Arena (formerly known as the TD Waterhouse Centre) in downtown Orlando. Founded in 1989, the Orlando Magic advanced to the NBA Finals during both the 1994-95 and 2008-09 seasons. Many basketball superstars have played for the Orlando Magic over the years such as Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway and Tracy McGrady. The current Orlando Magic roster includes superstars Dwight Howard and Vince Carter. Stan Van Gundy is the head coach of the Orlando Magic, which compete in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. Construction has already begun on a new, 20,000-seat Orlando Magic Arena.

Founded in 1991, the Orlando Predators, who captured the Arena Bowl Championship in 1998 and 2000, compete in the 19-team AFL. The Predators have made the playoffs 17 years in a row and compete in the Southern Division of the National Conference against the likes of the Austin Wranglers, Dallas Desperados, Georgia Force, Las Vegas Gladiators, New Orleans Voodoo and Tampa Bay Storm. The 16-game regular season includes eight home games at the Amway Arena (a.k.a. “The Jungle”) and runs from early February to late May. NOTE: Although the AFL cancelled the 2009 partly because of the economic downtown, the league plans to resume operations in 2010.

The UCF Golden Knights football team competes in Conference USA against such teams as East Carolina University, Marshall University, Rice University, Southern Methodist University, Tulane University, University of Alabama Birmingham, University of Houston, University of Memphis, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Texas-El Paso and University of Tulsa. George O’Leary is the head coach of the Golden Knights, which finished with a record of 4-8 during the 2006 season. The Golden Knights play their home games at the 45,000-seat Bright House Networks Stadium.

Central Florida is also the site of Major League Baseball (MLB) Spring Training when the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros arrive each February. The Braves play 16 home games at a 7,500-seat, state-of-the-art ballpark within Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, while the Houston Astros compete at the recently renovated Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee.

Other spectator sports scheduled to take place in the Orlando area over the next year include the Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl, which pits the second-ranked college football teams of the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on New Year’s Day; the Silver Spurs Rodeo, the largest rodeo East of the Mississippi, which takes place at the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee in February; and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club in March and Walt Disney World Resort Classic in November, two immensely popular golf tournaments that draw some of the world’s top professional golfers on the PGA tour.

Orlando visitors should plan ahead and pre-order tickets for spectator sports they wish to attend during their stay. Tickets to sporting events, as well as theme park tickets, can often be added to discount vacation packages, allowing families to enjoy significant savings on their Orlando vacations.

Disney World Tickets

More Info
Magic Your Way Base Tickets Ages 10+  Ages 3-9 (tax included)
1 Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket* $79.88 $67.10 Buy tickets
2 Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket* $158.69 $133.13 Buy tickets
3 Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket* $225.78 $190.64 Buy tickets
4 Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket* $233.24 $195.96 Buy tickets
5 Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket* $236.43 $199.16 Buy tickets
6 Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket* $239.63 $202.35 Buy tickets
7 Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket* $242.82 $205.55 Buy tickets
10 Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket*  $252.41 $215.13 Buy tickets
*Walt Disney World tickets are ONLY available with a hotel room booking.

The Latest from the Orlando Florida Vacations Blog
  • Orlando Florida Blog
    Orlando Vacations Blog. News, Views, Deals and more...

    • 2009-2010 Disney World Holiday Events
      Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party November 10 – December 18, 2009 Holidays Around the World November 27 – December 30, 2009 The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights November 10, 2009 – January 4, 2010 Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade November 27, 2009 – January 3, 2010 New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World Resort December 31, 2009
    • Disney’s Contemporary Resort Retro Video
    • Walt Disney World Timeline
      The Walt Disney World Timeline at www.orlando-florida.net takes readers on a fascinating journey through Disney World history that includes Walt Disney’s first hastily arranged press conference in 1965 detailing his plans for the project, site preparation for Disney’s Magic Kingdom, the grand opening of Disney World in 1971, the original attractions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom and [...]
    • Top 10 Latest Additions at Disney World
      If you haven’t treated the family to Walt Disney World Resort during the past few years and visited its four world-class theme parks – Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom – check out all of the great new Disney attractions you’ve been missing: 1. Toy Story Midway Mania! – Disney’s Hollywood [...]
    • Universal’s Velvet Sessions to Host Twisted Sister
      The October Velvet Sessions at Universal Orlando Resort will feature Twisted Sister as they perform such hits as “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” “I Wanna Rock,” “The Price” and more. Velvet Sessions will take place at Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday, October 29, 2009. Cost is $40, which includes free specialty drinks, finger foods and [...]
    • Tampa Bay Bucs Cheerleaders at Howl-O-Scream
      Don’t miss Howl-O-Scream Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through October 31, 2009, at Busch Gardens Tampa!
    hoteles en Orlando | Disney World height restrictions | Things To Do Orlando
    sitemap | Orlando press releases | Orlando Travel Articles
    Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa | Westgate Resorts

    Copyright ©2009, Orlando-Florida.net. As to Disney artwork, logos and properties: ©Disney.
    As to Universal artwork, logos and properties: ©Universal. As to SeaWorld artwork, logos and properties: ©SeaWorld. (Orlando Florida 32801, 32819)

    This advertising material is being used for the purpose of soliciting sales of a vacation ownership plan.


    Terms & Conditions
     
    Florida residents Offer