Sports & Recreation

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ORLANDO’S WORLD-CLASS EVENT VENUES

Orlando ranks 5th best city in the U.S. for an active lifestyle according to WalletHub. The region’s mild climate makes outdoor recreational pursuits a year-round lifestyle choice in Orlando.

The region is home to more than 100 top-rated golf courses, which are available for play 365 days a year. This is one reason that more professional golfers live here than in any other city in the United States. The annual Arnold Palmer Invitational is just one of the tournaments that attract top players to Central Florida

Orlando has a colourful array of sports teams and personalities, but the brightest stars in the sports/entertainment venue skies have to be the world-class Amway Center and the recently reconstructed Camping World Stadium.

But, there are plenty of sports and recreation options for amateur sports enthusiasts and spectators as well. Highlights include the following:
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Amway Center

amwaycenter.com

With its soaring iconic tower, rooftop bars, best-in-class seating options and more, the state-of-the-art Amway Center has redefined the entertainment experience for fans, teams and entertainers alike. This technologically superior arena has received numerous accolades for its unparalleled vision, amenities and customer service including being named Sports Business Journal’s “2012 Sports Facility of the Year.” In addition to being home to the Orlando Magic and the Orlando Solar Bears, the Amway Center routinely hosts the biggest names in the music business like Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks.

Camping World Stadium    

campingworldstadium.com

Originally built in 1936, Camping World Stadium underwent a massive $207 million reconstruction in 2014 which yielded a 90% all-new stadium offering numerous modern amenities and enhancements. The Camping World Stadium is the only facility in the world that plays host to back-to-back NCAA Bowl games: the Camping World Bowl in December and the Citrus Bowl presented by Overton’s on New Years Day. The stadium is also home to the Florida Blue Florida Classic, our state’s premier black college football game. Plus, big-name concerts like The Rolling Stones and Guns N’ Roses. In January the NFL’s annual Pro Bowl is played at Camping World Stadium.

Orlando Magic

nba.com/magic

Since becoming an expansion franchise in 1989, the Magic have appeared in 14 NBA playoffs, reaching the NBA Finals twice. Some of the biggest names in NBA history have called the Magic home, from Shaquille O’Neal (drafted in 1992) to Tracy McGrady (2000) to Dwight Howard (2004).

Orlando City Soccer

orlandocitysc.com

The city turns purple as fans tailgate before the matches, and the club’s officially-recognized Orlando City leads the MLS in attendance, having drawn more than 62,000 for their inaugural match March 2015 and more than 30,000 for each subsequent home match. A new 25,500-seat soccer stadium that opened in 2017, home to the MLS’s Orlando City Soccer Club and the NWSL’s Orlando Pride.

Orlando Solar Bears

orlandosolarbearshockey.com

UCF Knights

ucfknights.com

The University of Central Florida (UCF) has a 45,000-seat football stadium and a 10,000-seat convocation center and hosts basketball games, commencement ceremonies, concerts and more.

More highlights include the following:

  • USTA built a state-of-the-art facility, the USTA National Campus. The facility features 100-plus courts and houses the USTA’s Community Tennis and Player Development divisions.
  • The region’s park network is extensive and well maintained, providing space for activities ranging from youth to adult recreational sports programs to corporate picnics and family reunions. A growing number of hiking and bike trails also dot the region; providing safe, traffic-free expanses for weekend exercise as well as for athletes in training. More information: Orange County Parks | Seminole County Parks & Preservation | Lake County Parks & Trails | Osceola County Parks | City of Orlando Parks & Recreation
  • Lake County is home to the National Training Center, a facility where local residents, national and international athletes of all levels gather to train and build strength. World-class track and field athletes from the USA, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Great Britain, Jamaica, Netherlands/Antilles, Nigeria and Barbados are among those who have taken advantage of this stellar resource while training for the Olympic Games.

 

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