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MagicMadness
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Magic not optimistic about Orlando future; Ok, now it's getting really serious...
Topic Started: Apr 4 2005, 01:39 AM (625 Views)
MagicMadness
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Magic ownership has been putting on its best face about the arena issue, saying the politically correct things -- or, frankly, not saying much at all.

This much is becoming clear:

Privately, the franchise is no longer optimistic about its future in Orlando.

The confidence the Magic once had about keeping the team in town has faded.

At the moment -- and things can change fast -- Rich DeVos' family is starting to get that same queasy feeling it did before it lost Shaq.

Disheartened by hotel-row feedback and newspaper polls, the Magic have run into a political brick wall. They're feeling they might have to launch the franchise's greatest comeback.

I detect the Magic's reaction to the latest vibes they're receiving goes beyond the normal posturing. Because in the baseball vernacular, the Magic have yet to throw out the first pitch -- or threat -- of the arena-annexing season.

They're quietly preparing to make their case for a new arena soon, a tug-of-war that figures to rage for another year, probably longer.

While emotion drives sporting endeavors, this comes down to business -- what makes the best financial sense for Orlando and the basketball team.

The city offered the Magic a renovation proposal for its 16-year-old arena. The Magic are studying it and taking their own polls. But they really don't believe renovation makes sense, even if they haven't publicly said so.

"One thing we're clear on, we'll do our due diligence," Magic President Bob Vander Weide told the Sentinel. "We'll be methodical, prudent business people, which is why we can't say anything about renovation."

The point the Magic will make is simple: A new arena will serve more than just tall guys in sneakers.

"There has got to be a win in this for a lot of different individuals with a lot of different interests," Vander Weide said. "Tourist row has to find a win in whatever facilities get built in this community. They are the economic engine. There has to be a home for the arts. It does sell and create a lifestyle that we want to promote here. It has to be a venue that brings new concerts. . . . And then a venue that will also fulfill our home needs as the Magic.

"Any facility we're headquartered in, it better service the entertainment needs of this community. It better be a building that can support 200 nights of activity a year because that's what good buildings do, of which we would be one quarter of that."

Because of the fallout from the Buddy Dyer mayoral mess, Vander Weide said, "We also have to wait for the city to organize its leadership again."

The Magic might feel better if former mayor Bill Frederick comes out of retirement to hold the city's hand through this upheaval. Frederick was instrumental in Orlando landing its first major-league team and getting the arena built in 1989.

Most talk has centered on a new arena being built near downtown in an overall economic development plan. But Vander Weide said he wasn't about to "lock myself into a location."

Get this: He's not opposed to the building of an arena, ironically, near I-Drive, where leaders of hotel row have fought the Magic's desire for tourist-tax dollars.

"If its location dictates it move south, to tourist row, then let's have that discussion," Vander Weide said.

"At some point and time, whenever that is, this facility, in its current condition, will be obsolete by NBA standards," Vander Weide said. "[Commissioner] David Stern said that. I don't know when that time line is.

"All I know is the clock is ticking."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...magic&track=rss

This is not good news at all. I just wish there were more fans out there like us who frequent this message board and love the Magic through thick and thin. I've tried thinking of what life would be like without the Magic, and I honestly don't know how I'd take it, because they are my favorite sports franchise, and I have so many great memories growing up of following the team and going to home games.

I so wish I could win the Florida lottery. Because if I did, I'd use the money to make sure the Magic stayed in Orlando. :(
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dxwwf3
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Well this article came out of nowhere for me. I thought things were going better. If the Magic leave Orlando, I'm done. I'll just find another team I guess. I don't even want to think about it right now.
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iceveins333
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f**k!!!! man they can't leave...thats bulls**t. Man f**k the hotels and these dumbass uninformed hicks who don't know the fact that tourist tax can't be used on education, or on making I-4 bigger, or whatever their issue is, but they don't f**king b**ch whenever the s**tty ass peabody (well its not really s**tty its actually really nice) wants that same 300 mill to build a whole new building!!! wtf, we have countless #"s of high class hotels out here who made that s**t with thier own money yet the peabody has to go after the tourist tax to try to get a new building, not that we need it anyways. man f**k just give the tax to the magic for gods sake, the arena blows and the city knows it, if it wasn't for all these uninformed assholes we would probably have an nfl team in orlando too right now...f**k YOU PEABODY AND IGNORANT ASSHOLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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MAGICMANEVAN
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Well this article came out of nowhere for me. I thought things were going better. If the Magic leave Orlando, I'm done. I'll just find another team I guess. I don't even want to think about it right now.
exactly, this is pretty much what i was about to type.
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MagicMadness
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(I typed this at another board):

The thing I don't understand is that the Magic are not the only "attraction" at the TD Waterhouse Centre. A new arena would help us compete with areas like Tampa and Jacksonville for higher profile music acts and other forms of entertainment.

I mean, if attendance is sagging due to the arena being "old", wouldn't that kind of mean attendance is sagging for other events i.e. - concerts, wrestling, ice shows, etc.

Politicians, Magic officials, whoever - please emphasize the importance of a new arena for all types of community entertainment, not just the Magic.
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iceveins333
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That is true MagicMadness cause none of the high profile music groups/artists that come to tour in Orlando ever play at TD Waterhouse cause they know it sucks, most of them either go to The House of Blues or the Hard Rock Live. If we had an up to date state of the art facility then most of them would probably rather play at the arena instead.

But I dunno, there are way too many uninformed people out here, not to mention the Sentinel doesn't help cause Bianchi is like the only guy pro arena while we have idiots like Mike Thomas who don't even know what the tourist tax is spreading propoganda to falsely sway the uninformed citizens of O town.

Sigh well I wouldn't be surprised is the city decides to be assholes and deny the magic, I mean this is the same council that shot down upgrading the s**tty ass citrus bowl to elevate the capital own bowl to a bcs game which would have brought in TONS of revenue and upwards to 300 million dollars on a year they host the nat'l championship game. But of course they had to drop the ball.
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MagicMadness
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Yeah, the politicians of Orlando and the Central Florida area are really pissing me off when it comes to their sports decisions. They want our area to be a metropolis on the level of cities like Atlanta, New York City, and Chicago, but they won't pay the money for big-time arenas and stadiums.

Virtually every big-time city in America has at least one (if not more) professional sports team.
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kjbucs01
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Sixth Man
i dont live in orlando (jacksonville) but i still dont want them to leave because it just wouldnt be the same although i would continue to be a fan. Im sure the big houston oiler fans continued to be titan fans. But i really just hope the magic can put together a great team in order to win over the city and get the support it needs. times running out though
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bkt0506
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I love the magic and would hate to see them leave...Also on PTI today they said "Happy Trails" to orlando magic, and said reports say team may relocate because of frustration...This better not happen
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dxwwf3
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Legend
I know one thing: No Orlando = No Magic for me. Get it done City of Orlando! The city would be nothing on a national scale without the Magic and there would be nothing there anymore. So whoever lives down there, please do the rest of the Magic Nation a favor and make sure when the next election comes around to vote someone in office that has the Magic has a high priority. Hopefully we will still be around by then.
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24A!Z!U!bukie24
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maybe they will be called the Kansas City Cougars
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iceveins333
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24A!Z!U!bukie24
Apr 4 2005 05:41 PM
maybe they will be called the Kansas City Cougars

how about no <_<
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dxwwf3
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Legend
How about they call them the Orlando Magic?
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dxwwf3
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bkt0506
Apr 4 2005 05:26 PM
I love the magic and would hate to see them leave...Also on PTI today they said "Happy Trails" to orlando magic, and said reports say team may relocate because of frustration...This better not happen

This isn't the first time that PTI has had the Magic on the happy trails. So take that for what it's worth. I'm a little mad at Wilbon right now anyways. He said that the Tennessee Vols color was "yellow". It's ORANGE you moron. :) We take our college football serious around these parts and to not know our school color burns me up.
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efenell
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DA - Magic Legend
we did elect a mayor who is pro-magic, however he will probably get fired for rigging the election. Thats why we have to call city hall as much as possible to have our voice heard!!!!
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