The biggest day in the history of Orlando sports?
That may not be such a big overstatement. For the first time possibly in the history of the city, Orlando will play host to two major league sporting events on the same day. First, the Magic will be playing at home against the Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Out at Disney, the Tampa Bay Rays will play “host” to the Toronto Blue Jays in the first of a three game series.
I can’t remember the city ever having two games, as large as these, happening on the same day. The thing I just can’t seem to grasp is why in the world the Rays would have scheduled these games at Disney while the Magic are in the playoffs. They saw the NBA schedule just like everybody else, obviously, they didn’t believe the Magic would be that good. How else can you explain why they would have scheduled the games the way they did?
You’ve got to think that the Magic being in the playoffs will have a major impact on the attendance, and overall coverage, the Rays will get out at Disney. I would be out at the baseball game on almost any other day, but I want to see the Magic in the playoffs instead.
You’ve also got to figure that the Sentinel will devote a hefty portion of its space to the Magic, and push the Rays to the back pages.
The Rays supposedly scheduled these games to try and drum support in the Central Florida area, but their target audience is basically the same as the Magic’s.
Where would you rather be if you were a local fan in town, at a playoff basketball game, or a regualr season baseball game?
At least, for once, local fans will be able to make that choice for themselves.
Tags: Disney, Orlando Magic, Tampa Bay Rays, The Orlando Sentinel
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 am
[...] Life After Newhouse wrote an interesting post today on The biggest day in the history of Orlando sports?Here’s a quick excerptI would be out at the baseball game on almost any other day, but I want to see the Magic in the playoffs instead….Where would you rather be if you were a local fan in town, at a playoff basketball game, or a regualr season baseball game?… [...]
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 am
I’m going to have to disagree on this one. The biggest day in the history of Orlando sports would argueably be when we got the Magic franchise. The 2nd biggest day would when we beat the Pacers in game 7 of the conference finals in 96′ and the entire town went ape shit. If the TAMPA rays have a major impact on the biggest day in ORLANDO sports history, it just shows that this town has a long way to go.