Related Images
Denton: Magic Are Great Entertainment
By John Denton
July 1, 2010
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – ESPN The Magazine confirmed what many Orlando Magic fans already knew: Attending Magic games is among the best experiences in all of sports as far as affordability, bang for the buck, stadium experience, players and coaches and fan relations.
And with the Magic about to move into the dazzling, state-of-the-art Amway Center that experience is only going to dramatically improve for Magic fans.
ESPN The Magazine’s 2010 Ultimate Standings ranked the Magic first among all NBA teams in fan experience and second among all NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL franchises. The standings were tabulated on a variety of categories, namely the affordability of the experience, the dunk for the dollar, the quality of the play and the treatment of the fans.
The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints finished first overall, one spot ahead of the Magic.
Not surprisingly, a Magic franchise that reached the NBA Finals in 2009 and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010 scored incredibly well when stacked against all other professional franchises.
According to the ESPN rankings, the Magic ranked first among all 122 teams in bang for the buck, which ``the worldwide leader’’ defines as ``wins during the past three years per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules.’’
Among the big four sports, the Magic ranked 13th in fan relations, 22nd in affordability, 18th in coaching, 18th in ownership, 20th in players, 33rd in title track and 96th in stadium experience.
Ticket affordability for all fans in Orlando has long been a goal of the Magic. That translated into major success at the box office as the Magic have sold out the past 75 home games.
``One of our objectives is to find ways to make our games accessible to as many people as possible, while delivering more value to ticket holders than ever before,’’ Magic Chief Operating Office Alex Martins said. ``With 7,000 seats priced $25 or under and the introduction of a $5 ticket, coupled with premium amenities available to all levels of ticket buyers, we are looking forward to providing a legendary experience for all our fans.’’
Even as the Magic move from the 21-year-old Amway Arena into the $380 million Amway Center, the franchise plans to continue several affordable measures for home games. Some of them include:
∙ 2,500 seats priced $15 or less, 7,000 seats priced $25 or less, and 10,000 seats priced $50 or under per game, while supplies last.
∙ For the first time ever the introduction of a $5 per game ticket (more than 600 available).
∙ An average savings of 20 percent over single-game gate prices for season ticket holders.
∙ Tickets available range in price from $5-$295 with 15 different price points.
∙ The Magic offers flexible payment plans to its season ticket holders.
∙ Benefits for season ticket holders include: Significant savings over single-game gate prices, preferred seating for the playoffs, invitations to season-ticket holder only events, annual season ticket holder gifts, the ability to buy extra game tickets prior to sale to the general public, a discount on Magic merchandise, and a dedicated season ticket account representative.
And the new Amway Center, which will allow Orlando to attract several top concerts, college basketball tournaments, the 2012 NBA All-Star Game and conventions, will only enhance fans’ experiences at games in the future.
Amway Center, which is on schedule and is set to open in October, will have an Everyfan’s Bar and Food Court, a Club Restaurant, the Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience and Orlando Info Garden, a Kid’s Zone and a North Terrace bar, Terrace Sign bar, O-Zone bar and Sky bar available to every ticketholder. The LEED-certified facility will also feature wider concourses, improved sightlines and wider seats.
And the technology in the new arena is expected to be unmatched dby any other in North America. There will be 1,000 HD digital monitors and the largest, high-definition scoreboard in an NBA arena.
And as for the parking, there will be 6,967 spaces less than a five-minute walk. There will be 2,676 spaces within a 10-minute walk and 3,738 spaces via shuttle/Lymmo bus service. All parking locations will have handicap accessible parking.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. E-mail John at jd41898@aol.com.
By John Denton
July 1, 2010
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – ESPN The Magazine confirmed what many Orlando Magic fans already knew: Attending Magic games is among the best experiences in all of sports as far as affordability, bang for the buck, stadium experience, players and coaches and fan relations.
And with the Magic about to move into the dazzling, state-of-the-art Amway Center that experience is only going to dramatically improve for Magic fans.
ESPN The Magazine’s 2010 Ultimate Standings ranked the Magic first among all NBA teams in fan experience and second among all NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL franchises. The standings were tabulated on a variety of categories, namely the affordability of the experience, the dunk for the dollar, the quality of the play and the treatment of the fans.
The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints finished first overall, one spot ahead of the Magic.
Not surprisingly, a Magic franchise that reached the NBA Finals in 2009 and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010 scored incredibly well when stacked against all other professional franchises.
According to the ESPN rankings, the Magic ranked first among all 122 teams in bang for the buck, which ``the worldwide leader’’ defines as ``wins during the past three years per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules.’’
Among the big four sports, the Magic ranked 13th in fan relations, 22nd in affordability, 18th in coaching, 18th in ownership, 20th in players, 33rd in title track and 96th in stadium experience.
Ticket affordability for all fans in Orlando has long been a goal of the Magic. That translated into major success at the box office as the Magic have sold out the past 75 home games.
``One of our objectives is to find ways to make our games accessible to as many people as possible, while delivering more value to ticket holders than ever before,’’ Magic Chief Operating Office Alex Martins said. ``With 7,000 seats priced $25 or under and the introduction of a $5 ticket, coupled with premium amenities available to all levels of ticket buyers, we are looking forward to providing a legendary experience for all our fans.’’
Even as the Magic move from the 21-year-old Amway Arena into the $380 million Amway Center, the franchise plans to continue several affordable measures for home games. Some of them include:
∙ 2,500 seats priced $15 or less, 7,000 seats priced $25 or less, and 10,000 seats priced $50 or under per game, while supplies last.
∙ For the first time ever the introduction of a $5 per game ticket (more than 600 available).
∙ An average savings of 20 percent over single-game gate prices for season ticket holders.
∙ Tickets available range in price from $5-$295 with 15 different price points.
∙ The Magic offers flexible payment plans to its season ticket holders.
∙ Benefits for season ticket holders include: Significant savings over single-game gate prices, preferred seating for the playoffs, invitations to season-ticket holder only events, annual season ticket holder gifts, the ability to buy extra game tickets prior to sale to the general public, a discount on Magic merchandise, and a dedicated season ticket account representative.
And the new Amway Center, which will allow Orlando to attract several top concerts, college basketball tournaments, the 2012 NBA All-Star Game and conventions, will only enhance fans’ experiences at games in the future.
Amway Center, which is on schedule and is set to open in October, will have an Everyfan’s Bar and Food Court, a Club Restaurant, the Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience and Orlando Info Garden, a Kid’s Zone and a North Terrace bar, Terrace Sign bar, O-Zone bar and Sky bar available to every ticketholder. The LEED-certified facility will also feature wider concourses, improved sightlines and wider seats.
And the technology in the new arena is expected to be unmatched dby any other in North America. There will be 1,000 HD digital monitors and the largest, high-definition scoreboard in an NBA arena.
And as for the parking, there will be 6,967 spaces less than a five-minute walk. There will be 2,676 spaces within a 10-minute walk and 3,738 spaces via shuttle/Lymmo bus service. All parking locations will have handicap accessible parking.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. E-mail John at jd41898@aol.com.
