NBA Orlando – What are the Basketball games like?

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Written By Carlos Braga

One activity we always like to do when we travel is watching NBA basketball games at the Amway Center, home of the Orlando Magic.

I've always been a basketball fan since I was a kid, I remember collecting NBA cards at the time of Michael Jordan.

I am super happy that watching NBA games in Orlando has become a tourist attraction and more and more Brazilian visitors are looking for this event.

“But I don't know anything about basketball, will I enjoy it?”

I like to joke that the game itself is just a part of the event and indeed it is.

Everything is so cool there and the whole event is a show of its own, let's check out what's so great about NBA games in Orlando?

Orlando-magic-nba-game
Orlando-magic-nba-game

Is there an NBA game in Orlando all year?

No!

The NBA season starts in October and ends in June of the following year.

That is, if you are in Orlando between July and September, you will not be able to watch any NBA matches.

NBA matches in Orlando are played at the Amway Center, which is about 25 minutes away from the stadium. Orlando International Airport and 20 minutes from International drive.

Amway center

The Amway center is home to the Orlando Magic and is located in Downtown Orlando, the most central area of the city.

Amway-Center-Orlando
Amway-Center-Orlando

It is usually an area little visited by tourists, even because the big centers like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld stay away.

The surroundings of the stadium are very prepared to receive visitors on match days, naturally a wide range of places to go before and after the match.

The Stadium is very new and modern and several games and concerts take place there throughout the year.

If you want to know exactly what will be happening there during your trip, be sure to check out your official site.

Is there parking at the Amway Center?

When you are approaching the Amway center, you will see some parking lots around it. However, I recommend that you use the official Amway Center parking lot, called Geico Garage.

To make it easier, here is a map of the Stadium and where the parking is located.

Amway-Center-Map-Entrance-Parking
Amway-Center-Map-Entrance-Parking

The other parking lots are in fact cheaper, but for security reasons, this is the option we recommend. If you are consoled, the parking there is cheaper than in the Disney parks ehehehe.

We strongly recommend that you arrive early to ensure you have available spots! This is our recommendation, not only because of the parking lot, but because before the game there are several shows and mini events on the court.

NBA Orlando Games Tickets

The tickets they are very easy to purchase, and as with all other Orlando events, we recommend that you purchase in advance.

Because? Firstly, by purchasing in advance you guarantee a ticket at the price you want (remembering that tickets vary in price according to the position in the stadium).

Therefore, the cheapest ones naturally sell out sooner.

Another advantage is the possibility of paying in installments and not paying iof.

We sell these tickets through our agency, so Contact us to make a budget.

NBA Orlando game dates

The 2020 season is currently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We believe that in August we will have a schedule of games for the next season that will start in October 2020 and go until July 2021.

Once we have that schedule of NBA games, we'll include them all here for reference.

What is the NBA?

The NBA is made up of 30 teams. Some of them are world known and famous like Los Angeles Lakers or Chicago Bulls (famous for Michael Jordan).

Read too  Walt Disney World Monorail

Not all are such “great” teams. This is the case of the Orlando Magic, the city's basketball team.

The Orlando Magic is a recent basketball team. It turned 30 in 2019, it was founded in 1989.

In those 30 years, the team reached the NBA Finals only twice, in 1995 and 2009.

In 95, he lost to the Houston Rockets. In the second, for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Over the years, some good players have worn the Orlando Magic jersey. The most famous of these was Shaquille O'Neal, closely followed by Dwight Howard, whom I had the pleasure of seeing playing live.

nba basketball game in orlando
nba basketball game in orlando

Tips to get more out of NBA Orlando games

Do not take backpacks or large bags. 

The entry of these large bags into the stadium is expressly prohibited and if you don't leave them at the hotel, then you'll have to leave them in the car, that is, one more reason to park in the official parking lot in case you forget about it.

Children do not pay admission!

Unlike Disney and Universal, the NBA rule is as follows: children up to 90 cm do not pay the ticket as long as they sit on their parents' lap. If you are comfortable with these conditions, your child will enter for free.

Arrive early

As we said earlier, to get good parking spaces (near the entrance) and see the shows during the pre-game. How soon? Arrive at least 1 hour early.

Take warm coats during the winter

During this period, several ice skating presentations and hockey games take place at the Amway Center, so the basketball court is set up on top of the ice rink. With that, the whole stadium gets slightly cooler!

Don't forget your tickets!

Take a picture of them with your smartphone before you travel and print ALL the tickets and take them and a folder.

In case you lose the prints, you can use the barcode from the photo on your cell phone to enter the arena.

amway-center-stadium-nba-orlando
amway-center-stadium-nba-orlando

General Information about NBA and Amway Center

  • Address: 400 West Church Street
  • NBA game schedules: They usually start at 7 pm
  • Contact phone: 407.440.7900
  • Official site

I hope again that this post helped you in your research for your trip to Disney or Orlando.

As a way to help us keep the blog going, we just ask you to help us by sharing this publication and subscribing to our social networks as Facebook, Instagram or Youtube channel.

In addition to helping us, we are sure that there you will find hundreds of useful posts for your trip!

About the Author Carlos Braga:

Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.

My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.

During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!

I hope again that this post helped you in your research for your trip to Disney or Orlando.

As a way to help us keep the blog going, we just ask you to help us by sharing this publication and subscribing to our social networks as Facebook, Instagram or Youtube channel.

In addition to helping us, we are sure that there you will find hundreds of useful posts for your trip!

About the Author Carlos Braga:

Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.

My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.

During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!

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