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5 reasons the Orlando Magic should move D-League to Kissimmee

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Apr 9, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic mascot, Stuff, holds a big flag against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115-111. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic mascot, Stuff, holds a big flag against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115-111. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Stuff, Orlando Magic
Apr 9, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic mascot, Stuff, holds a big flag against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115-111. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Home base Orlando

The Orlando Magic have sought a D-League team in Florida so that they can have any players they send down in close proximity. Essentially, the Magic want to be able to have a player get some quick game experience and be able to rejoin the team fairly quickly.

D-League and NBA rules likely prevent the teams from working out and practicing together (that would be a lot of extra bodies), but that does not mean they cannot use the same facilities or have the same home base. Especially if the basketball operations and ownership are the same. The Los Angeles D-Fenders play in the Los Angeles Lakers’ practice facility.

The Magic are not going to be holding games in Amway Center. Anyone who has gone to Summer League games know that does not quite work logistically.

But if the Magic want a D-League team to use Orlando as a home base, Kissimmee is about as close things can get.

It would enable the D-League players to use Amway Center facilities (if the rules allow and the Magic are open to that), or at least use RDV Sportsplex, as a base of operations. The Magic can keep a close eye and talk directly and easily with the D-League staff and players. The Magic would have them right on their backdoor.

Unless the team was going to play its games out of CFE Arena (not likely for cost and space reasons), there really is no closer option than Kissimmee.

Disney was likely too expensive and Silver Spurs Arena is the only other stadium nearby that has held major sporting events. If proximity matters, Kissimmee is as close as the Magic could get to Orlando.

Kissimmee is far enough that it can develop its own following who then can also easily get to Magic games on occasion. Putting the D-League team in Kissimmee keeps the Orlando metropolitan area as the franchise’s home base.

Next: Open Venue