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Orlando Magic, DeVos family purchase Orlando Solar Bears

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 3, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Garrett Sparks (31) makes a save against Minnesota Wild in the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Garrett Sparks (31) makes a save against Minnesota Wild in the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic and the DeVos family have purchased the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, expanding the Magic’s sports footprint in the city.

The Orlando Magic and the DeVos family have purchased the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, the teams announced Wednesday. The Solar Bears will continue to play at the Amway Center in the 2018 season.

"“We are thrilled to purchase the Solar Bears, giving the team the opportunity to continue to play in Orlando,” Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins said in a press release.  “The Solar Bears’ fan base has been outstanding and we look forward to an exciting future.”"

The DeVos family owned the original iteration of the Orlando Solar Bears that played in the now-defunct IHL from 1995-2001. In the final season, the Solar Bears won the final Turner Cup championship before the league shut down. The DeVos family at the time decided to fold the team as they decided to take the Grand Rapids Griffins, another team they owned, to the AHL from the folding IHL.

The Solar Bears in that time created a crazed fan base that filled the Orlando Arena. There was a strong hockey fan base in town.

That largely remained dormant after some failed attempts to restart minor league hockey in the Orlando area. It stayed quiet until a new ownership group came forward to bring the Solar Bears out of hibernation in the 2012 season.

The new version of the Orlando Solar Bears has been fairly successful, re-energizing that fan base from so many years ago and the various hockey enthusiasts in Central Florida.

The Solar Bears ranked third in average attendance during its inaugural season in 2013 with 6.668 fans per game. That filled up roughly 70 percent of the massive Amway Center — the team usually closes the upper bowl for games. The team kept up momentum, finishing third in the ECHL in average attendance in 2014 and 2015 and second in 2016.

This past season, the Solar Bears averaged 5,498 fans per game. That was fourth in the ECHL this season. But it was the first time the team has slipped below 6,000 fans per game. Part of that is the lack of weekend games because of various events booked in the arena, including Orlando Magic games.

The Magic’s purchase will put the Solar Bears on some firmer footing.

"“We are excited and grateful the DeVos family has agreed to purchase the Solar Bears to continue to grow the brand and expand the growth of the sport in central Florida,” said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna in a press release.  “A track record of successfully operating professional sports franchises, an in-depth knowledge of the Orlando sports environment and as creators of the original Solar Bears brand, the Orlando Magic and the DeVos family are the ideal owners for the professional hockey team.”"

The Solar Bears are coming off one of their best seasons since returning to the ice.

Orlando finished fourth in the division and qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the second time in the franchise’s short five-year history. The Solar Bears stole the first two games on the road and took a 3-1 lead over the rival Florida Everblades. An injury to starting goalie Ryan Massa during a fight at the end of Game Four derailed the team’s upset hopes and the Solar Bears lost the series in seven games.

The Solar Bears are affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs and are the “AA” team in the Maple Leafs system.

For the Magic, it is certainly a good sign the team is willing to expand some of its business holdings.

The Orlando Magic organization, in addition to running the Magic, will start up its D-League franchise in Lakeland, the Lakeland Magic, where it will share some business resources as well as basketball operations. And now, the team will also run the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL. That means the team should be sharing some of its business operations and expertise.

On top of all this, the Magic continue development on its entertainment complex. The team is set to begin construction across the street from the Amway Center on Church Street later this summer.

That is all to say, the Magic are expanding their overall operations and doing so aggressively. Even at a time when the Magic themselves are struggling on the court. Business for the Magic appears to be very good.

Expansion for the team seems to suggest the Magic are feeling comfortable about their business holdings and their balance sheet. They are seeing opportunities to continue expanding their brand — the Lakeland Magic are something of a gateway to Tampa and West Central Florida — and create new revenue opportunities for the franchise as a whole.

Next: 10 former Orlando Magic players drafted to BIG3

And now the Solar Bears are back within the Magic family.