Orlando Magic Daily
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2017 Central Florida 85 Nos. 69-85: Happy Homecomings

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - JULY 27: Arron Afflalo of the Orlando Magic addresses the media on July 27, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JULY 27: Arron Afflalo of the Orlando Magic addresses the media on July 27, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Arron Afflalo, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – JULY 27: Arron Afflalo of the Orlando Magic addresses the media on July 27, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /

We kick off our ranking of the top 85 figures in Central Florida with a look at some happy homecomings and what it means to play in Central Florida.

If you live in Orlando these days, it is hard not to be drawn into the local sports scene.

The Orlando Magic started everything back in 1989, but in the last five or six years, sports in the city have grown exponentially. Orlando City moved in during the 2010 season and became a MLS team in 2015, giving the city a second major sports team. The Orlando Solar Bears were re-established and eventually bought by the Magic. The Florida Fire Frogs returned baseball to the Central Florida area this spring.

On top of all that, there is the usual menu of college football games — including the area’s three bowl games (the Citrus Bowl, Camping World Bowl and AutoNation Cure Bowl) and other special events. U.S. Soccer is hosting a critical World Cup Qualifying game in October. And there are bound to be more special events coming to the Central Florida area.

And this does not even get to the USTA campus just built in East Orlando that will host tennis tournaments, including future NCAA championships.

The sports options around the city are only growing. And there are some big movers and shakers adding to the scene.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

Just walk around Downtown Orlando during an Orlando City game, and the feel is completely different. The city comes alive with activity and energy. The same happens around the Amway Center for Magic games — and certainly will do more when the team turns things around.

There is a lot that is about to happen in Orlando in the next year. And a lot of reasons to get excited for the upcoming sports season and year if you live in Central Florida.

Last year, I ran a Web site that was a sister to Orlando Magic Daily called Orlando Sports Daily. It tried to cover all that was happening in sports around Central Florida from UCF to the Orlando Solar Bears to high school football.

At the beginning of the 2016 calendar year, I attempted to rank the 85 most important sports figures in Central Florida. It was a fun exercise.

With things quiet on the Magic calendar, I thought it was a good time to revive this list and set out the most important figures in Central Florida sports for the next year.

So why 85? Orlando was founded in 1885.

Enjoy our look into the Orlando sports scene all this week!