2017 Central Florida 85 Nos. 51-68: Big Expectations

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – April 23: Giles Barnes #14 of Orlando City SC in action during the New York City FC Vs Orlando City SC regular season MLS game at Yankee Stadium on April 23, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /

As we dive deeper into our list of the 85 biggest sports figures in Central Florida, we meet figures who face big expectations after previous successes.

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. Not to mention WrestleMania back in April.

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

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.

Here is Part One of our list.

So why 85? Orlando was founded in 1885.

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