Orlando Magic Daily
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2017 Central Florida 85 Nos. 1-17: The Best of the Best

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - AUGUST 31: UCF mascot Knightro takes the field before the football game between the visiting FIU Panthers and the UCF Knights on August 31, 2017 at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - AUGUST 31: UCF mascot Knightro takes the field before the football game between the visiting FIU Panthers and the UCF Knights on August 31, 2017 at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Buddy Dyer, Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
MAITLAND, FL – SEPTEMBER 23: City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer (L) presents center Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic with a key to the city for his gold medal performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as the Orlando Magic unveil a new uniform, celebrating the past by returning to pinstripes, at Cheyenne Saloon in Church Street Station, the same spot where the Magic unveiled its first ever uniform back in 1989, September 23, 2008 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 2008 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

6. Buddy Dyer, Mayor Orlando

There is no bigger cheerleader in the City of Orlando than its mayor, Buddy Dyer. It is hard to imagine Orlando being what it is today without his enthusiasm and belief in what this city could be.

When he became mayor in 2003, Orlando was still a nascent city. From the sports perspective, the Magic were still in the old Amway Arena (nee Orlando Arena) and unhappy with their arena situation, the UCF Knights were still considered the “little brother” to the big three schools in the state and pretty irrelevant even in the city and major events coming to town was a fantasy. A lot of the issue was no one saw Orlando as a big city that could do much more.

Dyer changed that perspective. And this past year in the city was as much a culmination of all the work he put in as anything else he has done.

By 2008, the city and county had voted to change its downtown with the events package that featured construction of the Amway Center, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the renovated Citrus Bowl (now Camping World Stadium). It was a project that was a long time coming but got significant political support and push from Dyer.

Getting those built was not enough, Dyer had to put Orlando in a position to support and attract events to these venues next. And he has done that. WrestleMania, in all its wrestling kookiness, brought its annual festival to town. The city got the Pro Bowl, adding some NFL to the mix. And things just seem to be getting bigger and better.

This is not the only area Dyer has transformed Orlando in his long tenure as mayor. The city has grown other industries outside of tourism. The sports growth in the city is more an outgrowth of the other efforts Dyer has made to expand and diversify Orlando’s economy.

He believed in Orlando and gave it the freedom and confidence to bring bigger and more entertaining events to the city. And in its time of need last year after the Pulse shooting, Dyer displayed the strength, unity, compassion and acceptance in mourning that Orlando has embraced in its everyday life.

It is hard to imagine this city without Dyer. It is hard to imagine what Dyer will help deliver next.