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Orlando Magic to play regular season games in Mexico City

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MEXICO CITY - OCTOBER 7: A general view as the Orlando Magic play against the New Orleans Hornets during the pre-season NBA Mexico Game 2012 presented by BBVA Bancomer on October 7, 2012 at the Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Mexico. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY - OCTOBER 7: A general view as the Orlando Magic play against the New Orleans Hornets during the pre-season NBA Mexico Game 2012 presented by BBVA Bancomer on October 7, 2012 at the Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Mexico. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic will play two home games in Mexico City as part of their 2019 schedule, the league and the team announced Tuesday.

The Orlando Magic will play two home games in Mexico City against the Chicago Bulls on December 13 and Utah Jazz on December 15 as part of their 2019 schedule, the team and the NBA announced Tuesday.

It will mark the first regular season games the Magic are playing at a neutral site outside of the United States or Canada since their 2016 trip to London to take on the Toronto Raptors. It will mark the Magic’s first games in Mexico City since the 2013 season. Orlando played a preseason game in Mexico City against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The NBA has started playing more and more games in Mexico City as the league looks to expand its footprint throughout the world.

Like the Orlando Magic this year, the Brooklyn Nets hosted two games in Mexico City last year as part of the NBA’s Global Games series. The league also held two more regular season games in Mexico City last year.

Orlando has long had interest in playing games internationally. In addition to those relatively recent trips to London and Mexico City, the team also played exhibition games in Rio de Janeiro. Orlando will host Brazilian team Flamengo during the preseason.

The Magic have tried to brand themselves as an international team with Orlando being a center for tourism and international travel.

"“Having played in England twice, Japan, China, Mexico and Brazil, the Orlando Magic are always honored to participate in the NBA’s Global Games and look forward to again representing the Central Florida community and the NBA,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said in a press release. “From our previous experience of playing in Mexico City, we know the passion of the fans and look forward to this amazing opportunity.”"

It will hurt to sacrifice a few home games in Orlando, but it is also a chance for a bit more international exposure for the Magic and some national exposure too. Both of the Brooklyn Nets’ games in Mexico City last year against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat aired on ESPN.

The Magic have not had a regular game on ESPN in quite some time. The number of national television appearances in the last six years can probably be counted on one hand.

That is all well and good. The disruption of routines might hurt for a team that will be getting used to a new coach and a new mentality. Not to mention having several young players still trying to find their way.

It will be like playing an extra pair of road games on the schedule.

The Magic will sacrifice two homes games off their schedule to play the games in Mexico City, just like the team sacrificed a home game for the London game a few years ago. Season ticket holders will be reimbursed the price of those two games.

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The Magic and the NBA should release the rest of the schedule in the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see how these games fit into the larger schedule. The NBA will also conduct clinics and other community events in conjunction with these regular season games.