Winning has reactivated the Orlando Magic fan base

The Orlando Magic are back in the playoff race and after a big win in Miami, the team’s fans are as engaged and ready as ever. The fun is back.

One month ago, Sports Business Daily reported the Orlando Magic had the lowest local TV ratings in the league.

The team’s playoff hopes at the All-Star Break were dimming and the team still did not seem to have a clear path forward. Television ratings in the local market are tied closely to winning. Nothing would turn around until the team started winning.

Of course, the Magic were playing better basketball right when that report came out. The team burned out a five-game win streak before the All-Star Break and climbed back into the playoff picture. Longtime fans who lived and died in every game started challenging other fans on social media to show off their fandom.

The #MagicTVChallenge was born. Fans came out of the woodworks to show off how and where they watched the team.

Winning ultimately would create attention and notice though. Magic fans got louder and demanded attention. Their team would do that talking.

Now everyone is noticing. Magic fans are back and as loud as ever.

FOX Sports Florida reported Tuesday night’s mega-game between the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat drew a 1.7 household rating, the largest number for any single game in more than three years. It outperformed the season average by more than 249 percent.

Orlando’s game against Miami had some massive playoff stakes. Not to mention against a rival with a decent sized statewide fan base. It had all the makings for a ratings bonanza for a road game.

The fact the Magic won that game will only intensify the playoff race but also interest in the team itself. Everyone loves a winner. And with a realistic shot at making the playoffs now, every game is packed with meaning and intensity.

That feeling is already present in the Amway Center.

The five teams the Magic played during their recent homestand were far from the strongest names out there. But the building was packed and loud. Fans were engaged with the game, lifting the team up when needed and hanging on every shot.

When the Orlando Magic went down by 17 points in the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies last Friday, the pressure of the situation was palpable. But as Orlando slowly worked its way back into the game, the crowd got louder and louder. The cheers got more boisterous and the energy inside the Amway Center changed.

Coach Steve Clifford unprompted told the media after the game before taking questions he told his team this was the first time they experienced what the Orlando fan base and crowd can do for the team. When he was first with the Magic, that feeling was how it was like every night.

The TV ratings are a measurable metric of engagement with the team. The feeling in the building is a somewhat tangible recognition of the shifting attitude around this team. Optimism is back with the Magic and the team is delivering on the court.

With just seven games remaining this season, everyone is geared up for a battle to make the playoffs. Nothing else matters. And that is what is best for any fan base this time of year.

There were plenty of stories shared online of fans living and dying on every shot. And the cathartic yells that came after the team clinched the victory.

This is a fan base that is reawoken and engaged with the team for the first time in a long time now. And that can be a powerful tool for the team, even with just two home games left.

More importantly, it goes to the larger aims of the season. The very basic goal for the Magic this year was to re-establish legitimacy as a franchise. That means putting a winning product on the floor first and foremost but also re-engaging the fans.

Orlando even through much of this rebuild have done surprisingly well with attendance. Last year the team was 17th in average attendance and in percent of capacity. This year the team is 18th in average attendance and have actually seen a slight decrease in capacity.

It has taken some time. This six-game win streak has helped push the Magic into serious playoff discussion.

Slowly, it seems that has happened. Fans are invested in the team again and the Magic created positive buzz with mid-season acquisitions, internal improvement and the results on the floor.

Now it seems interest is picking back up in the team. More than that, the Magic have demanded everyone take interest in them. Whether it is the national media or fans here at home.

Orlando is reactivating the team’s fan base. The Magic faithful are beginning to believe again. And that can only propel the team moving forward.

More importantly, the team is fun and engaging to watch. The results have followed a style that is gritty and fun to watch. The Magic do not play many blowout losses anymore. They have a chance to win each game.

The pressure is a good thing as much as it surely stresses everyone out. And fans are more than ready to be along for the ride.