By John Denton
July 22, 2015
ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic’s attractiveness as a dynamic, young team on the rise will be on display this coming season not only in North America and South America, but also in Europe.
A Magic squad already slated to play a preseason game in Brazil is scheduled to face the Toronto Raptors in London on Jan. 14 in regular-season action. The NBA and Anschutz Entertainment Group announced on Thursday that the Magic and the Raptors will play at The O2 Arena as part of the NBA Global Games 2015-16.
It will be the sixth time that the NBA has played a regular-season game in London. Also, it will be the second trip that the Magic have taken to the UK dating back to a couple of preseason games there in 1993.
``We’re honored to participate in the NBA’s Global Games and look forward to representing the Central Florida community and showcasing our team,’’ Magic CEO Alex Martins said. ``From our past experience of playing in London in 1993 we know the passion of the fans and look forward to this amazing opportunity.’’
Added NBA Commissioner Adam Silver: ``We look forward to returning to London next season with a regular-season game between the Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors. This underscores our commitment to growing basketball in the region and to bringing more regular-season basketball to our fans in the UK.’’
The NBA Global Games 2015-16 will feature seven games – two regular-season games and five preseason games – in seven international cities. The Magic and the Boston Celtics are the only NBA teams that will play at least one preseason game and a regular-season game outside of the United States and Canada. The Celtics will play preseason games in Italy and Spain in October and they will face the Sacramento Kings in regular-season action in Mexico City on Dec. 3.
The Magic will play in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Oct. 17 in a preseason game against South American powerhouse Flamengo. The Magic have long-sought to extend their brand to Brazil, a nation that sent 770,000 citizens to Central Florida as tourists as recently as two years ago, according to VisitOrlando.com.
The Magic sent three management leaders to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo last year to meet with tourist leaders in Brazil in hopes of developing corporate sponsorships there in the sports-crazed country. The Magic hosted Flamengo last October at the Amway Center and Orlando won the preseason game 106-88.
Orlando last played in London on Oct. 30-31, 1993. Led by superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway, the Magic split a pair of preseason games with the Atlanta Hawks. New Magic coach Scott Skiles, Orlando’s standout point guard from 1989-94, played in those preseason games in London with the Magic.
Tickets for the Jan. 14 Magic-Raptors game in London will go on sale at the beginning of the 2015-16 NBA season. Fans can register for presale opportunities by signing up for NBA All-Access. More information can be found at facebook.com/NBAUK or @NBAUK.
Along with the on-court action in the seven international cities, NBA Global Games 2015-16 will feature a variety of off-the-court activities, including NBA Cares community programs and interactive fan events.
The entire 2015-16 NBA schedule is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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