SunRail announces free rides to see Orlando Magic play-in game
On Tuesday, April 15, Orlando Magic fans can once again ride SunRail for free to support their team as they face the Atlanta Hawks in a crucial game for Eastern Conference Playoff contention.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kia Center. Fans can ride SunRail for free by presenting their printed or digital gameday ticket to the conductors.
Advertisement
The Orlando Magic will offer an extra southbound train leaving Church Street Station at 11:06 p.m. From the Church Street SunRail Station, the Kia Center is only a 4-minute walk away.
To view the complete train schedule, visit www.SunRail.com.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
a day ago
- Fast Company
The Orlando Magic rebrand shows why nostalgia sells in sports
The NBA's Orlando Magic looked to the past for inspiration for its rebrand. The team, which Forbes valued last year at $3.2 billion, unveiled a new logo, wordmarks, uniforms, and court this week, and the new look is a contemporary take on the team's original uniforms from 1989 to 2000. It was a time when players like Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway wore pinstripes and the team made one of its two franchise appearances in the league finals. It's also a fan-favorite era. 'We heard from the fans loud and clear over many years about bold pinstripes,' Shelly Wilkes, EVP of marketing and social responsibility for the Magic, told In the Zone on iHeart Radio. 'People have such passion around our original uniforms.' Nostalgia sells in pro sports. The Toronto Raptors recently brought back its old Raptor mascot for a special 30th-edition logo, while in other leagues, teams like the MLB's Milwaukee Brewers and the NFL's New York Jets introduced their own retro-inspired logos in recent years because of the built-in brand equity from a team's golden age. Team rebrands don't always land, and iterating on well-known, beloved assets is a safer bet than trying something new. For NBA teams, though, it's not as simple as bringing an old uniform out from the archives to wear again. That's 'not allowed via licensing rights,' Wilkes said of agreements between the team and partners like the NBA and Nike. 'You can't go back.' But you can modernize an old idea. The rebrand process began in 2021 with multiple agencies and many early concepts that didn't resonate. There were 14 different logos, each with multiple variations. Out of more than 30 uniform designs, the team narrowed it down to the final three, in blue, white, and black. All of them have pinstripes and retro-inspired trim, and the new 'Magic' and 'Orlando' wordmarks swap out the letter A for a star designed to look like it's in motion. One of the jerseys features Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan's 'Jumpman' logo (Jordan Brand partnered with the NBA in 2020), and all feature the Disney logo for the team's uniform sponsor. Wilkes said the timing of the new logo and uniforms is the result of a pivotal moment in franchise history, but the final designs were submitted to the NBA and Nike in 2023, to give you an idea of the multiyear process involved in rebranding a professional team. That's a long lead time, but by building a new brand informed by fan feedback and team history, the Magic ensured its new era has a visual identity that feels both classic and fashion-forward and aims to stand the test of time.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Michael Jordan on why the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest is still a fond memory: "That was the connection that I remembered the most about Dominique and myself"
By 1988, Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins had already established themselves as the premier dunkers in the NBA. Wilkins had already won the 1985 contest, defeating Jordan in the final round. Jordan, hungry for revenge, had captured the 1987 title while Wilkins was sidelined due to injury. So when both were healthy and primed for battle in '88, the hype was through the roof. A special contest The 1988 contest was hosted in Chicago. Under the bright lights of the All-Star weekend, the pair of high-flyers delivered one of the greatest shows of pure and raw creativity. Advertisement But beyond the contest itself, it was a showcase of North Carolina basketball talent. Both players honed their skills in the Tar Heel State — Wilkins in Washington and Jordan in Wilmington. "Two North Carolina boys going at it," Jordan said. "People don't realize he was from Washington, North Carolina. I'm from Wilmington — two extremes. And it gives us great pride in that type of showmanship; that's always going to be a connected bond between me and him." Jordan continued: "It was a part of the phase of the creativity and the uniqueness of what those individuals brought to the game itself. It wasn't defining who we were, it was a part of who we were and being that both players came from North Carolina, that was the connection that I remembered the most about Dominique and myself." In the contest proper at the United Center, both superstars came out strong. The Atlanta Hawks star threw down a signature two-handed windmill. Advertisement The Chicago Bulls star responded with a smooth double-pump jam. The judges scored them nearly evenly, setting up the perfect showdown. As the final round approached, Wilkins threw down a ferocious two-handed windmill from the baseline, shaking the backboard and sending the Chicago crowd into a stunned silence. The judges, however, controversially gave him a 45 — a score that many still debate to this day. Jordan, with his dunk title on the line, stepped up for the last dunk. He started at the opposite end of the court, dribbled down and took off from the free-throw line. As he soared through the air and defied gravity, he made the dunk. The crowd erupted, and the judges handed him a perfect 50. Related: "When you get somebody with that kind of potential and they're white and you are in America, you keep that dude" - Stephen A. Smith claims Dallas must draft and keep Cooper Flagg Jordan's nostalgia Wilkins proved he could go toe-to-toe with the greatest. Though he and "His Airness" had different styles, they shared a connection deeper than basketball. Advertisement Both players hailed from North Carolina and were athletic superstars. They won two slam dunk titles apiece and scoring titles — although Jordan won 10 again to Wilkins' one. Jordan also formed a dynasty in Chicago, winning six championships and six Finals MVP awards. Wilkins, on the other hand, never found championship success with the Hawks, where he spent the majority of his career. Even though he couldn't follow Mike in terms of the championships or overall quality of play, Dominique was ahead of his time. And contrary to popular belief, he wasn't just a dunker. "I love the art of dunking because I used it as a tool for intimidation, but the problem is people think that's all I did," Wilkins said. "I've had games where I had 40 or more points and only had like one or two dunks in the entire game. People don't realize that I was a complete scorer. I could shoot the 3. I could play inside and outside. I was a nightmare for guys in the midrange." It's probably because Dominique played in the '80s and not many people today have watched his games. They've watched his highlights and dunks were a major part of those, but Wilkins could do it all. Related: 'Is that a promise?' - When Jordan guaranteed the reporter that he would knock off Reggie Miller in Game 7 of the 1998 ECF
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Orlando Magic unveil new logo, uniforms, court design
The Brief The Orlando Magic unveiled a new logo and three redesigned uniforms, marking the team's first major rebrand since the 2008-09 season. The refreshed look brings back iconic star imagery and pinstripes while honoring the team's original 1989 design. ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Magic are hoping to create some buzz ahead of next season with a new logo and new uniforms. The Florida-based NBA team revealed its new design – billed as an ode to its past, while looking ahead to its future. A star returns The updated logo and uniform designs bring back the iconic star imagery from the past — the cascading star trail in the logo, and replacing the "A" in "Orlando" and "Magic" with that same star. Advertisement This is the first major brand update to Orlando's primary look since the 2008-09 season and pays tribute to the team's original 1989-98 design. Pinstripes are back Longtime Orlando Magic fans will recognize the pinstripe warm-up suits from the 1990s. The pinstripes are back and added to the team's new uniforms. There are three versions: Association (white) Icon (blue) Statement (black) - Only Jordan brand uniform in lineup What they're saying "The Orlando Magic's mission is to be world champions on and off the court. The logo and uniforms are an extension of that mission and a direct reflection of the excellence our organization strives for from our ownership to our staff, coaches and players," said Magic Executive Vice President of Marketing and Social Responsibility Shelly Wilkes. Advertisement "Based on fan feedback, the new logo was a collaboration and really a labor of love keeping in mind the affinity our fans have for our brand identity. This logo and new uniforms signify the beginning of a new era of excellence for the Magic while paying homage to the past. We are excited to build upon our rich history with a modernized version of the uniform and logo that our fan base cherishes." STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: The Source The information and photos are from the Orlando Magic. A reveal event was held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the Kia Center in downtown Orlando.
