As crowds make the trek down from UF and Florida St., Orange Bowl giving Broward more than just basketball

By Zachary Baru

Sunrise, Florida - Just a few minutes of looking around the arena, noticing groups making the drive and speaking with fans from all around, it is quickly evident that the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic is offering more than just a game for the county.

In Broward County's only NCAA Division 1 basketball game all year, with Florida Atlantic in Palm Beach County and the University of Miami in Miami-Dade, today's double-header is offering fans in Broward a unique opportunity to see the highest level of college basketball.

Photo: Aaron Baru

But it's more than just fans from in the county.  A quick glance around the 19,250-seat Amerant Bank Arena shows groups all over, and from all over.  Groups of fans from the University of Florida, and others from Florida St., two of the teams in this year's Classic.  It's students, team staff, event officials, media, and of course the teams themselves.  So much goes into making a Division 1 basketball game happen, and all those involved bring money right back into the local economy itself.  From hotels, to restaurants, to any dollar spent while visiting here, Broward County's only Division 1 game of the year is an important spot on the county's events calendar.  

Year-after-year, the Orange Bowl Committee hosts this game, creating another opportunity for the Orange Bowl to contribute to South Florida in more than just one football game a year.  The Orange Bowl Basketball Classic gets youth groups involved, noticed all throughout the arena's three levels, and creates another opportunity during the year to engage with the region.  The Orange Bowl is now much more than just football, and today the focus is all on basketball.

As thousands contribute to the region's local economy, it is important to remember that events like these are the lifeblood of a local economy.  A region cannot just focus on conventions, not just on tourism, but on all types of events.  Between today and last night, with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra having performed on top of where the basketball court is just 12 hours ago, over 15,000 fans will have passed through this arena, many of which making the trip from out of the county.  It is a win for Broward, as today's Classic is yet another example of how events play a big part in boosting the region's economy.

Energetic crowds power Orange Bowl Basketball Classic early in afternoon

By Zachary Baru

Sunrise, Florida - It may only be just after 12 Noon in Sunrise, but it feels like an early evening game here at the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.

A mixtures of some fans from Massachusetts, but mostly of Florida State, the crowd inside the arena has been involved and engaged right from the first half of play. What seems like an 80/20% crowd in favor of Florida St. is made up of many large groups spread out throughout the arena, creating a great atmosphere at the home of the defending National Hockey League champion Florida Panthers.  

Photo: Aaron Baru

A glance around the 19,250-seat arena shows large groups throughout all three levels of the arena - plaza, club and balcony.  Some groups are students from Florida St., others appear to be local youth groups involved with the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.  A great example of how this event, year-after-year, engages with the community and turns the Orange Bowl into more than just a once-a-year football game in Miami Gardens.

While many early season events have multiple games with early starts and more than quiet crowds, this seems to be anything but that.  The crowd, while not full, is very engaged and loud for an early afternoon start.  

When it comes to the four teams involved, and especially Florida and Florida St., South Florida only has limited opportunities to see these teams in action, in their local area.  This neutral-site early season event gives Broward County a great chance to see the teams they love, and even fan-favorites like UMass and George Washington that have considerable alumni living here in South Florida.  This is yet another example of why games like this are so important to the communities they serve each year. 

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.  Zach also writes SportsBusinessBoston.com and WesternMassSportsBiz.com.

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Coverage of the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic

For the second straight year, SportsBizAmerica.com is proud to once again cover the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, live from inside the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

This event, held each year by the Orange Bowl Committee, further establishes the Orange Bowl's commitment to sports and the community of South Florida.  Unlike the Orange Bowl, held in Miami Gardens, the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic is hosted 20 miles north in Broward County in the city of Sunrise.  

The Classic brings top NCAA division 1 men's basketball teams each year to the tournament, this year hosting Florida St. vs. Massachusetts in the first game, and the University of Florida vs. George Washington in the second game of the double-header.

Stay tuned to SportsBizAmerica.com all day for updates live from Sunrise, as we tap into the business-side of everything happening at the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.  Live tweets and photos will also be available on Twitter @zbaru.