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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