Sports Events

**Littletony** · 21-01-2004, 17:33

We will be in Orland for the first two weeks in March. I really fancy taking in a local 'All American' sporting event. Given that, I believe, that we are too late for football and hockey and too early for baseball does any body have any ideas or links that may help?

**neilandkay** · 21-01-2004, 17:49

You could try Disney's Wide World of Sports. Not necessarily a 'local' event, but may give you some options

http://dwws.disney.go.com/wideworldo...ex?id=DWWSHome

**caseyd** · 21-01-2004, 17:58

NO, you are NOT too early for Baseball! You will be there smack in the middle of spring training, the time when all the US teams have their preseason exhibition games against each other. It doesn't count as part of the official season, but it is CHEAP and great baseball and you are seeing the same teams and players you'd see in the regular season. Also, the players make themselves available mroe for autographs and pictures w/fans in these preseason games. My husband (Mr. baseball fan) goes down w/his baseball loving friends to Orlando and Tampa area every year for
this. He is goign late int he preseason this yr, weekend of March 20. The different teams play in different stadiums all over the area. I'll ask my husband for the website address for this (it may be that there is one site for each team) and I will post it. This is definitely what I would do for a real sport experience.

**craig_emptage** · 21-01-2004, 18:07

Hi

On the same subject are there any ice hockey teams around orlando that will be playing in october?

thanks

craig

**caseyd** · 21-01-2004, 18:43

Ok, here's the scoop on the preseason baseball. Go to "www.MLB.com". There you can plug into the teams websites that play in the Orlando area. My husband says those teams include: the Braves at Disney Sports Complex; the Indians at Winter Haven; the Royals at Baseball City, and the Tigers (he can't recall the area for that one). Towards Tampa/St Petes you have the Yankees, Blue Jays, the Phillies. In Sarasota, you have the Twins in Brdenton, and the Red Sox in Sarasota (Red Sox are his favorites, heliterally drives all over downt here for these games). He says the games start around March 2-3 and go til March 31-April 2. The best players start to head oout towards the end of the preseason, and the rookies are trying out at the very beginning, so the middle time is best, but he loves it all.

**RubAyr** · 21-01-2004, 19:13

Hi, we are also going in March and plan to take in 2 ice hockey matches at Tampa as we are hockey mad !!! When we are there the Lightning are at home 3 times so it will be worth checking out their site at: www.tampabaylightning.com/

**Jill** · 21-01-2004, 20:45

RubAyr you will enjoy the matches they have a very nice stadium.

Andrew and I went to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning on New Year's eve. We were most amused by the parking. The first car park we came to was $5 immediately next door was $8 (and was a whole 1- to 15 yards nearer the stadium. The next car park was $10 and again only a few yards nearer. We were able to turn up and get tickets on the door. The touts are outside but are best ignored.

**carps** · 21-01-2004, 22:12

We are huge Hockey fans (Coventry Blaze supporters in the UK) and always try to organise our holidays around the hockey season. NHL teams - you have Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers (Miami area) but you've also got a number of minor hockey league teams, the nearest being the Orlando Seals - they ice at the TD Waterhouse Center. Regarding Tampa tickets, as they are doing well this year, I would recommend buying tickets in advance - we have been caught out in the past.
We are back in Orlando in a month - unfortunately the only match nights for Tampa are the nights we are arriving and departing ! at least we have seen both teams before (Flyers & Leafs) and we should be able to catch a couple of the Seals matches.
Our villa in Florida will have an Ice Hockey theme and we will be offering special deals to fans (with extra discounts to THF members - The Hockey Forum and of course Blaze fans) We are building up ice hockey memorobilia to theme our house (Disney Ice House) - so any ideas will be appreciated.