Magic may want to go to Disney World By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted August 3, 2003 A change in the NBA's labor agreement likely means a change of address for the Orlando Magic's training camp this fall. The Magic just might wind up at Disney. Hey, training at the Mouse House worked wonders for the Tampa Bay Bucs. The Magic held preseason drills last season at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and have also trained in previous years in Tampa, DeLand and at Walt Disney's Wide World of Sports. The club feels it needs to scrap Jacksonville and stick closer to home this fall because veterans with at least four years of service do not have to report until the third day of camp. Rookies and other players must report when camp opens Sept. 30. The players' union had agreed to expand the first round of the playoffs in exchange for an increase in postseason bonus money and some additional time off for veterans at the start of training camps. The Magic last set up camp at Disney in 1997. It could become their training-camp home for the next several years because veterans are excused the next two seasons from the first five days of camp. Looking to avoid any logistical problems with five veterans reporting late this preseason -- four projected as starters -- the Magic have been talking to Disney officials. The Magic also have not ruled out training at RDV Sportsplex, their regular-season practice site. "Training down in Disney . . . that's a possibility," Magic General Manager John Gabriel said. "I don't think we're locked in anywhere yet or have told anyone anything definitive. "But yes, mainly this veterans-don't-have-to-report business changes the timing of it all." Gabriel said the obvious drawback to the scenario is in the lack of manpower, "the shortage of bodies you'll have for practice for a couple of days." Speaking of logistics, the Magic will play an exhibition game Oct. 16 in a baseball town. Meet T-Mac in St. Louis? The Magic will play the Utah Jazz in the Savvis Center, home of the St. Louis Blues NHL team, according to Sheri Haynes, assistant general manager of the arena. The Magic could not comment on their preseason schedule, which will not be officially released by the league until next week. According to other NBA sources, however, Orlando will be up against Magic alumnus Darrell Armstrong more than it thought this season. How about a half-dozen times? The Magic will not only face Armstrong and his New Orleans Hornets to open the regular season at home on Oct. 30 -- the first of four meetings with New Orleans -- but they will also play the Hornets twice during the preseason (home and away.)
