<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The power of sports often goes far beyond box scores and statistics. Just check out the buzz in Central Florida this week: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Texas Rangers played the first regular-season Major League Baseball games in the area at Disney's Wide World of Sports. And Atlantic Coast Conference officials are intrigued by the possibility of Orlando playing host to the league's football championship starting in 2008. Each story reflects the possibility of what the future holds for Central Florida. Without a new events center and refurbished Citrus Bowl that await official approval, this area will struggle to rise above a niche sports market. The interest from ACC officials is contingent on improvements to the Citrus Bowl. It shows that the region has influential pull throughout the country -- as well it should. Central Florida has a strong infrastructure that includes a prime airport, hotels, tourist attractions and other amenities. But it needs something more to attract big-time sports events, whether it's a college football championship game or a National Basketball Association All-Star Game. That's where upgraded sports facilities come into play. Without them, Central Florida will have to settle for a cameo appearance from the Devil Rays or some other team passing through town. They will serve as sad reminders of what could have been had Central Florida decided to play with the big boys.</div> Source While this is a short read (it was just an editorial), I agree with what the writer was saying. Right now the facilities in our town need a big upgrade. The Amway Arena isn't great since it is lacking luxury boxes. The Citrus Bowl is really old and practically falling apart. The only bright spot is the Disney complex, the Wide World of Sports. That has some really nice facilities such as football fields, basketball gyms, baseball fields, and soccer fields. A lot of professional teams use that facility (such as the Buccaneers for training camp, minor league baseball teams, professional soccer teams) and it's a step in the right direction if Orlando wants to become a sports town rather than have its professional athletes hide in the shadow of Mickey Mouse.
