During Saturday’s game between the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards, a giant rooster came onto the court. Yes, that was the most noticeable thing to uninitiated fans. The player wearing the same jersey was probably who the fans wanted to see.
#GaloNews Mascotes dos 9 clubes da Florida Cup. Olha lá o Galo Doido pic.twitter.com/vV51b37fHQ
— GALÃO DA MASSA (@GaloNews_) January 10, 2016
That player is Marques of Atletico Mineiro of Brazil. Atletico Mineiro is one of eight teams participating in the Florida Cup at Disney’s Wide World of Sports and in Boca Raton, which began Sunday with Bayer Leverkusen taking on Independiente Santa Fe.
It is no doubt there has been a tie between Orlando and Brazil. Orlando City has had Fluminese and Sao Paolo for friendlies. They played a game against Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.
The Orlando Magic too have played Flamengo in basketball — both at home and in Brazil — and are traveling to London to be part of the NBA’s efforts to market the game in Europe and in the United Kingdom.
The Orlando teams clearly see an opportunity as the world’s most popular tourist destination to travel to in the world to expand their fan base and make them more international brands.
So too now do the teams coming over here from around the world.
“The United States is a very good market, an interesting market for soccer,” Leverkusen CEO Michael Schade told Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel. “I think soccer is still under development here, but you have to show up if you want to get some interest in the Bundesliga and in Bayer Leverkusen, as well. This is a famous club … but nevertheless you have to show up in order to get more fans.”
Bayer Leverkusen is undoubtedly the highlight of these group of eight teams playing throughout Florida in this mid-season tournament. And having a major team from the German Bundesliga is important for the team and the league as it continues to grow in the United States.
Soccer has undoubtedly found a foothold in Orlando and that has helped the sport continue its nationwide growth. Teams clearly see benefits to coming to Florida — both for fans going on vacation and for introducing this fan base to the sport.
This goes the same for Orlando teams looking to export their brands overseas. This relationship with Orlando sports and international audiences is only going to continue.
Action at Disney’s Wild World of Sports continues Wednesday when Leverkusen takes on Internacional of Brazil and Corinthians of Sao Paulo, Brazil takes on Shakhtar Donetsk of the Ukraine.
