The City of Orlando, Florida has a long and rich history, with a focus on professional sports and venues. The city was founded in 1875 and was originally known as Jernigan, after the first permanent settler, Aaron Jernigan. In 1885, the city was renamed Orlando, after a character in Shakespeare's play As You Like It.
In the early 1900s, Orlando began to develop its professional sports scene. The city's first professional sports team, the Orlando Panthers, was established in 1919 and played in the Florida State League. The team was disbanded in 1923, but the city's love of professional sports continued to grow.
In the 1950s, the city began to focus on building venues for professional sports. The first major venue was the Orlando Arena, which opened in 1989 and was home to the Orlando Magic basketball team. The city also built the Citrus Bowl, which opened in 1936 and is now known as Camping World Stadium. The stadium is home to the Orlando City Soccer Club and the University of Central Florida Knights football team.
In the 2000s, the city continued to invest in professional sports and venues. In 2010, the Amway Center opened, which is home to the Orlando Magic and the Orlando Solar Bears hockey team. The city also opened the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in 2014, which hosts a variety of events, including concerts, plays, and musicals.
Today, the City of Orlando is home to a variety of professional sports teams and venues. The city continues to invest in its professional sports and venues, ensuring that Orlando remains a vibrant and exciting city for sports fans.
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