If you’ve been thinking about buying a vacation home in Orlando, you couldn’t have picked a better time. The area is already the theme park capital of the world, and the most visited-destination in the United States. Now, the city is playing host to a variety of marquee sporting events in 2017 – sure to attract fans from all over the world. Many of these visitors will rent a vacation home for their stay, rather than book a hotel room. Here’s a rundown on the key sporting events and facilities on the calendar for this year:Â
NFL Pro Bowl – Orlando’s newly renovated Camping World Stadium plays host to the NFL Pro Bowl, the league’s end-of-season all-star game, on January 29. The game has traditionally played in Honolulu, Hawaii. But Orlando campaigned for the event by emphasizing its strength as a family vacation destination, and the fact that it offers access to a large part of the NFL fan base. Two-thirds of the NFL teams are located east of the Mississippi, and many in the Southeast are within driving distance of Orlando.Â
Orlando will host the Pro Bowl for two years, with an option for a third. City leaders are confident of putting on a great show that will make Orlando the Pro Bowl’s permanent home.Â
The Pro Bowl festivities will include a four-day fan festival at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Disney World. The event will feature championship games by youth, high school, flag and wheelchair football teams; cheer and dance competitions and clinics; Pro Bowl practice sessions open to the public; and an autograph session with players.Â
March Madness – Orlando’s Amway Center will host the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, with eight of the nation’s top teams competing in the Round of 64 on March 16, and the four winners returning for the Round of 32 on March 18.Â
Wrestlemania 33 – World Wrestling Entertainment’s premier event will take place April 2 at Camping World Stadium. In addition, the WWE will host a four-day, interactive fan festival at the Orange County Convention Center. Plus, the Amway Center will host four big events, including the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and three regular weekly broadcasts: NXT TakeOver on April 1, Monday Night Raw on April 3 and SmackDown Live on April 4.Â
International Champions Cup - Two of the world’s top soccer clubs will compete at Camping World Stadium for the International Champions Cup during the summer. Pairings will be announced in June.Â
Orlando City Stadium – This new 25,500 seat soccer facility, located just two blocks from the Amway Center near downtown Orlando, will host Orlando City SC’s Major League Soccer matches. Individual season tickets have already been sold out, but single game tickets are now available. The stadium will also be home to the National Women’s Soccer League’s Orlando Pride, and Orlando City B, a member of the United Soccer League.Â
USTA National Campus – Orlando is proud to be the new home of the U.S. Tennis Association. The new 100-court National Campus is located on 65 acres in Lake Nona, about a 10-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The USTA says it will be the world’s largest tennis facility, and will host about 100 events in 2017 for 55,000 players. The facility is open to the public 364 days a year; no membership is required.
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