Oct. 10, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - As UCF athletics continues to build excitement in central Florida, the Knights played a large part in the release of some prestigious annual rankings this week. The Sporting News announced its list of the Best Sports Cities of 2008, and UCF was a big reason Orlando came in at No. 30, its highest rating in the last five years.
"Orlando has a vibrant sports scene and increasingly UCF, for all its sports, is woven into the fan experience in the area," said Sporting News Chief of Correspondents Bob Hille. "While Knights football and basketball are what we measure in our points system, we know that baseball and other UCF athletics offer a lot of alternatives to local fans. That's what we celebrate in this Best Sports City package."
Orlando ranked third in the state of Florida, with Tampa-St. Pete placing at No. 13 and Miami earned the No. 22 spot. The top five cities consisted of Boston, Detroit/Ypsilanti, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York and Philadelphia.
"For the Sporting News to cite the rise of UCF Athletics in promoting our region's national ranking in their annual poll is quite validating for a school and fan base that is truly committed to its athletics success," said UCF's Director of Athletics Keith R. Tribble. "We are one of the largest universities in the nation and this sort of recognition shows that our Knights are moving upward."
Serving as the only Division I institution in one of the busiest tourist destinations in America, UCF athletics has made tremendous strides the last few years. Bright House Networks Stadium opened for the 2007 football season and immediately changed gamedays on campus, including the formation of one of the largest and most vocal student sections in the country. Now capacity crowds of over 45,000 people flock to campus every gameday in the fall.
The same can be said for men's and women's basketball, as the new UCF Arena has helped consistently shatter attendance records. UCF's volleyball, softball, rowing, cross country and golf programs all are experiencing new facilities. And future additions to baseball's Jay Bergman Field and the soccer complex also are in the works.
Along with having UCF as part of Orlando's sports dynamic, the NBA's Magic and AFL's Predators have always been big draws for the area. Add to that mix a pair of bowl games in the Capital One Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl, as well as the Daytona International Speedway and plenty of MLB spring training complexes within a short drive, and Orlando certainly has a lot to boast about.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
UCF Football Head Coach George O'Leary:
"It's good to see Orlando make it into the top 30. The city and the student body has supported us very well. The attendance has been great since we moved into the new on-campus stadium. It's very loud. We have a real home field advantage there and I can see that continuing into the future."
UCF Men's Basketball Head Coach Kirk Speraw:
"With our top-notch facilities, growing fan base and membership in one of the nation's premier leagues in Conference USA, it is no surprise that UCF has helped make Orlando one of the best sports cities in the country. There is no doubt that it is a great time to be a sports fan - especially a UCF fan - in Orlando."
UCF Women's Basketball Head Coach Joi Williams:
"UCF has quickly established itself as one of those exciting opportunities for sports fans in the area. As UCF continues its commitment to excellence in athletics, together our programs will continue to help Orlando gain recognition among the nation's best sports cities."
UCF Baseball Head Coach Terry Rooney:
"One of the great qualities about college athletics is that the athletes are accessible to the public. The UCF baseball program feels honored to be a part of the Orlando community and excited to continue our team becoming a valuable part of the sports scene in Orlando. This area is known throughout the country as a baseball `hotbed' and this reputation is based not only on talent, but the active role the community plays in their attendance of sporting events."
UCF Softball Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie:
"This is really about the partnership between our fans and the student-athletes. Our fans are very supportive of our players and that's extremely important because that helps our team have a better experience on and off the field. And with our wonderful facilities here at UCF, they've allowed fans to have an enjoyable time when they come out to our events."