Citrus Bowl 535859 224448555 2008-07-08T21:54:37Z 3bulletproof16 503748 noted {{otheruses4|the football stadium|the bowl game of the same name played there from 1983-2002|Capital One Bowl}} {{Infobox_Stadium |stadium_name=Florida Citrus Bowl |nickname= |image=[[Image:Citrus Bowl aerial view.jpg|300px|center]] |location=1610 W. Church Street <br> [[Orlando, Florida]] 32805 |broke_ground=1936 |opened=1936 |closed= |demolished= |owner=[[Orlando, Florida|City of Orlando]] |operator=Orlando Centroplex |surface=419 Bermuda Grass |construction_cost=[[United States dollar|$]]115,000 <br> [[United States dollar|$]]38 million (renovation) |architect= |former_names=Orlando Stadium (1936-1946)<br>Tangerine Bowl (1947-1975)<br>Citrus Bowl (1976)<br>Orlando Stadium (1977-1982) <br>Florida Citrus Bowl (1983-Present) |tenants=[[Capital One Bowl]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1947-72, 1974-Present)<br>[[Champs Sports Bowl]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (2001-Present)<br>[[Florida Classic]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1997-Present)<br>[[University of Central Florida|UCF]] [[UCF Knights|Knights]] [[UCF Knights football|football]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1979-2006)<br>[[Orlando Broncos]] ([[Southern Football League|SFL]]) (1962-63) <br> [[Orlando Panthers]] ([[Continental Football League|CFL]]) (1966-70)<br>[[Florida Blazers]] ([[World Football League|WFL]]) (1974)<br>[[Orlando Americans]] ([[American Football Association (American football)|AFA]]) (1981)<br>[[Orlando Renegades]] ([[United States Football League|USFL]]) (1985)<br>[[Orlando Thunder]] ([[World League of American Football|WLAF]]) (1991-1992)<br>[[Orlando Sundogs]] ([[USL First Division|A-League]]) (1997)<br>[[Orlando Rage]] ([[XFL]]) (2001) |seating_capacity=10,000 (1936) <br> 52,000 (1976) <br> 65,438 (2002) <br> 70,000 (2003) <br> 74,635 (2008) |}} The '''Florida Citrus Bowl''' (formerly '''Orlando Stadium''', '''Tangerine Bowl''' and the '''Citrus Bowl''') is a [[stadium]] in [[Orlando, Florida]], [[United States|USA]], built for [[American football|football]] and currently seats around 70,000. Its main events are the [[Capital One Bowl]] and the [[Champs Sports Bowl]]. It also hosts the annual Florida Classic between [[Florida A&M University]] and [[Bethune-Cookman College]]. From 1979-2006, it served as the home of the [[University of Central Florida|UCF]] Golden Knights football team. ==History== The stadium opened in 1936, with a capacity of 8,900. The first college football game was played on [[January 1]] [[1947]]. Catawba defeated Maryville 31-6. Two thousand seats were added in 1952. Five thousand more seats were added in 1968, along with the first press box. From 1974-76 the capacity was raised to 52,000. The current capacity of 65,438 was established in 1989, after a [[United States dollar|$]]38&nbsp;million renovation that added the upper decks. In 1983, the Florida Department of Citrus was added as a title sponsor for the facility, at a price of [[United States dollar|$]]250,000. From 1999 to 2002, key stadium improvements included the addition of contour seating, two [[escalators]], and a new 107-foot wide [[video]] screen. A new sound system, along with two full-color displays along the upper decks, was also added. Now the stadium currently seats 65,438 people and can be increased to over 70,000 people with temporary bleachers in the north end zone. The temporary bleachers were last used for the 2005 Capital One Bowl, which had an attendance of 70,229. The [[Walt Disney World]] Florida Classic, a rivalry football game between [[Florida A&M University|Florida A&M]] and [[Bethune-Cookman University|Bethune-Cookman]] is held annually in November. The 2003 game held the stadium's all-time record for attendance of 73,358 until 2008. WrestleMania XXIV broke the record with an attendance of 74,635. The Citrus bowl has hosted several professional [[American football]] leagues unsuccessfully. The [[Orlando Renegades]] of the [[United States Football League]] played there in 1985. The [[Orlando Thunder]] of the [[NFL Europa|WLAF]] played there in 1991 and 1992. The [[Orlando Rage]] of the [[XFL]] played there in 2001. The playing surface is large enough for use in international [[football (soccer)|soccer]] matches, and it was a venue for the [[Football World Cup 1994|1994 World Cup]]. In 1996 [[1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic]] soccer matches were held at the stadium. It hosted the [[USL First Division|USISL A-League]] [[Orlando Sundogs]] in 1997. Its most recent high-level soccer game was on [[January 13]], [[2008]], between [[Club Deportivo Guadalajara|Chivas de Guadalajara]] of the [[Primera División de México|Mexican Premier Division]] and [[Deportivo Cali]] of [[Colombian Professional Football]]. Chivas won, 2–1, before 15,121 fans.<ref>[http://www.chivascampeon.com/noticia/3120/ Guadalajara 2-1 Deportivo Cali<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Several [[NFL]] preseason football games have been held at the stadium, most recently between the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers|Buccaneers]] and [[New York Jets|Jets]] in 1997. Several neutral field regular season college football games have been held at the facility; notable games include [[University of Florida|Florida]] vs. [[Mississippi State University|Mississippi State]] and [[Florida State University|Florida State]] vs. [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]] on [[November 12]], [[1994]]. Numerous concerts have been held at the stadium, including [[The Who]], [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], [[Pink Floyd]], [[George Michael]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Guns N' Roses]], [[Billy Joel]]/[[Elton John]], and [[The Eagles]]. It was also the only venue where [[Van Halen]] and [[The Rolling Stones]] played together live, which occurred in October 1981. The ''[[Monster Jam|Super Bowl of Motorsports]]'' [[monster truck]] event makes an annual January visit. The [[American Motorcyclist Association|AMA]] [[Supercross]] Series holds an annual spring event. In July 2003, The [[Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003]] made its stop in the Citrus Bowl featuring [[Metallica]], [[Limp Bizkit]], [[Linkin Park]], [[Deftones]], and [[Mudvayne]]. [[Drum Corps International]] has held its annual [[DCI Division I World Champions|Drum & Bugle Corps World Championships]] at the Citrus Bowl four times in 1996, 1997, 1998 & 2003. The Corporate [[5000 meters|5K]] Orlando [[road running|road race]] has been based at the stadium for several years. === WrestleMania XXIV === [[Image:WMXXIVlive.jpg|right|thumb|200px|An attendance record setting 74,635 fans at the Citrus Bowl for [[WrestleMania XXIV]].]] On [[March 21]] [[2007]], [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE), Orlando Mayor [[Buddy Dyer]], and Central Florida Sports Commission President John Saboor held a press conference at the Orlando City Hall Rotunda announcing that the Citrus Bowl will host [[WrestleMania XXIV]] on [[March 30]] [[2008]]. Buddy Dyer and John Saboor stated that after six months of negotiations with WWE, the Commission managed to successfully recruit the 24th edition of the [[WrestleMania|annual event]] to the city of Orlando. World Wrestling Entertainment officials were in Orlando at the beginning of the year to tour the Orlando Centroplex. WWE and the city of Orlando plan to host festivities that will span over a five day period within the central Florida region bringing numerous branding opportunities and television coverage, leading up to the event at the Citrus Bowl.<ref name="Orlando">{{cite web|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/Entertainment/HeyJohn/2007/3/19/wrestlemania_24.html|title=WrestleMania 24 Coming To Orlando.|accessdate=2007-10-27}}</ref> Despite the risks of an outdoor show, WWE chairman [[Vince McMahon]] has announced that the "show will go on, regardless of the weather."<ref name="WrestleMania 24 will go on, even if it rains." WWE prevented any affect caused by rain by adding a tent-like structure which had steel arches that was supporting a tarp which protected the ringside ans ring in case of rain. This idea was reportedly not in the original plan that was shown in the [[March]] [[2008]] issue of [[WWE Magazine]].>{{cite web|url= http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:5ho1xC9a6owJ:www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Columnists/Angle/colJAW060707.htm+WrestleMania+24+%2Bweather&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us|title=WrestleMania 24 will go on, even if it rains.|accessdate=2007-03-22}}</ref> The Central Florida Sports Commission estimate WrestleMania XXIV will pump [[United States dollar|$]]25&nbsp;million into the local economy while creating numerous jobs, and bring around 60,000 visitors to the city for the event.<ref name=" Orlando To Host WrestleMania 24 At Citrus Bowl In 2008.">{{cite web|url= http://www.cityoforlando.net/elected/mayor/pressreleases/07_03_21_wrestlemania.htm|title=Orlando To Host WrestleMania 24 At Citrus Bowl In 2008.|accessdate=2007-10-27}}</ref> Tickets went on sale [[November 3]] [[2007]].<ref name="WrestleMania info">{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/wmxxivfacts|title=What you need to know about WrestleMania XXIV|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref> Over 41,000 tickets were sold in 60&nbsp;minutes, making WrestleMania XXIV the highest-grossing event in the history of the Citrus Bowl. In the end, 74,635 Fans attended the event, smashing the previous Citrus Bowl record. <ref>[http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-mayweather26feb26,1,4818747.story Mayweather gets pretty payday in another ring - Los Angeles Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>[http://www.news-journalonline.com/ColWrestling.htm Columns - newsjournalonline.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> World Wrestling Entertainment CEO, [[Linda McMahon]] stated that WrestleMania could be brought back to the Citrus Bowl in the near future. ==Future== In 2005, [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]-area government officials and [[University of Central Florida]] officials expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the facility, which led UCF to move to a new on-campus stadium called [[Bright House Networks Stadium]] for the [[2007 UCF Knights football team|2007 season]]. Since UCF is only a leasing tenant of the Citrus Bowl, they received minimal revenue from football games. They also have not liked the fact that the stadium is over ten [[mile]]s from the [[campus]].[[Image:Citrusbowlmiddle.JPG|thumb|175px|left|A view of the field during a [[Conference USA Football Championship|C-USA Championship Game]].]] City of Orlando officials are currently exploring a stadium refurbishment project. In 2004, the [[Capital One Bowl]], held at the Citrus Bowl, bid to become a [[Bowl Championship Series|BCS]] game, but was not chosen, due to the stadium's aging condition. The Citrus Bowl also submitted a bid for the [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] Championship Game, but lost out to [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]]'s [[Alltel Stadium]]. The key reasons for losing the bids are the lack of modern [[luxury box]]es, bench seating, and capacity. If the stadium is rehabilitated, many experts believe that since Orlando is a large, tourist-based city with an abundance of [[hotel]] rooms, it could attract more events, including the [[Super Bowl]]. If it is not refurbished, many fear the stadium could eventually lose the remainder of their tenants, and risk being demolished. The hopes for the Citrus Bowl became reality when, on [[September 29]] [[2006]], Orlando Mayor [[Buddy Dyer]] announced an agreement on a $175-million expansion of the Citrus Bowl. It is part of the "Triple Crown for Downtown", a $1.1-billion plan to redo the Orlando Centroplex with a [[New Orlando Magic Arena|new $480-million arena]] for the [[Orlando Magic]], a new $375-million performing arts center, and the Citrus Bowl improvements. Conceptual drawings for the possible improvements include enclosed concourses on the east and west sides of the stadium and additions to the north side that will finally complete the lower bowl [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-bk-magic09292006,0,1078507.story]. The "Triple Crown for Downtown" agreement was approved by the Orlando City Council on [[July 26]] [[2007]]. ==Movies and television== The Citrus Bowl was a filming location for the [[1998 in film|1998]] [[Adam Sandler]] movie ''[[The Waterboy]]''. In the film, the Citrus Bowl depicted both the home stadium of the fictional University of Louisiana Cougars as well as the venue of the climactic Bourbon Bowl game. Exterior shots of the Citrus Bowl were used in the television series ''[[Coach (TV series)|Coach]],'' staring [[Craig T. Nelson]] as Coach Hayden Fox. In the show, the Citrus Bowl was the home stadium of the fictional Orlando Breakers franchise lead by Coach Fox. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.orlandovenues.net/ Official Site of the Citrus Bowl] *[http://fcsports.com/ Official Site of Florida Citrus Sports] {{coor title dms|28|32|20.49|N|81|24|9.91|W|type:landmark}} {{start}} {{succession box | title = Home of [[Champs Sports Bowl]] | years = 2001 &ndash; present | before = [[Dolphins Stadium|Pro Player Stadium]] | after = current }} {{succession box | title = Home of [[Capital One Bowl]] | years = 1947 &ndash; 1972<br>1974 &ndash; present | before = first stadium<br>[[Ben Hill Griffin Stadium|Florida Field]] | after = [[Ben Hill Griffin Stadium|Florida Field]]<br>current }} {{succession box | title = Home of [[UCF Knights football]] | years = 1979 &ndash; 2006 | before = First Stadium | after = [[Bright House Networks Stadium]] }} {{succession box | title = Host of the [[Drum Corps International]] <br>World Championship | years = 1996 &ndash; 1998 <br> 2003 | before = <br>[[Rich Stadium]]<br>[[Camp Randall Stadium]] | after = <br>[[Camp Randall Stadium]]<br>[[Invesco Field at Mile High]] }} {{succession box | title = Host of [[WrestleMania XXIV]] | years = 2008 | before = [[Ford Field]] | after = [[Reliant Stadium]] }} {{end}} {{Bowl Stadiums}} {{Florida college football venues}} {{WrestleMania venues}} {{1994 FIFA World Cup Venues}} {{Drum Corps International World Championship host venues}} [[Category:1996 Summer Olympic venues]] [[Category:College football venues]] [[Category:NCAA bowl game venues]] [[Category:FIFA World Cup stadiums]] [[Category:Sports in Orlando, Florida]] [[Category:Sports venues in Florida]] [[Category:UCF Knights football]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Orlando, Florida]] [[Category:United States Football League venues]] [[de:Citrus Bowl]] [[es:Estadio Citrus Bowl]] [[fr:Citrus Bowl]] [[it:Citrus Bowl]] [[ja:シトラス・ボウル]] [[pt:Citrus Bowl]]