ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic trail in their best of seven first round match up against the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1.

Game four is Saturday with a 1 p.m. tip off, but that’s just the beginning of a busy day of sports in the City Beautiful.


What You Need To Know

  •  Many bars and restaurants in Downtown Orlando plan to open at 11 a.m. Saturday

  •  The Orlando Magic, Orlando City and the Solar Bears all have games on Saturday

  •  Downtown businesses expect business to at least double due to the crowds

Following the Magic, Orlando City plays at 7:30 in the evening, but then the Solar Bears have a playoff game against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits with an expected puck drop at 9 p.m.

“It’s going to be a busy day from the morning to the end,” said Dan Buckley, bar manager of the Hair & Celt Irish Pub. “Extra hands, extra staff, so looking forward to it.”

For nine years, Buckley has been pouring drinks, serving guests, and watching sports with customers in downtown Orlando.

With the triple header on tap in downtown, he said he expects business to increase by 70% compared to an average Saturday.

“Busy day like that it makes up for the slow shifts and slow days throughout the week,” Buckley said. “We have slow times coming up, like summertime. It’s good for the front of the house, back of the house, everyone in general.”

While Buckley and his team will be open until midnight, Tin & Taco will be open until 3 a.m. for the late-night crowd and sports fans.

Employee Sarai Harden said she expects the place to be packed all day and night.

She says it will probably be busier than what downtown experienced during March Madness in 2023, and when the Pro Bowl was in town earlier this year.

“Probably, when we had the Olympics in town, and then we had the (Pro Bowl) as well,” Harden said. “That was insane. All day we were busy, no breaks for 12 hours.”

With business expected to be much higher than an average Saturday, Harden said she’s preparing to be well rested for her 13-hour shift Saturday.

With most bars and restaurants opening at 11 a.m. Saturday, sports fans and downtown patrons need to plan accordingly when it comes to parking.