As nearly 60,000 cheering fans enjoying today's Capital One Bowl will attest, there are few places folks would rather be in January than in Orlando.
But how many of those Auburn Tiger and Wisconsin Badger fans will leave the Citrus Bowl wondering how this community fails to see the problems with the aging stadium? Uncomfortable metal benches, crumbling facades, ancient bathrooms and dated concession stands aren't the images fans leaving Tampa's Raymond James Stadium and Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium will have stuck in their heads.
That's why it is time to renovate the Citrus Bowl as part of a drive to build a new downtown arena and a performing-arts center.
These three facilities will improve the quality of life for residents -- and can be paid for with the Orange County tourist tax. But the Citrus Bowl will do the most to attract visitors here.
It would be bad enough if the lack of amenities were merely a gut-punch to Orlando's civic pride or only called into question the region's commitment to the comfort of our visitors. But these problems, coupled with a lack of money-generating premium club seats, could cost Central Florida big money in coming years if Orlando falls from the list of top college-bowl hosts.
In most stadiums, club seats are leased by corporate sponsors, increasing the payouts offered football conferences. Bigger payouts enable bowls to land nationally recognized, ranked teams like Auburn and Wisconsin. These matchups boost TV ratings and secure the game's presence on the New Year's holiday, which increases national exposure dramatically over lesser bowl games.
Orlando's biggest competitors are Tampa, Jacksonville and Atlanta -- all with more modern stadiums than the Citrus Bowl.
What's at stake? A study conducted after last year's Capital One Bowl estimated the game generated $42.3 million of new activity in Orange County and Orlando and created the equivalent of 440 full-year jobs. Together, the state, county and city collected $5.4 million in taxes from spending related to the Capital One Bowl.
The Florida Citrus Sports Association, which manages the Citrus Bowl and negotiates the deals that bring teams to Orlando, has made a compelling case for the first competitive upgrade in 30 years.
Already the Citrus Bowl's state of disrepair contributed to the failure to land the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. The future of one of the most exciting events of the college season, the annual Florida Classic game between Bethune-Cookman College and Florida A&M University, is far from secure.
A Citrus Bowl renovation is a sound investment in the future.
Like an arching spiral tossed at the end of a close game, the community's opportunity is right at its fingertips. Fumbling this ball, though, will cost Central Florida far more than a game.