The Orlando Magic are dedicating their Oct. 26 opening night to the 49 victims who lost their lives in the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12.
To show their condolences, the team will include a tribute video, highlighting the city’s union since the massacre, and a moment of silence to pay its respects to the victims.
There will also be a moment to honor the first responders who went to the scene of the shooting at the gay nightclub.
Beyond having a moment of silence, the organization is going a step further, raising a “49” banner in the arena. The number “49” will be filled with the name of the victims who lost their lives.
Orlando is hosting the game against the Miami Heat. During their summer league game in Orlando, some of the Heat players, coaches and staff visited a hospital near the nightclub to meet with survivors.
This is more than the Magic showing their support though; all of Orlando’s professional sports teams are joining the movement. The Magic, Lions, Pride, Predators and Solar Bears will all be selling t-shirts with the #OrlandoUnited slogan.
Proceeds will go to the city of Orlando’s OneOrlando Fund, which was set up in response to the tragedy at Pulse.
The OneOrlando Fund works in partnership with Equality Florida, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida and the National Compassion Fund and exists to support the families of the victims who were killed and the survivors who were physically or mentally harmed in this attack.
Find out more about the OneOrlando Fund by visiting oneorlando.org.