The Orlando Magic officially kicked off their 35th season of existence on Thursday morning by unveiling a commemorative logo for the 2023-24 campaign.
The logo prominently displays the No. 35 with the basketball from Orlando’s original logo protruding from the right side with a trail of stars behind it, further paying homage to the Magic’s logo history.
It features Orlando’s blue, black and silver color scheme and incorporates an advertisement for AdventHealth, which has partnered with the Magic since their inaugural season in 1989-90.
“As the Magic embark on this 35th anniversary season, we reflect on the great players and individuals who have been the foundation of this incredible organization,” chief executive officer Alex Martins said. “We know how important our history, the players, coaches and ownership is to our fans and supporters.
“Our classic logo is a great representation of that history and the fact that it is cherished by our fans. Honoring that fondness for the original logo, while celebrating this 35th season in the design, represents the manner in which we value our fans.
“As we recognize our rich history, we are excited about the direction in which we are headed and look forward to what the future holds for our fans, the city of Orlando and the Orlando Magic.”
This marks the sixth time the Magic have celebrated a season milestone, joining their 10th season in 1998-99, 15th season in 2003-04 (although they incorrectly referred to it as an anniversary), 20th season in 2008-09, 25th season in 2013-14 and 30th season in 2018-19.
Along those lines, that’s why the Magic are celebrating their 35th season this year and the Charlotte Hornets – who were founded one year prior in 1988-89 – are instead commemorating their 35th anniversary.
It’s unclear if the logo will be worn on Orlando’s uniforms, though the Magic did wear the aforementioned patches in 2008-09 and 2013-14. Meanwhile, a press release noted the team will have “some additional surprises and throwback festivities throughout the season.”