When both Miami and Orlando ownership groups made successful pitches, the expansion committee decided to expand by four teams, allowing both to have a franchise. This feedback put the planned Orlando franchise up against the Miami-based team, originally known as the Florida Heat and eventually named the Miami Heat. The recommendation put the Orlando bid in doubt, since it advised that the state of Florida should only be allocated one team as part of the three-team expansion. In April, the franchise committee recommended expanding by three teams, with two of the slots going to Charlotte and Minneapolis-St. Meanwhile, Williams gave presentations to NBA commissioner David Stern and the owners of the other teams of the league that the town was viable.

Hewitt brought investors such as real estate developer William DuPont, Orlando Renegades owner Don Dizney, and Southern Fruit Citrus owners Jim and Steve Caruso, and talked the Orlando city officials into approving an arena project.

At the time, Orlando was a small city without a major airport or a suitable arena. Many, including Williams himself at first, thought that Miami or Tampa were better locations in Florida for a franchise. Hewitt added that 'You look at all the aspects of Central Florida, and you find it really is an exciting place, a magical place.' The name 'Magic' alludes to the area's biggest tourist attraction and economic engine Walt Disney World, along with its Magic Kingdom. On July 27, 1986, it was announced that the committee chose the Magic to be the new name of the Orlando franchise in the NBA. The last one, which had been submitted by 11 people, was picked after Williams brought his 7-year-old daughter Karyn to visit in Orlando. Out of a total of 4,296 submitted entries, the names were subsequently narrowed to four, 'Heat', 'Tropics', 'Juice', and 'Magic'. Īt the same time, Hewitt and Williams decided to hold a contest in the Orlando Sentinel newspaper to get names for their new franchise. On June 19, 1986, the two held a news conference to announce their intention of seeking an NBA franchise. Intrigued by the potential of an Orlando-based NBA team, Williams became the front man of the investment group one year later, after he left the 76ers. Hewitt approached Philadelphia 76ers general manager Pat Williams as they met in Texas on his idea of bringing an NBA team to Orlando. In September 1985, Orlando businessman Jim L.

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