UMass fans make their way down to the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic in Sunrise

By Zachary Baru

Sunrise, Florida, - It did not take long to find many UMass Basketball fans for their trip down to the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.  Within just minutes of the game, a conversation could easily be had with fellow fans regarding anything considering the 413 area code.  The game, however, is far from UMass' home of the Mullins Center, as UMass faces Florida State this afternoon at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

Photo: Aaron Baru

Located in the home of the National Hockey League champion Florida Panthers, the Amerant Bank Arena is 30 miles north of Miami.  The arena is adjacent to the Florida Everglades, with just an expressway separating the venue from the east-end of the Everglades.  Seating 19,250, the venue is large for college basketball, but a decent amount of fans have showed up for the early half of a double-header this afternoon.  And surprisingly, this early crowd is loud and engaged.

It took just minutes to meet fans from Western Mass., and groups of UMass fans can be spotted all around the venue.  The breakdown of UMass to Florida St. fans is about 80/20%, in favor of Florida St., of course. But there is plenty of UMass fans and media making the trip from UMass, making for a great day of college basketball just outside of Fort Lauderdale. While the arena is about a 45 minute drive from downtown Miami, the venue is only about a 20 minute trip west from Ft. Lauderdale. 

With an expansive alumni, and fellow Western Mass. natives who have made the move down south, it is not surprising that a decent following of UMass fans can be found so far from home.