Thanks to AirTran Airways’ partnerships with the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard, a life-sized likeness of Superman himself is now flying through the terrace level of the dazzling, new Amway Center.
AirTran, a “Champions of the Community’’ partner with the Magic, unveiled a suspended, 6-foot-11 likeness of the Orlando’s consensus All-NBA center on Tuesday, November 16. The image is a replica of Howard in full-flight from his famous “Superman’’ dunk from the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. The display also incorporates AirTran Business Class seats, allowing fans to take their pictures with the image of Howard flying overhead.
“It’s amazing, it really is,’’ Howard gushed upon getting his first look at the life-sized image seemingly hanging in the air. “I’ve only seen myself in pictures, but now this is like being up close to Dwight. Wow!’’
The AirTran Flight Deck, which is just steps away from the Howard display, is a specially-designed 1,325-square-foot lounge created to give guests a unique experience during Magic home games and other Amway Center events. The Flight Deck resembles the interior of an AirTran Airways’ aircraft complete with Business Class seats, overhead bins above the bar and a digital display scoreboard with the look of an arrivals/departures screen.
“Over the years AirTran has taken an increased role in the community, and being involved with the new Amway Center is ideal,’’ said Bob Fornaro, the Chairman, President and CEO of AirTran Airways. “We wanted to be associated with one of the best brands in Orlando and that’s the Orlando Magic. And with Dwight, he’s wonderful, he’s great in the community and he’s a star already.’’
Howard, whose Magic (7-3) defeated Memphis on Monday and host the Phoenix Suns on Thursday in a nationally televised game, became an official spokesman for AirTran Airways last year. Howard was in awe of the visual of his display suspended in the air and gushed about how life-like it looked.
“Is that how high up in the air that I look for real?’’ Howard asked. “I didn’t think that I really looked like that. Am I really that big? That’s a big guy. I’m amazed.’’
Howard, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, ranks fourth in the NBA in blocked shots (2.8), fifth in rebounding (10.9), ninth in field goal percentage (57.4) and 19th in scoring (21.1). He had 18 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots in Monday’s defeat of Memphis.
