![Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help celebrate the halfway point on the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction, during the structure-signing ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
![Fans fill the stadium in the light rain before the...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Fans fill the stadium in the light rain before the Capital One Bowl game of South Carolina versus Wisconsin at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, January 1, 2014.
![Rain falls during the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Orlando City Soccer...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Rain falls during the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Orlando City Soccer USL playoff game at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, August 24, 2013.
![Fans fill the stadium in the light rain before the...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Fans fill the stadium in the light rain before the Capital One Bowl game of South Carolina versus Wisconsin at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, January 1, 2014.
![There isn't much left of the old structure as the...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
There isn't much left of the old structure as the Florida Citrus Bowl undergoes partial demolition on Thursday, February 6, 2014. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
![Fans at left take cover in the light rain before...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Fans at left take cover in the light rain before the Capital One Bowl game of South Carolina versus Wisconsin at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, January 1, 2014.
![Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help celebrate the halfway point on the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction, during the structure-signing ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
![The Florida Citrus Bowl undergoes partial demolition on Thursday, February...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
The Florida Citrus Bowl undergoes partial demolition on Thursday, February 6, 2014. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
![Sun sets on Citrus Bowl Wednesday, April 17, 2002. This...]()
STEPHEN M. DOWELL / Orlando Sentinel
Sun sets on Citrus Bowl Wednesday, April 17, 2002. This familiar logo will no longer be seen by the nation's football fans on Jan. 1. The Citrus Commission has decided to drop its 19-year sponsorship of the event and gear its ads toward young mothers. The game and stadium are likely to get new names and another sponsor.
![UCF wide receiver Javid James (18) celebrates with UCF tailback...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
UCF wide receiver Javid James (18) celebrates with UCF tailback Kevin Smith (24) after James scored a touchdown during the Southern Miss at UCF college football game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Tuesday, September 26, 2006.
![This is the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., as viewed...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
This is the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., as viewed from a helicopter on April 17, 2007.
![Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help celebrate the halfway point on the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction, during the structure-signing ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
![Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help celebrate the halfway point on the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction, during the structure-signing ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
![Fans fill the stadium in the light rain before the...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Fans fill the stadium in the light rain before the Capital One Bowl game of South Carolina versus Wisconsin at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, January 1, 2014.
![Naples tackle David Grider (70) and teammates celebrate after winning...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Naples tackle David Grider (70) and teammates celebrate after winning the FHSAA Class 3A state football championship game of St. Augustine versus Naples at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Friday, December 14, 2007.
![Naples tackle David Grider (70) and teammates celebrate after winning...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Naples tackle David Grider (70) and teammates celebrate after winning the FHSAA Class 3A state football championship game of St. Augustine versus Naples at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Friday, December 14, 2007.
![The streamers go flying after an Orlando goal during the...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
The streamers go flying after an Orlando goal during the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Orlando City Soccer USL playoff game at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, August 24, 2013.
![Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
Construction workers sign a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help celebrate the halfway point on the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction, during the structure-signing ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
![The FAMU Marching 100 performs during the Florida Classic college...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
The FAMU Marching 100 performs during the Florida Classic college football game of Florida A&M versus Bethune-Cookman at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, November 23, 2013.
![Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help celebrate the halfway point on the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction in a structure-signing ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
![A worker preps a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
A worker preps a concrete support structure as Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help celebrate the halfway point on the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction, during the structure-signing ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
![The BCU marching band performs during the Florida Classic college...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
The BCU marching band performs during the Florida Classic college football game of Florida A&M versus Bethune-Cookman at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, November 23, 2013.
![South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier celebrates beside quarterback Connor...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier celebrates beside quarterback Connor Shaw (14), wide receiver Nick Jones (3) and other players after winning the Capital One Bowl game of South Carolina versus Wisconsin at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, January 1, 2014. South Carolina won the game 34-24.
![The first sign of new chairs are seen during the...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
The first sign of new chairs are seen during the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction halfway-point ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
![The Florida Citrus Bowl undergoes partial demolition on Thursday, February...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
The Florida Citrus Bowl undergoes partial demolition on Thursday, February 6, 2014. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
![City and county leaders cheer, including Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
City and county leaders cheer, including Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs (center), helping to celebrate the halfway point on the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction during a structure-signing ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
![Fans enjoy the weather during the Florida Classic college football...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Fans enjoy the weather during the Florida Classic college football game of Florida A&M versus Bethune-Cookman at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, November 23, 2013.
![Seminole High lineman Kadeem Edwards celebrates after the Class 6A...]()
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel
Seminole High lineman Kadeem Edwards celebrates after the Class 6A High School state championship game of Miami Northwestern versus Sanford Seminole High School at The Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, December 20, 2008. Seminole won 28-21.
![Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help...]()
Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel
Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange mayor Teresa Jacobs help celebrate the halfway point on the Florida Citrus Bowl reconstruction in a structure-signing ceremony, in Orlando, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) B583774250Z.1
I was shocked when I drove to the Florida Citrus Bowl this week to check on demolition progress. There seems to be little left of the original structure after only weeks of partial demolition.
I expected to see some change, but wow! All that is left of the stadium is the two upper bowl sections. Of course, construction crews have little time to waste if they’re going to have the facility ready by next year.
It’s part of a $190 million renovation for the Florida Citrus Bowl. As I looked at the shell that is left, I reflected on the days, probably weeks of my life, that I’ve spent shooting football games, soccer games and other events at the stadium. The last event I shot there was when the Ole Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, won the Capital One Bowl on New Years Day this year. That was one month and one week ago, and look at the stadium now!
I am thrilled that the stadium is being renovated. That means we’ll get even more big-time events in Orlando. When it’s finished in early 2015, about 80 percent of the Florida Citrus Bowl will be new.
smdowell@tribune.com Follow Stephen M. Dowell on Twitter @dowellstephen. Like us on Facebook: Orlando Sentinel Photography.
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