Paul Porter Out as Public Address Announcer At End Of Season

[AdamTheGreek]

This is a bummer however does it have to do with him not making all the games due to the Lightning?

It was never a problem the last 30+ years, not sure why it would now.

Also, he has multiple Lightning rings, he gives the Magic playoff priority.

[T-Cat]

Some big news.

This is Paul Porter's last season as public address announcer.

Apparently, it was not his decision.

Read on Twitter

https://www.nba.com/magic/news/orlando-magic-to-honor-public-address-announcer-paul-porter-in-his-final-season-20250404

This is a sad day.

Orlando probably didn't want to pay his salary anymore and decided to go cheaper.

This organization is making moves this off season, hopefully it's for the better!

Anyone else noticed why they abruptly decided to elect D12 into the Magic HOF, to me it was a PR move (especially during the Lakers game).

The average cost of a ticket to a Magic game is between $25 to $33 dollars

[DiplomaticMagic]

This is bull.

Not being bias, but Paul Porter is a top PA in the league.

He brings the hype without being annoying which is VERY RARE.

The Magic have just been making questionable moves as of late.

I was all in after last years playoffs and now Im not even watching the games. This news is not helping.

[ogmagicfan]

Ownership has really been showing their ass since the post-Dwight years

Time for them to go. Simple as that.

[Def Swami]

Atrocious. The man is a legend. One of the league’s best, most recognizable PA announcers.

It’s in line with a completely out of touch ownership group. Team has not had real expectations or accountability since Rich passed. The business of the Orlando Magic is run by a bunch of clowns. And they continue to run this franchise like a Mickey Mouse Club. Honestly hope they sell the team to a real owner who cares. I could go on, but I’ll save it for another thread at another time.

[AdamTheGreek]

The Sentinel piece from Beede today makes it look even worse for the Magic.

Paul said that the Magic told him in June that he was done after this season, not his decision, but the team didn’t want him to say anything until this ‘announcement’.
In February, Paul asked the Magic to retire on his terms, that he wanted another year or two. They said no and remained adamant they were going into a different chapter.

[T-Cat]

The Sentinel piece from Beede today makes it look even worse for the Magic.

Paul said that the Magic told him in June that he was done after this season, not his decision, but the team didn’t want him to say anything until this ‘announcement’.
In February, Paul asked the Magic to retire on his terms, that he wanted another year or two. They said no and remained adamant they were going into a different chapter.

June??

[eyriq]

This makes me think a rebrand is definitely coming next season

[Magic#1]

The Sentinel piece from Beede today makes it look even worse for the Magic.

Paul said that the Magic told him in June that he was done after this season, not his decision, but the team didn’t want him to say anything until this ‘announcement’.
In February, Paul asked the Magic to retire on his terms, that he wanted another year or two. They said no and remained adamant they were going into a different chapter.

If Paul's performance had slipped, I get it. But it hasn't, so this doesn't fly. This is just a crap move by the organization. Very, very disappointing.

[JF5]

Magic fan since 99... They're trying to get rid of the old guard and it's been apparent for the last few seasons since they got rid of Dennis off radio a few years ago. Honestly, I think David Steele should be next his PBP has slipped terribly the during that same timeframe. Sorely miss the days of him and Jack Givens, lmao.

[Kent]

This is an abomination.

Dennis Neumann got pushed out. Paul is now getting pushed out.

You do not treat franchise legends like this.

If you’re a season ticket holder, please voice your displeasure.

Paul should get to walk away on his terms. He’s still a top-3 PA guy today.
There is no replacing him. The in-game experience dramatically decreases without Paul.

And we never got him that ring.

Spot on & won’t be the same going to games and not hearing his iconic voice. Have a bad feeling they’re going to go after some hip new person

Let me tell, y'all...

I went to the Kings game last Saturday and Porter was not calling the game.

This other guy was BAAAAD... It was legit not a fit and I let it bother and distract me.

Now, I've been to plenty of games where Jay Edwards sat in the chair doing his best Paul Porter impression. It's not the same, understandably, BUT it felt and sounded right.

I've braced myself for the day Porter would no longer sit courtside but I never thought it wouldn't be Porter's decision.

Matter of fact, no joke, I thought what they should do is capture his voice pattern for AI to layer on to the next guy so the new person just has to perform the cadence and the AI makes it sound like Porter.

This really sucks.

[MagicTownBaller]

Horrible look for the franchise right now.

[dsg2021]

Never even heard a PA who ever sounded as good as Porter. What a travesty of a process that would ever decide to let him go. I hope we give him some love in his last games.

[Skybox]

Anyone else noticed why they abruptly decided to elect D12 into the Magic HOF, to me it was a PR move (especially during the Lakers game).

The average cost of a ticket to a Magic game is between $25 to $33 dollars

-Adam made the good point that they realized Dwight would be a sure thing for the REAL HOF this year (he just was voted in as expected) and it would look petty if ORL didn't even recognize him before that. Just like our FO, they only made a necessary move when forced to

-I don't know where those $30 seats are, but you'd better bring oxygen...I had season tickets for years, cut it back to 10 or so games, and now a handful or none because the price vs value (for business) was as negative a value as WCJ's extension. I was routinely dropping over $1000 per game for 4 seats and, even as an obsessive fan, I just don't know how people can justify that if not a business expense. Those were good club seats, but by no means, the most expensive package...I rather enjoyed bargain-shopping for the most interesting games (MIN, SAC, OKC...) vs the most overpriced (MIA, NY, LAL...). I can't imagine how less fortunate families could afford to bring their kids, buy them $100+ "City" BS glorified T-shirts, and overpriced hot dogs, etc. This isn't NYC, so I also can't imagine how they fill those skyboxes ( )...they are insanely overpriced, when the mandatory bad catering is included and it's not like there are hundreds of big financial corps in ORL to happily shell out for the prestige...they always seem to announce a sell out, so I always assume they were giving away a lot of tix to tour groups, etc at deep discounts. The old arena was much more realistic, even with a Montecristo Club membership...I did a lot of business there but it was privately owned and they weren't invited to the House Dwight Built.

[T-Cat]

Magic fan since 99... They're trying to get rid of the old guard and it's been apparent for the last few seasons since they got rid of Dennis off radio a few years ago. Honestly, I think David Steele should be next his PBP has slipped terribly the during that same timeframe. Sorely miss the days of him and Jack Givens, lmao.

I agree! Both David Steele and Jeff Turner are not very exciting! I want more exciting commentators such as the Bulls or Hornets guys and no more "Ka-Pow-Yaos"!

[Furinkazan]

This oragnisation is so great at solving the imaginary problems that dont exist.
Maybe for once take care of the real problems at hand?

[T-Cat]

This oragnisation is so great at solving the imaginary problems that dont exist.
Maybe for once take care of the real problems at hand?

That will come at season's end! Especially if we don't make the play- in vs Atlanta

[3ddman23]

This is an abomination.

Dennis Neumann got pushed out. Paul is now getting pushed out.

You do not treat franchise legends like this.

If you’re a season ticket holder, please voice your displeasure.

Paul should get to walk away on his terms. He’s still a top-3 PA guy today.
There is no replacing him. The in-game experience dramatically decreases without Paul.

And we never got him that ring.

Spot on & won’t be the same going to games and not hearing his iconic voice. Have a bad feeling they’re going to go after some hip new person

Let me tell, y'all...

I went to the Kings game last Saturday and Porter was not calling the game.

This other guy was BAAAAD... It was legit not a fit and I let it bother and distract me.

Now, I've been to plenty of games where Jay Edwards sat in the chair doing his best Paul Porter impression. It's not the same, understandably, BUT it felt and sounded right.

I've braced myself for the day Porter would no longer sit courtside but I never thought it wouldn't be Porter's decision.

Matter of fact, no joke, I thought what they should do is capture his voice pattern for AI to layer on to the next guy so the new person just has to perform the cadence and the AI makes it sound like Porter.

This really sucks.

The guy that does the games when Porter is not there is just not good..I believe it's the same guy that does the UCF basketball games but I could be wrong. Sounds like him.

[otownflava21]

Spot on & won’t be the same going to games and not hearing his iconic voice. Have a bad feeling they’re going to go after some hip new person

Let me tell, y'all...

I went to the Kings game last Saturday and Porter was not calling the game.

This other guy was BAAAAD... It was legit not a fit and I let it bother and distract me.

Now, I've been to plenty of games where Jay Edwards sat in the chair doing his best Paul Porter impression. It's not the same, understandably, BUT it felt and sounded right.

I've braced myself for the day Porter would no longer sit courtside but I never thought it wouldn't be Porter's decision.

Matter of fact, no joke, I thought what they should do is capture his voice pattern for AI to layer on to the next guy so the new person just has to perform the cadence and the AI makes it sound like Porter.

This really sucks.

The guy that does the games when Porter is not there is just not good..I believe it's the same guy that does the UCF basketball games but I could be wrong. Sounds like him.

I heard it’s Paul Porters son but that could be false

[Bensational]

Franchise better have some grand send off planned for him, otherwise what’s 36 years of being the voice of home court worth? Especially when you’re sending him out to pasture prematurely.