Hurricanes
For 74 years, the Orange Bowl has been a headliner in South Florida's emergence as a big-event showcase.
Fifteen national champions have been crowned on its field. An equal number of Heisman Trophy winners have been featured. South Beach and other South Florida wonders beckon to visiting fans.
A diamond jubilee, though, requires something extra. Such as throwing back-to-back parties.
This season brings the Orange Bowl's first double-hosting task, a soirée two years in the planning. The traditional Orange Bowl will be held Jan. 1, with the BCS Championship following Jan. 8 on the same Dolphin Stadium field.
"I'm not sure it's clearly resonated yet in South Florida just what's coming," said Eric Poms, the bowl's chief executive.
Two bowl games. Four sets of fans to entertain.
Just when it's time to close the books on the first grand production, the second arrives with an even bigger spotlight.
"We're really lucky and privileged to have this fall upon our 75th anniversary -- and what a way to celebrate it," Poms said.
"It's a lot of moving parts, but this is what the Orange Bowl does each and every year. South Florida is one of the greatest communities in this country that can host these events."
The last time a BCS champion was crowned at the Orange Bowl was four years ago, when Southern Cal routed Oklahoma 55-19. Fans filled hotels and restaurants that week to an estimated $200 million in economic impact.
Now, with a second game in the mix, that number could rise by 50 percent.
The Orange Bowl Committee also has a couple of tough acts to follow.
Fiesta Bowl committee organizers were given stellar marks in the first double-hosting performance, which ended with Florida's 41-14 title-game win over Ohio State.
Last year, the Sugar Bowl/BCS Championship double were considered landmarks in putting New Orleans back on the tourism radar 2 ½ years after the city was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Now, it's the Orange Bowl's turn.
"I think we're well-equipped to do two bowl weeks." Poms said.
Heavy emphasis has been given to making a seamless transition from the Orange Bowl to BCS Championship week, with an emphasis on hotels, practice sites and airport logistics.
The critical day figures to be Jan. 2, when the two Orange Bowl teams and fans will fly out while the BCS Championship rivals hit town.
"We really want to come off as first-class," said Poms, adding that the bowl has expanded both staffing and volunteer rosters to accommodate the crunch.
The BCS Championship will match the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the final BCS rankings on Dec. 7. The ACC champion, if not playing the title game, gets an automatic Orange Bowl berth.
The other Orange Bowl slot will be filled by an at-large team.
For each of the past two double-hosts, that has meant an unbeaten Cinderella from outside the core Bowl Championship conferences.
Two years ago, Boise State's overtime upset of Oklahoma made for a Fiesta Bowl instant classic. Hawaii scored a Sugar Bowl berth last year but left disappointed after a 41-10 loss to Georgia.
The McClatchy Company