By Dan Savage
Oct. 28, 2015
ORLANDO – As a young Magic fan, Brien Godby wanted to be like Orlando Magic legend Horace Grant.
While he may not have grown up to be an NBA player, he still found a way to have an impact on the Magic organization.
Over 10,000 fans will be wearing a shirt he designed when Orlando tips off its season against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, October 28 at 7 p.m. ET.
How exactly did that happen?
The Magic reached out to fans and challenged them for their best shirt concepts in the Sixth Man T-Shirt Design Contest. Godby accepted the task, but winning it was anything but easy.
There were over 50 entries that met the organization’s criteria. Magic staff then judged the designs based on creativity and design quality, scalability and brand connection. The top five entries were then placed on the team’s social networks and website for fan voting.
After over a thousand votes were tallied, Godby emerged victorious. Along with the satisfaction of seeing fellow fans in shirts he designed, he also received two courtside seats to opening night.
For a life-long Magic fan, it was a dream come true.
“It’s going to be cool seeing everyone wearing a shirt that I made, but I don’t think I ever sat that close at a game, so that’s (going to be exciting),” Godby explained.
His connection with the team started early. Growing up in Orlando with parents who supported the squad helped fuel an undying love for the franchise.
He was on-hand at the airport in 1995 to greet the Magic as they returned home from beating the Bulls in Chicago and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Even when his family moved to Virginia, his parents would still take him on a road trip back to Orlando and bring him to a Magic game for his birthday every April.
So it’s no surprise that once the now 23-year-old Godby grew up, he returned to Orlando where he continues to support the team. It’s that special bond and history with the Magic that helped inspire his design.
“I wanted to create something that was beyond regular text and I think the pinstripes are probably one of the most recognizable pieces of the Magic’s branding,” Godby said. “So that was definitely the biggest piece of inspiration, because I think it’s more meaningful when you connect with things like that and gives the design more purpose.”
It also helps when the designer is truly Pure Magic.
