Miami's 'Big Orange' Gets A New Name
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The "Big Orange" known for its New Year's Eve ascension up the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Miami every New Year's Eve is getting a new name.
This year, it'll be called "La Gran Naranja."
City officials said Miami's Big Orange is being renamed to recognize the orange being brought to Florida by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon 500 years ago in 1513.
The new name also coincides with a three-year Spanish heritage campaign, called Viva Florida 500, which begins January 1st.
A news conference to announce the renaming of the Big Orange is scheduled for 3pm Monday at the InterContinental Hotel where Mayor Tomas Regalado will be joined by Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, Ambassador Cristina Barrios, Consul General of Spain and other dignitaries at the big announcement.