Florida | 1998 | Orlando, Florida | University of Florida | 1998 in music | Tampa, Florida | Jacksonville, Florida | Florida House of Representatives | Florida State University | Palm Beach, Florida | Miami Beach, Florida | Pensacola, Florida | University of South Florida | Gainesville, Florida | Hillsborough County, Florida | Key West, Florida | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Daytona Beach, Florida | Tallahassee, Florida | 1998 FIFA World Cup | St. Petersburg, Florida | Polk County, Florida | University of Central Florida | 1998–99 in English football | West Palm Beach, Florida | Orange County, Florida | Miami-Dade County, Florida | South Florida | 1998 Winter Olympics | Sarasota, Florida |
During the days leading up to the scheduled start of practice at 3pm, Thursday, July 2, 1998, concerns rose on account of the massive wildfire outbreak that was underway in central Florida; thousands of people were forced to evacuate the area, and Interstate 95, the primary north–south thoroughfare through the region, was closed.