Introduction

On July 26, 2007, the final step towards approval of the three downtown Community Venues was achieved as the Orange County Board of County Commissioners approved the Interlocal Agreement for a new Performing Arts Center, a refurbished Citrus Bowl, and a new Events Center. This approval, paired with the City of Orlando’s July 24, 2007 sign off on the Interlocal Agreement and May 21, 2007 approval of each venues development and operational agreements, allows for design and construction of the three venues to move forward. In accordance with the New Orlando Events Center Agreement, an affiliate of the Orlando Magic will develop the new Events Center, which upon completion will be owned and operated by the City of Orlando.

www.OrlandoEventsCenter.com will provide news and information regarding the new Orlando Events Center during its approval, design, and construction. Solicitations for various services, commodities, and products, that are released by the Magic Parties and/or their Design Team (architects, engineers, design consultants), Construction Manager, or other contractors will be posted with appropriate contact information. The intent is to provide timely and relevant information for all interested parties.

The new Events Center will be a sports and entertainment arena for all of Central Florida to enjoy. It will be capable of hosting events of local, regional, and national importance, such as concerts and family shows, civic and community-based events, and professional and amateur sporting events, including but not limited to NCAA and state competitions and NBA and AFL games.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why does Orlando need a new Events Center?

Amway Arena, opened in 1989, is the oldest and smallest arena among its peer markets, including Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami, with about half the square footage of these new major arenas.

With a new Events Center, Orlando will once again be able to compete for and attract the sports and entertainment events currently bypassing Central Florida for other cities. For example, Tampa’s St. Pete Times Forum has future commitments from six major events through 2012, including the ACC and SEC Men’s Basketball Tournaments and the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four Hockey Tournament. These events alone are estimated to produce approximately $80 million in economic impact for Tampa.

NBA Commissioner David Stern has already stated his desire for Orlando to be part of a “small rotation of cities that would hold the All-Star Game” if a new Events Center is built.

2. Who will own and operate the new Events Center?

Similar to the Amway Arena, the City of Orlando will both own and operate the new Events Center.

3. Where will the new Events Center be built?

The new Events Center will be built in the heart of downtown Orlando on the property located to the south of Church Street, north of Hughey Place, west of South Hughey Avenue and east of South Division Street.

4. What Minority and/or Women Business Enterprise commitments have been made regarding the new Orlando Events Center?

The Magic Parties have agreed to comply with the minority business enterprise and women-owned business enterprise (MBE / WBE) requirements of Chapter 57 of the City Code, and will cooperate with the City on its local business economic development efforts. If you would like to download the Orlando Magic’s MBE / WBE Commitment Statement, click here.

5. How long will it take to build the new Events Center?

The new Events Center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010.

6. How much will the new Events Center cost and how would construction costs be funded?

Construction costs for the new Events Center total $380 million. Of the $380 million, $270 million would come from Orange County’s Tourist Development Tax (TDT), $62 million from the Orlando Magic, $30 million from the State of Florida, and $18 million from interest earnings.

In addition to the $380 million building costs, the City of Orlando would commit $100 million toward land and infrastructure.

7. What is the Tourist Development Tax and what can it be used for?

The Tourist Development Tax (TDT) is a tax on short-term rentals of 6 months or less, which primarily encompasses hotels and timeshares. By State law, the TDT is limited to the promotion of tourism, construction of the convention center, and the construction of sports and arts and cultural facilities. The tax cannot be used for other purposes, such as education or transportation.

On July 18, 2006 the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved a one percent increase, raising the TDT to six percent, and dedicated half of the new money raised from the additional one percent towards the potential construction of a new Events Center. The other half of the money raised from the one percent increase will be used to promote and market the Central Florida tourism industry.

8. Where will I be able to park when attending events at the Events Center and what other potential methods of transportation are there?

The three Community Venue partners have worked extensively with the City of Orlando to ensure sufficient parking would be available nearby each venue. There are already approximately 5,300 spaces existing within a 5-minute walk of the Events Center, with another 2,000-3,000 parking spaces to be created in close proximity of the Events Center. This is more than double the number of spaces surrounding the Amway Arena.

Bus and rail systems are also expected to expand throughout Orlando prior to the Events Center scheduled opening in 2010. The City’s Downtown Transportation Plan calls for the expansion of Downtown LYMMO service to include travel to the Community Venues. This would reduce traffic surrounding the Community Venues and provide residents with free access from garages anywhere downtown to the Events Center. In addition, the Commuter Rail System plans on having a station less than two blocks from the Events Center. To view the City of Orlando’s document on “Meeting Community Venues Access and Parking Needs,” click here.

9. How will construction of the Events Center help in the revitalization effort of downtown Orlando?

As determined by the recent Economic Impact Study performed by CSL International for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Council, the Events Center, together with the new Performing Arts Center and the renovated Citrus Bowl, would create approximately 10,800 jobs over the 3-4 year construction period. In order to promote and embrace minority and women business enterprises and local businesses, the City of Orlando has created a “Blueprint” for using the Community Venue projects to positively impact the economy. If you would like to download “The Blueprint”, click here.

10. What is the projected economic impact of a new Events Center for Orlando and Central Florida?

In addition to the impact that the Events Center would generate during the construction period, the Events Center is projected to generate substantial amounts from continued operations. According to the recent Economic Impact Study commissioned by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Council, the operations of the Events Center is projected to generate $207 million in direct spending which would result in approximately 2,900 jobs and personal earnings of $127 million.

The direct, economic impact related to the Events Center takes place in the form of spending related to facility and tenant operations as well as spending by patrons outside the facility before and after events at local restaurants, retail shops, hotels and other establishments.