Feature

Camping World Stadium seeks $60m for further upgrades

Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, has requested an additional $60m (€51m/£45.6m) to carry out further upgrade work in order to boost the venue’s chances of hosting more major events.

Leaders at the multi-use facility have filed the request with the Orange County Tourism Development Tax fund, despite just four years ago having carried out redevelopment work to the tune of $207m.

Since initial work was completed, the stadium has played host to a number of top sporting events from the NFL American football league and WWE wrestling (pictured), as well as major music concerts featuring the likes of Beyonce and Jay-Z.

However, according to WMFE, Steve Hogan, chief executive of the Florida Citrus Sports organisation that promotes tourism and boosts economic development in Central Florida, said more work must be done to retain high-profile events.

“It has opened the door for new business, but I don’t think we’re going to be very successful holding on to it long-term if we don’t finish the job and meet some of the basic expectations a lot of those new users of the building have come to expect in a venue of this type,” Hogan said.

Initial work was funded by the Orange County Tourism Development Tax – a six per cent charge on hotel, resort and AirBNB stays in the region – and Hogan said new funds would be spent on further upgrades.

Hogan urged Orange County to again use these funds to “actually finish many of those things that were originally had been intended to be done the first time around so that we don’t lose the momentum we’ve all created”.

The Orange County Tourism Development Council has already given its approval to the plans and should County Commissioners sign off on the funding, work can then begin, with an expected completion date of 2020.

Image: UnqstnableTruth