Features

Orlando Magic raise ambitions for Amway Center complex

NBA basketball franchise the Orlando Magic has made significant changes to the sports and entertainment complex it is planning near to its Amway Center arena, with the project doubling in cost.

The project did have an original price tag of $200m (£155.1m/€179.9m), but this has been revised after the final plans were entered to the City of Orlando. The complex was set to feature office space, multi-family residences, a first-class hotel with meeting and event space, dining options, and a central events plaza.

The Magic is now planning to double the office space to 400,000 square feet and add 50 rooms to the 250-room hotel. “It’s really exciting, they’re basically gonna double what their investment into that project would be,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, according to Fox 35 Orlando.

“If you have a half-billion-dollar investment, it’s gonna spur ancillary investment around it and it will, of course, have a huge economic impact on our tax base in the downtown.”

The plans are due to go before the city’s planning board in December. The city council could give final approval to the project in January, with work to commence for targeted completion in 2022.

Assistant city planning director, Jason Burton, added: “We’re definitely in need of a convention-type hotel that can host visitors in our downtown core. That’s a key component that’s kind of missing here, that we’d be excited to bring forward with this entertainment district.

“Obviously, we need a better pick-up system for the arena as well, so considering this is the developer of the arena, with the Magic and their partners, it makes sense for them to include a rideshare hub into the project itself.”

Image: Orlando Magic