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The City of Orlando has granted final approval for a sports and entertainment district that will be developed adjacent to Kia Center, the home of NBA franchise the Orlando Magic.
Construction of the 900,000 square-foot mixed-use project, entitled Westcourt, is set to break ground in late 2024. The $500m (£402.1m/€468m) venture intends to be an inclusive, vibrant community hub featuring a 3,500-capacity live entertainment venue, full-service 260-key hotel, 270 residential units, office space, and a variety of dining and shopping options.
The development also includes a 1,140-stall parking garage and a 1.5-acre multipurpose outdoor ‘urban living’ room green space.
“We are excited to move on to the development phase of the sports and entertainment district,” said David Carlock, founder and principal of Machete Group. “The city has been a tremendous partner to us since the start of the process and we are looking forward to developing a vibrant new place in downtown Orlando.”
The Magic and partner SED Development in October announced JMA Ventures and Machete Group as the team that will deliver the district, with the franchise having been plotting such a development for around a decade.
Westcourt is scheduled for delivery beginning in late 2026, through early 2027, and is projected to create 3,400 jobs. Orlando Magic CEO, Alex Martins, said: “With this approval and the leadership of Mayor (Buddy) Dyer and City Council, we are looking forward to the next phase of the project and bringing the sports and entertainment district to life.
“We are thrilled to have JMA Ventures and Machete Group guide the development of this joint venture with the DeVos Family and the Orlando Magic. It will be a great place to live, work, and play in the heart of downtown and will provide significant job and contract opportunities during and after construction.”
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