ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic is continuing its effort to revitalize the city with a new, multilevel sports and entertainment complex situated next to the Amway Center in downtown Orlando.
The NBA team made the announcement Wednesday in a news release, saying that the $200 million-plus investment will bring more dining, entertainment, lodging and job options to the area.
“Like with the Amway Center, this has been several years of planning and working with the City to find the right avenue to add another iconic destination that will add to the core of downtown,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “We look forward to entering this new stage as we work with our partners to make Orlando a great place to live, work and play.”
The building will serve as the Orlando Magic's headquarters and will feature seven levels of office space, multifamily residences, restaurants, a hotel, event space and more. Officials hope to break ground in 2019 and construction of the eight-acre property would take about two years.
Martins admitted the project has taken a long time to get off the ground. When the Amway Center was first approved for construction in 2006, initial plans included a development across the street.
"It hasn't gone as quickly as we would've hoped," he said. "There's been a number of factors, including finding the Orlando Rescue Mission a new home."
Part of the proposal also includes plans to ensure the building, which formerly served as the Orlando Police Department's headquarters, is equipped with the latest technology, renewable utilities and security enhancements.
While the plaza will complement events at the Amway Center, that's not its intended goal.
"This development is being programed so that it does not rely on this building," Martins said. "We want it to be a destination 365 days a year, regardless of whether there's a concert or the Magic is playing a successful season."
Right now, developers are trying to secure some of those businesses that will go in the available store, office, hotel and restaurant spaces.
Martins hopes to break ground on the project in 2019, with a completion date of 2021. Developers plan on building the entire plaza at once, as opposed to one element at a time.
Martins said this new project will expand the Magic's footprint in downtown Orlando and help revitalize the Parramore area with new growth and development.
“It’s our neighborhood and it’s important to us that we continue to help revitalize it,” Martins said. “We think this is another significant step. Like the great addition of Orlando City Soccer’s stadium, hopefully this is a spark for others to invest in that part of downtown. Downtown really stretches from Orange Avenue to Camping World Stadium. So, this is an opportunity to spark the western side of that stretch.”