ORLANDO, Fla. – City officials gave the final green light for the downtown Orlando sports and entertainment district on Monday.
The sprawling 8.5-acre complex will be built next to the Kia Center at West Church Street and South Hughey Avenue in downtown Orlando with construction set to begin late 2024, according to a news release.
The 900,000-square-foot mixed-use project will feature a hotel, 270 residential units, a 3,500-capacity live entertainment venue, office space, and a variety of dining and shopping options.
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“With today’s approval and the leadership of Mayor Dyer and City Council, we are looking forward to the next phase of the project and bringing the sports and entertainment district to life,” Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins said.
The sports and entertainment district will be developed by JMA Ventures, LLC and Machete Group, Inc. and is scheduled to be completed by March 2027.
“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,” said David Carlock, founder and principal of Machete Group, Inc.
The project is expected to create 3,400 jobs, officials said.
“This is going to be a game changer initiative, going to incentivize businesses, there’s a lot of empty office spaces that need to be filled and this is going to bring people back to downtown,” Orlando City Commissioner Tony Ortiz said.
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