Orlando Magic refine design for Amway Center entertainment complex

The Orlando Magic announced they have refined the design for the entertainment complex they are set to build across the street from the Amway Center.

When the Orlando Magic initially proposed building the Amway Center, they and other Central Florida leaders envisioned an all-encompassing entertainment district that would stretch from the Dr. Philips Center for the Performing Arts all the way to the Citrus Bowl (now Camping World Stadium) with the Amway Center in the middle.

The idea of bundling those three projects together in the summer of 2007 was to transform Downtown Orlando completely.

Included in those initial plans was a design for an entertainment district across from the Amway Center. Something to bring people underneath I-4 and closer to the Parramore community, but also keep them there. Magic CEO Alex Martins said this idea intrigued city leaders as much as the idea of the entertainment complex itself.

When the funding for the venues finally got approved, the Magic quickly put dirt to shovel. But the economic downturn in 2007 and 2008 put those secondary plans on hold. It delayed building the other projects as the Magic spearheaded the investment and impetus to get the Amway Center built.

With all three phases of the events center package now complete, the Magic turned their eyes back to that idea.

They announced a while back their intention to build an entertainment complex mirroring similar complexes in Los Angeles outside the Staples Center or in Atlanta outside SunTrust Park (where the Atlanta Braves play). The Magic bought the property across the street and were waiting for final approvals to put shovel into dirt.

That day appears to be coming soon. And the Magic have announced a new design and construction plan for the area once that happens.

"“We’re happy to continue to be part of the city’s vision to revitalize downtown and make this a great place to live, work and play,” Martins said. “I think this development will have every one of those components. It will be a place to live, it will be a place to work and have several places to play.”"

Martins gave the media an update on Wednesday to the $200 million project to build hotel, convention, residential, retail and office space on the more than eight acres across the street from the Amway Center on Church Street.

While the plans have changed slightly, it is completing a major vision for the city and the Magic.

Martins said the plan is to build the whole project in one phase with hopes of beginning construction in 2019. Martins said the developers studied what kind of hotel space, office space and residential the market needed. Not to mention entertainment-based retail like restaurants, clubs and bars.

Martins said the hotel will be a four-star hotel. and the Magic plan to move into at least part of the office space from their current headquarters at RDV Sportsplex in Maitland. The Magic’s basketball operations work out of the Amway Center.

The residential piece has not been figured out. Martins said the team is still looking to find a partner to manage the apartments the team will build on the site. But Martins said he hopes that it will be a mixture of high-end apartments with more affordable units for Orlando residents to live downtown.

The planning is still in its initial phases with ideas of what they would like to see in the space. Martins said the Magic have not estimated the full cost of the project yet nor done an economic impact study.

The last thing to do before construction and filing construction plans is to move the Orlando Union Rescue Mission from its current location to a new, expanded facility on Colonial Drive and John Young Parkway. Once that is complete, the Magic and their development partners will begin construction on the project which should take a few years to complete.

There is still a lot of work to do to make this vision a reality. But the potential benefits it seems are great for the franchise and the city.

Martins said the NBA is very interested in the project and encouraging of the project as a potential benefit to Orlando getting the All-Star Game in the near future. Martins said the convention space, hotel rooms and outdoor space could make hosting other aspects of All-Star Weekend much easier in the space around the Amway Center.

Those who went to the game in 2012 likely remember how cramped things were on the Church Street plaza as the event walled off businesses in the parking garage across the street. A move that made many local business owners angry.

It is not lost on anyone that in the Magic’s renderings displayed Wednesday, the Orlando 2012 All-Star Game logo was plastered on the side of several buildings.

But it is not just the All-Star Game the team is after. Martins said the space and complex should help make Orlando more attractive for other major events like the NCAA Tournament and other events at Camping World Stadium.

"“We believe this is going to be the heart of this downtown sports and entertainment and arts district,” Martins said. “Anchored at one end by the Dr. Phillips Center and on the other end by Camping World Stadium with this development and the Amway Center being at the heart of it all. I do believe that type of development can attract a major event to any one of these facilities.”"

The investment in this project and the idea behind it is truly something that goes beyond the Magic. It is an ambitious plan.

Certainly, the DeVos family is putting a major investment into this area with the hopes of turning a profit for sure. They feel this is an opportunity to take advantage of the Amway Center and the events that come with it. They hope to add onto and take advantage of Downtown Orlando’s continuing growth.

The hope is the Magic will be back in the Playoffs when this project gets completed. But Martins emphasized this development is not dependent on the Magic. It will be a downtown destination year-round and even on off nights in the Amway Center.

"“A successful Magic team is good for everybody,” Martins said. “It’s good for downtown Orlando. It’s good for our community, it’s good for our fans, it’s going to be good for this development. Having said that, this development is being programmed in a way that it will not rely upon this building. We want it to be a destination 365 days a year. A successful development will be such that it will attract people downtown regardless of what is going on in the building.”"

There is still some work to do before construction can begin. But this ultimate vision for the Amway Center and for Downtown Orlando is inching closer to completion.