The Orlando Arena Task Force has finalized a contract
with Convention, Sports and Leisure Int'l (CSL) whereby CSL
will provide a feasibility analysis for revenue
opportunities and enhancements with respect to potential
renovation and subsequent operation of the Orlando Arena.
The feasibility study on the Orlando Arena is expected to
take 14 weeks. CSL will begin its preliminary research by
soliciting input from key stakeholders including arena
tenants; city, county and RDV Sports officials; business
leaders; sponsors; and fans (Magic).
JOIN THE PARTY? Orange County commissioners have also
been invited to join renovation talks, according to Kevin
Spear in the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Orange County has been
collecting a hotel tax since '95, of which $20M has been set
aside to attract an MLB team. But the deadline for landing
a team passes in March, and with Orlando not "likely" to get
a team, "that will leave commissioners several options" for
spending the money. Magic officials, however, have denied
that planned meetings with the commissioners are part of a
lobbying effort to pay for renovation work at the Orlando
Arena (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/29).
