New Magic Arena Gets City Financing As Rosen Drops Opposition

Orlando City Council Unanimously Approves $340M In Bonds For New Magic Arena

The Orlando City Council yesterday voted unanimously to approve $340M in bonds to help pay for construction of the new Magic arena, and hotelier Harris Rosen has "given up his battle" against the project, according to Mark Schlueb of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Rosen hotel manager Steve Braun, who was leading the petition effort, indicated that Rosen "couldn't find many people willing to sign his petition to stop the construction of the arena and upgrades to the Florida Citrus Bowl." Braun said Rosen told him, "If people in Orlando want it and they feel they have made an educated decision, so be it." Braun added Rosen has no plans for a legal challenge. Rosen secured 2,972 of the 30,000 signatures necessary to force the county "to hold a referendum before spending tax dollars on an arena or stadium," and of those 859 "were rejected because of signatures or other problems" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/27).

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: In Orlando, Christopher Sherman reports "growing opposition from neighbors led Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal to withdraw a proposal to build" a $5M gym in the city's Cady Way Park, one of five gyms the Magic agreed to build in the county "as part of their agreement for a new arena." The neighbors "had feared a loss of green space and increased traffic" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/27).