Orlando-area officials yesterday "cut the ribbon" on the renovated Citrus Bowl stadium amid talk that the stadium's "new bells and whistles will attract more events," according to Mark Schlueb of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Schlueb notes workers have been "scrambling under a tight, 10-month construction window" to finish the upgrades, as the first event at the renovated stadium -- the annual Florida A&M-Bethune Cookman football game -- is this Saturday. Two concessions areas "still need work, lounge areas for those with club seats aren't finished, and another club area in the south end zone probably won't open until spring." Building inspectors "haven't issued the stadium a certificate of occupancy yet." City officials say they "hope to have it by Saturday," but the football game "can happen without it as long as extra firefighters are on hand." The ribbon-cutting "coincided with the official announcement" that Florida State will play Ole Miss at the stadium to begin the '16 season (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/20). Schlueb noted 85% of the stadium is new, as "everything but the upper bowl was torn down." New facades on the east and west sides "help give it a new appearance and house its eight elevators, eight escalators and stairs." Designers also made it "brighter and more open." There is a "wide pedestrian plaza outside that's decorated with 14-foot-tall sculptural arbors planted with bougainvillea," and tall palm trees "grow beneath the seating bowl, rising alongside the escalators and stairs in an effort to create a Florida feel." There are now 6,000 club seats at the stadium -- there were none previously -- that "come with access to cushy lounge space, private restrooms, food and drink and Wi-Fi." Existing luxury suites on the east side "have been updated and an additional dozen added on the west side," bringing the total number to 45 "including game-day operation suites" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/19).
