Magic Break Ground On New $480M Multipurpose Arena In Orlando
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| Magic Break Ground On $480M Multipurpose Arena |
Government officials from Orlando and Orange County (FL) joined Magic execs, coaches and players Friday for a "ceremonial groundbreaking for the new downtown arena," according to John Denton of FLORIDA TODAY. Construction of the $480M multipurpose arena will begin this week and take "approximately 26 months and is expected to be ready for the opening of the 2010-2011 NBA season." The new facility will be called the Orlando Events Center "until corporate naming rights can be sold in the coming months." The facility will be 800,000 square feet and will seat 19,000 for concerts, 18,500 for NBA games, 20,000 for NCAA games and 17,200 for hockey and AFL games. The new facility will "nearly triple the size of the Magic's home at Amway Arena" which is currently 367,000 square feet. A "large portion of the funding is derived from Orange County's Tourist Tax," but the Magic also are "contributing $158[M] toward the projects -- $50[M] to the Events Center, $10[M] to the Arts Center and $12.5[M] toward the construction of five recreation centers in the Orlando area" (FLORIDA TODAY, 7/26).
PEACEMAKER: A Magic official noted the team has to be "perfect" throughout construction of the new facility. In Orlando, George Diaz wrote, "Everyone has memorized the rant against the team by heart: 'Magic owner Rich DeVos is a cheapskate. Let him build his own arena for those pampered millionaires. What's wrong with the old arena anyway?'" Diaz: "As bullets buzz by them, the Magic sincerely try to make peace with this community" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/25).
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