The district's plans include a 250-room luxury hotel and 100,000 square feet of retail spaceHKS
Construction on the Magic's "all-in-one entertainment complex" across the street from the Amway Center in Orlando is "finally scheduled" for next year, according to a front-page piece by Chabeli Herrera of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Magic CEO Alex Martins released new renderings that "show a revised plan for the 8.4 acre project -- and a new price tag." Martins said that the sports and entertainment district will "likely be completed" by '21. Dallas-based HKS Architects will work on the district plans, which feature a 250-room "luxury hotel, a 300-unit high-end residential tower, 80,000 square feet of event space, 100,000 square feet of retail space bordering a large, open-air plaza and a 200,000-square-foot, seven-story class A office building that will be the Magic's new headquarters." Martins said that the final cost of the development will be "significantly higher" than the $200M that was originally proposed. But he "wouldn't be more specific." Martins said that the district will "primarily cater to basketball fans and other visitors to the Amway Center." But Martins said that the goal is to "make the complex a destination as well." The district will have a "major focus on technology and sustainability." Martins said that he "hopes the technology will set the Magic's complex apart from other sports entertainment districts in the country." He added that apart from restaurants and bars, the Magic are also "targeting options such as high-end bowling alleys" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/5).
