Orlando Florida Becomes City's Center of Attention
If you need a reason to go downtown these days, the city has 480 million of them; that's the reported number of dollars -- nearly half a billion -- spent to develop the newly opened Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
Home to the Orlando Magic, the city's NBA franchise, as well as major concert events and other entertainment happenings, the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida promises to quickly become one of the city's top attractions.
Opened in October, the imposing glass-and-steel structure along West Church Street now enhances the downtown skyline with its signature 180-foot tower and spire that rises from the northeastern corner of the building and changes color with the help of 200 light-emitting diodes that reflect that day's event (naturally, the LEDs are blue when the Magic are on their home court).
Atop the tower, affording a spectacular view of downtown Orlando, is the arena's open-air One 80 bar, the area's newest nightspot, which is just one of the amenities where visitors can enjoy refreshments during an event.
The Amway also boasts Jernigan's Restaurant, an upscale, reservation-only dining area with sit-down seating for 300 and tiered levels that overlook the arena.
The action on the floor can also be seen from the Budweiser Baseline Bar, akin to a sports bar with its flat-screen TVs and granite bar tops, and the Ozone Bar, where parents can keep an eye on their children in an adjacent play area for kids.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the Amway Center was developed to give residents a range of entertainment options and to move the city forward.
"From the inside out, beginning to end, we were committed to developing a world-class venue that would bring a myriad of events that would appeal to the diverse taste of Central Florida residents," Dyer said. "Whether it’s a child experiencing his or her first basketball game or two friends singing along at a concert, these are the shared experiences and memories that will be created at the Amway Center."
At 875,000 square-feet, the center has seating capacity for 20,000 spectators. In addition to the bars and restaurant, the building contains luxury suites, 37 restrooms (nearly 450 toilets!), 23 concession stands, indoor and outdoor terraces, retail areas, and practice areas and offices for the Magic.
But perhaps the most enticing amenity of the new venue hovers above center court. No need for courtside seats at these games. The center is the first arena in the world to use high-resolution, 6 mm surface-mount LED pixel technology on its scoreboard's digital displays, offering an unprecedented visual experience for Magic fans. The 40-ton, 41-by-42 foot scoreboard is the largest in the NBA, with resolution that will reflect the sweat running down Dwight Howard's forehead as he drives in for a layup.
A visit to the Amway Center can be more than a sporting or entertainment event. It can also bring a dose of culture to an outing. More than $1 million worth of artworks, many done by local artists can be found in the center. Even the Amway's South Street parking garage is home to eight stainless steel artworks by Marcos Cruz of Winter Springs with a sculpture mounted beside the elevators on each level of the garage.
In addition to Magic home games, several big-name acts already are scheduled in the coming months at the Amway Center, including performances by Brad Paisley, Lady Gaga, Sade, New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys.
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