Amway Center

  • Orlando Magic (NBA since 2010)
  • Orlando Predators (AFL, 2011-2013)
  • Orlando Solar Bears ( ECHL since 2012)
  • NBA All- Star Game in 2012
  • Orlando Music Festival ( 2014 )

The Amway Center is a modern sports and entertainment venue in the U.S. city of Orlando in Florida. It is since the NBA season 2010/11 the new home of the Orlando Magic and replaces the 1989 built Amway Arena. Since the 2012/13 season also use the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL Hall as a home ground. From 2011 to 2013, the arena football team the Orlando Predators ( AFL) wore their games out in the hall. The lease was terminated in September 2013 due to a too low average attendance. Instead of the stipulated number of 6,000 visitors drew an average of only 5,878.

A part of the naming rights agreement with Amway for the earlier Amway Arena was a right of first refusal for the name of a new arena. In August 2009 it was announced the details for the new contract. He has a term of 10 years and amounts to 40 million U.S. dollars. The event arena is part of Downtown Master Plan 3 This plan includes next to the Amway Center, among others the renovation of the stadium Florida Citrus Bowl and the establishment of the new cultural center named Dr. Phillips Center For The Performing Arts.

History

Overlooking the Downtown Master Plan urged the Orlando Magic, led by owner and founder of the company Amway Richard DeVos and son Bob Vander Weide, the city of Orlando to build a new multi-purpose hall for the then ten -year-old Amway Arena. It was created before the generation of ultra-modern arenas, which were completed in the 1990s in the United States. Thus, the Amway Arena has quickly become the oldest home of the NBA. In the late 1990s they threatened to move to another city with the team. Thus, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Oklahoma City were under discussion, but this plan was dropped back.

On September 29, 2006 revealed that after long negotiations, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Mayor Richard Crotty of Orange County and the Orlando Magic, the agreement on the construction of a new multi-purpose arena known. Location of the building is the north-western corner of Church Street and Hughey Avenue in the Downtown Orlando. The financial framework consisted of 380 million U.S. dollars for the hall and an additional 100 million U.S. dollars for the land and infrastructure. This gave a total of 480 million U.S. dollars. Overall, the renewal of the Orlando Centroplex is estimated at 1.05 billion U.S. dollars. In addition to the arena were for the new cultural center of 375 million U.S. dollars and planned for the expansion and renovation of the Florida Citrus Bowl with 175 million U.S. dollars. Due to the financial crisis, the construction projects at the Florida Citrus Bowl were postponed to 2020 at the earliest.

Construction started on 25 July 2008. The building was designed by the architectural firm Populous in collaboration with Smith, Seckman & Reid and Walter P. Moore. On 1 October 2010 the new home of the Orlando Magic was inaugurated. The first event at the Amway Center concert of the Mexican ranchera singer Vicente Fernández was on October 8, 2010. Two days later disputed the Orlando Magic their first game in their new home. The pre-season game of the NBA against the New Orleans Hornets ended sharply, with a lead of 54 points, with 135:81 for the Magic. The first NBA game of the season 2010/11 took place against the Washington Wizards on October 29, 2010. Orlando decided the game in front of 18,918 spectators 112:83 for themselves.

The hall was equipped with the latest features. Thus, the 40 -ton, centrally mounted under the hall roof combined HD video cube and display board of the company Daktronics. It has 18 single screens and is the largest facility in the NBA. On building a 16 x 14 meter large screen of Daktronics is attached. There are also comfortable to luxurious suites and lodges. Visitors have a choice of bars and restaurants available. For the entertainment of visitors is also provided. So there is for the children STUFFS Magic Castle or for every home game of Magic is the Orlando Magic Fan Fest outside the hall on Church Street instead.

Events

The Amway Center is used first and foremost by the Orlando Magic and the Orlando Predators from 2011. Besides concerts, shows, and family events. The buildings are 875,000 square feet (about 81 290 square meters) area available. In the premises, for example, can Weddings, reunions, birthdays and banquets are celebrated. On May 4, 2010, David Stern, Commissioner of the NBA announced that the NBA All -Star Game weekend will be 2012 in the new arena in Orlando as a guest. As of 2014, the Orlando Music Festival in Amway Center will take place.

Pictures of the construction phase

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