7-0 Vote by Orange County Commission Allocates $400 Million to Stadium and $226 Million to Arena
Yesterday afternoon, Orange County Commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with the City of Orlando that will provide funding to update and enhance Camping World Stadium and Kia Center, two of the city’s major economic engines, ensuring both venues remain competitive for years to come. The vote follows approval of the agreement by Orlando City Council on November 11. Funding for the $626 million agreement is generated by future tourist tax revenues by way of a 6% surcharge on hotel rooms and short-term lodging within Orange County.
Camping World Stadium, owned and operated by the City of Orlando, will receive $400 million to remove and rebuild the stadium’s upper terrace decks, now nearly 35 years old. It will also help expand the stadium’s capacity up to 65,000 seats. Originally built in 1936, the iconic stadium has grown and evolved throughout the ensuing decades, including a $207.7 million reconstruction in 2014 and $60 million in additional upgrades in 2021. This latest upgrade will effectively provide a completely brand new stadium since 2014. Camping World Stadium has experienced a significant return on investment, drawing high-profile events including Wrestlemania 33, NFL Pro Bowl Games (4x), Monster Jam World Finals, international soccer friendlies and big-name concerts including Rolling Stones, Bad Bunny, Garth Brooks, Pink and the annual three-day EDC Orlando. In 2022 alone, these large-scale events generated a local economic impact of $632 million. Beyond rebuilding the stadium’s upper decks, an adjacent 100,000 square foot multi-purpose community space, projected to host over 100 mid-sized events annually, will be added.
Kia Center will receive $226 million over 10 years that will substantially improve many public-facing areas and address capital replacements of infrastructure including mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems along with security and fire protection, elevators and escalators (vertical transportation) and updated technology. Additional areas within the scope include interior and exterior finishes, along with furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E). These replacements and modern enhancements will help the arena attract the biggest and best events while improving the fan experience. Since opening in 2010, Kia Center, which is also owned and operated by the City of Orlando, has created over 4,070 jobs, hosted nearly 3,000 events, welcomed more than 18 million guests and generated a $6.5 billion economic impact. The arena recently wrapped its busiest year ever, hosting a record-breaking 70 concerts, easily beating its previous record of 54.
“As a globally recognized city that attracts visitors from around the world, this pivotal agreement ensures that Camping World Stadium and Kia Center will maintain their state-of-the-art appeal, while driving economic growth and leaving a lasting-positive impact on residents, businesses and visitors alike,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
“We appreciate the support from Orange County and City of Orlando Commissioners. Our community venues play a vital role in not only enriching the quality of life here in Central Florida, but also supporting countless local businesses,” said Orlando Venues Chief Venues Officer Allen Johnson. “This funding will go a long way to protect our community’s beloved investments.”
In the remaining weeks of 2024, Kia Center will host several concerts including Battle of the Bands, Kany Garcia, Kacey Musgraves, Creed and Rod Wave along with several Orlando Magic and Orlando Solar Bears games. Having just hosted a capacity crowd for P!NK on Monday night, Camping World Stadium is now gearing up for the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic this Saturday, November 23, followed by its three annual bowl games in December: the StaffDNA Cure Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl and Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
