New arena drawings revealed, showing new home for Orlando Magic, Orlando Predators, Concerts
Mark Schlueb and David Damron
Sentinel Staff Writers
December 11, 2007
The Orlando Magic Arena will rise 15 stories and feature a dramatic glass tower and an outdoor public balcony twice as big as its basketball court.
Early details of the $480 million center's design that were shared with the Orlando Sentinel on Monday show a facility that would be markedly different than the team's current home court.
More than twice as big, it would have seven levels and four concourses. The 800,000-square-foot building, scheduled to open in 2010, would feature four restaurants and bars inside, along with restaurants and retail space accessible from the street when there are no games or events.
But perhaps the biggest difference between the new building and the Amway Arena would be the exterior. Where the current arena has an exterior made mostly of concrete, the new design incorporates a 20,000-square-foot, glass-front entryway facing Church Street and a 151-foot glass tower facing Interstate 4.
"We'd like people, as they come to this building for the first time, to be blown away," said John Shreve, an architect with the firm HOK Sport who is helping design the arena. "At the same time, we want it to have a sense of what Orlando is."
Architects said they incorporated one prominent element because it's common in Florida architecture: balconies.
One of them -- the largest at 10,000 square feet -- will sit 38 feet above the ground, several feet higher than the raised deck of I-4 as it passes by. The glass tower will feature a second, smaller deck 116 feet above the ground with a sky bar.
The building -- known as an events center -- would hold only slightly more seats than the current arena: 18,500 versus 17,282 when configured for an NBA game. But the layout bears little resemblance to the current arena and is designed to accommodate the pricier seating options largely absent from the Amway Arena.
There will be three bowl levels instead of two. In between each level will be a row of luxury suites -- 56 total -- compared with the current building's ring of 26 skyboxes along the roof line. There will be 10 other specialty suites. Magic premium-ticket holders would get access to other events, including concerts and college sports.
Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins said the pricing of the luxury suites hasn't been decided, but they'll probably go on sale in the spring.
While there are amenities meant to lure deep-pocketed fans, Magic executives are sensitive to criticism that the new arena will serve only the wealthy. Magic officials say just 15 percent of the total seating will be premium.
The team will offer at least 500 tickets for $5, but exactly how many remains undecided. Fans at all levels will be able to see the event floor from a public bar and food court. And even the cheapest seat will be at least 20 inches wide, 3 inches more than found in the existing arena.
"We've tried to create a wide variety of amenities for every level," Martins said.
Even so, a public parking garage connected to the arena via a raised walkway will likely have most of its spaces set aside for players and high-priced ticket holders. Most fans will have to park in other nearby garage and lots or arrive via a nearby commuter-rail station.
The Amway Arena is only 18 years old but was considered obsolete almost immediately. Architects say that won't happen with the new building. The large size -- 800,000 square feet compared with the existing arena's 367,000 square feet -- allows for "maximum flexibility" in adjusting the new facility for a variety of events.
"This is the most complex bowl they've designed anywhere in the country, and that's because of the flexibility," Martins said.
City officials, who are working with HOK Sport architects, said they consulted with promoters to ensure the building would accommodate touring events. As for college sporting events, only the men's Final Four basketball event would be too big to fit in the new arena, although the Orlando facility could host all other NCAA tournaments, officials said.
"We want to make sure it has the elements you need to operate 365 days instead of just 41 days a year," said Allen Johnson, the city's venues director.
City officials said they also wanted to make sure the design would complement downtown and fit the community. That's one reason it has a different look on each side. To the east, its large LED sign, glass tower and monolithic height -- 23 feet taller than the Amway Arena -- is designed to grab the attention of I-4 drivers.
On the opposite side, the one facing the Parramore neighborhood, there's a public plaza and the team's indoor practice court, with the height dropping down to about four stories. The practice facility would have a glass wall for the public to watch from the street.
