BUSINESS
FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR ORLANDO VENUES AND THE QUEST TO GET TAYLOR SWIFT NEXT TIME AROUND BUILDERS’ BREAKFAST | SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLEN JOHNSON
Allen Johnson, chief venues officer at Orlando Venues joined ABC for breakfast to present the improvement project plans that Orlando Venues will bring in front of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners on October 3, 2023. The City of Orlando owns and operates multiple arts and cultural facilities under the Orlando Venues umbrella designed to enrich the lives of Central Florida residents and visitors. These unique gathering places include Camping World Stadium, the Amway Center, Harry P. Leu Gardens, and the Mennello Museum of American Art. Camping World Stadium has not only seen name changes since it was originally constructed in 1936 - many of us still can’t shake calling it the Citrus Bowl to this day – but massive construction changes since 2014 in what Johnson refers to as the modern era of the stadium. The upper precast concrete bowls are the only remaining feature of what the stadium was in the 1980s. The modern Camping World has hosted 4.6 million patrons over nine years including its highest attended event, Wrestlemania. In 2022 the stadium contributed $43 million to state and local taxes from its $632 million total output. To “complete the vision” of the modern stadium, Orlando Venues is asking to have the $400 million base scope approved that includes removing and replacing upper terrace decks, increasing vertical transportation, connecting all levels with a 360-degree concourse, and adding 100,000 SF of multipurpose fieldhouse. The upper decks currently still have concrete bench seating that is not up to code, once these are replaced the stadium will lose some of its seating with the replacements and need to make that up somehow to compete with the stadium in Tampa and perhaps have Taylor Swift in Orlando the next time around. Retractable seating similar to that at J. Raymond Stadium could add 8,000 more seats for concerts. Looking forward, an additional $400 million improvement scope to be approved would add a canopy-style covering over the new upper decks to protect against weather and maximize stadium usability. Johnson explained that he would like to see a flat roof put on the entire stadium, as the canopystyle would still not protect patrons against lightning in the area. This flat roof would cost an estimated $20 million more. Moving down the road to the Amway Center, Johnson described the $256.8 million project scope they are requesting. This would be an improvement project carried out over the next 10 years and includes updating and upgrading to keep up with state-of-the-art technology that improves guest, artist, and staff experience as well as maintaining and enhancing the quality of the space, and modernizing and innovating for security and safety operations, lighting controls, high-speed internet, next gen connectivity, and HVAC.
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BUILDING Central Florida 2023 - OCTOBER
Mennello Museum Expansion Facility Design
