<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Orange County leaders late Thursday approved a $1.1 billion plan for a new arena, performing-arts center and major Florida Citrus Bowl upgrades in downtown Orlando that supporters vowed would bring boundless new jobs and entertainment to the region. The Orange County Commission approved the venues plan 5-2 after a marathon meeting nearly 10 hours long, capping an intense lobbying effort by the region's arts and business establishment. The watershed vote on the largest public building project in Central Florida history featured an unusual display of cooperation between city and county politicians. "It's a monumental day for Central Florida," Magic executive Alex Martins said. "History will look back on this day in the same light as when Walt Disney decided to bring his theme park to Central Florida." The agreement will pay for the new venues from a mix of tourist taxes, downtown property taxes, private contributions and other sources. The deal brings a new home court and a 25-year lease for the Orlando Magic, an arts center with three state-of-the-art performance halls and an extensive renovation for the aging Citrus Bowl stadium. "It's mission accomplished, vision fulfilled," said Mayor Rich Crotty, moments after the vote at 11:35 p.m. Crotty and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer raised their clasped hands in triumph after the vote. "We've really been focused on the revitalization of downtown and Parramore, and this is really going to be a shot in the arm for that," Dyer said. Earlier, the board listened to hours of official presentations and public testimony before starting its own debate. Most of those attending were in favor of the project, and dozens of them filed to the microphone to implore commissioners to approve it. "I don't think you'll ever get a better deal. . . . If you come back later, it's going to be 10 times the cost and 10 times the headaches," former Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick told the board. County commissioners weren't completely sold on the plan at first, and several offered a handful of amendments. One requires each facility to use eco-friendly "green" designs and another requires the Magic to build five community gymnasiums. Commissioner Teresa Jacobs added a measure requiring the Citrus Bowl to wait for the pot of tourist taxes to grow before launching construction.</div> <div align="center">Source: Orlando Sentinel</div>
<div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Thank god!!!! Magic are staying in Orlando for awhile!</div> 25 years awhile. I can't wait to see what the finished product is going to look like. First thought that comes to mind is, "I wonder what kind of seats are going to be in the new arena."
Magic Never Leaving Orlando <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Orange County Commission's late-night Thursday vote to build a new arena for the Orlando Magic means more than giving the team a new place to play. It ensured a lifetime of Magic here. "The team is now here for its entire life -- beyond the 25 years that's in the lease," Magic Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins said. For the Central Florida Sports Commission, the 5-2 decision means its healthy list of potential events for Orlando to host now becomes target practice for aggressive sales pitches. "We can now move forward with a plan on securing the nation's most coveted sporting events. This moves us to the next tier of events," said John Saboor, CFSC's executive director. "It allows us to move from what has been a great record of success in hosting good sporting events to a place where we now will become a portal for the nation's greatest sporting events."</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">CLos Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Man the Amway Arena looks ghetto so hopefully they touch it up and make it nice.</div> We're getting an entirely new state of the art arena, so that wont be necessary. We only have Amway Arena for 2 more years!!!!!!!!
A little off topic rumor I've been hearing around the radio waves in the central florida area has been with this deal done and in place. The citrus bowl will get a complete makeover and have it to the highest standards of today. From what I've been hearing the jacksonville jaguars may be moving in with mickey mouse in three years..why? Well, the jags attendance has been down the past 4 out of 5 years. Now the are putting black tarp on the upper ends of the bowl to cover up seats nobody wants. The team can go up for sale in 3years which is the exact time they will be finishing up the citrus bowl. Why orlando? First off tourism..with a regular season you will play upwards of 8 home games..With all the traffic orlando and central florida has in the winter season..the tourists alone will fill the stands to see a good ole football game. Also moving to orlando will keep some or most of the jags fan base.
<div class="quote_poster">MainMan Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">A little off topic rumor I've been hearing around the radio waves in the central florida area has been with this deal done and in place. The citrus bowl will get a complete makeover and have it to the highest standards of today. From what I've been hearing the jacksonville jaguars may be moving in with mickey mouse in three years..why? Well, the jags attendance has been down the past 4 out of 5 years. Now the are putting black tarp on the upper ends of the bowl to cover up seats nobody wants. The team can go up for sale in 3years which is the exact time they will be finishing up the citrus bowl. Why orlando? First off tourism..with a regular season you will play upwards of 8 home games..With all the traffic orlando and central florida has in the winter season..the tourists alone will fill the stands to see a good ole football game. Also moving to orlando will keep some or most of the jags fan base.</div> I doubt that'll happen. It'd be a good fit, but I mean Jacksonville has been spending tons and tons of money to make Alltel Stadium look nicer. I think there even getting a monorail or somethin.
i doubt it too..but they spent all that money and they arent earning any. Plus its not like that have a horrible team..its just not a good football town so dont be surprised if they move somewhere
Man, as a big fan of Jacksonville, I have seen the struggles. It's basically injuries to the defense and the QB controversy. Not to go off topic, anyways I'm glad that the Magic are getting a new arena. Where's it located?? By Sea World?
Well they havent put it in stone yet to where the new arena will be but they are planning to buy land in the downtown area near church street.. which is basically like a mile away from amway arena is located right now..They have already said they want to keep it downtown but I've also heard maybe near the new convention center which is where a lot of construction is going on.
