Upgrades Approved for Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, Kia Center
Venues will get a combined $600 in funds
Posted On: January 24, 2024 By :Camping World Stadium and the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, will have over $600 million in combined upgrades after the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted 6-1 on Tuesday to approve funding for the city-owned venues.
Camping World Stadium will get $400 million toward upgrades including rebuilding the upper deck terrace and adding a 100,000-square-foot fieldhouse to the stadium campus. Kia Center will get $226 million to update and improve the facility. Orange County is contributing a large portion of the cost from a tourist development tax.
“As our community prepares to welcome the US Olympic Team Trials – Marathon to Orlando for the first time in the state of Florida’s history next week, another historic moment took place in our community today,” said Jason Siegel, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “Thank to you to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Commissioners Bonilla, Cordero, Moore, Scott, Uribe and Wilson for your thoughtful collaboration as we all collectively work to move our community forward for the benefit of our residents by reinvesting in Visit Orlando, Camping World Stadium and Kia Center, in addition to providing needed funding sources for sports event incentives and our organization.”
Camping World Stadium was originally built in 1947 and has undergone repeated renovations in the decades since while also hosting the Citrus Bowl and Pop-Tarts Bowl throughout its history, which also includes being one of nine sites for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The Kia Center opened in 2010 and has been home for the NBA’s Orlando Magic and ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears.
Camping World Stadium will host the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, a return to Orlando after two years away while returning last year’s flag football format for the game itself. Orlando previously hosted the Pro Bowl from 2017 to 2020 before the 2021 game was cancelled by the pandemic.
“Today’s vote insures that Orlando will remain competitive as a leading destination for sports and entertainment events and paves the way for continued economic and socioeconomic impact in The Communities of West Lakes and throughout Central Florida,” Florida Citrus Sports chief executive officer Steve Hogan told the Orlando Sentinel, which reported the commissions also approved $10 million for the Sports Incentive Committee to pursue top-tier athletic events.
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