Amway Arena
From Hoopedia
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600 West Amelia Street Orlando, Florida
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| Arena information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Opened: | January 29, 1989 | |
| Owner: | City of Orlando | |
| Operator: | Orlando Venues | |
| Cost: | $98 million | |
| Capacity | 17,519 | |
| Tenants | ||
| Orlando Magic (1989-2010) | ||
| Orlando Magic Arenas | ||
| Preceded by: none | ||
| Succeeded by: Amway Center (2010-future) | ||
The Amway Arena is an indoor arena in Orlando, Florida. It is the former home arena of the Orlando Magic. In addition, it is home to the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League, and various sporting and entertainment events. It is one of four facilities owned and operated by the City of Orlando all under the name of “The Orlando Centroplex.” The other three facilities include the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Tinker Field and The Florida Citrus Bowl.
From the historic opening-night emergence of the Orlando Magic onto the National Basketball Association scene - November 4, 1989 - to the glitz and glamour of the 1992 NBA All-Star Weekend, the building has hosted many major sporting events.
Located in downtown Orlando, the arena features curved walls made of more than 49,000 glass blocks, four corner nodes covered in imported red tiles, terrazzo floors and landscaped grounds of Florida-style arrangements.
The Orlando arena, home to the Orlando Magic (NBA), Orlando Predators (AFL), as well as other sporting and entertainment events, will become Amway Arena. The re-naming reflects a multi-year alliance formed by Amway, the City of Orlando and the Orlando Magic.
The agreement will go before the Orlando City Council on Monday, December 11, 2006, for approval. Amway will also have an exclusive future negotiation period once the deal ends.
Amway, founded in 1959 by Magic owner Rich DeVos and his best friend, Jay Van Andel, is one of the world's leading direct-selling companies. It is the largest operating unit of parent company Alticor Inc. Amway operates in more than 50 countries around the world, bringing business opportunities to more than two million people.
"We're excited to forge this partnership with the Magic and the City of Orlando," said Alticor Chairman Steve Van Andel. "The NBA is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, and this partnership will build pride in our business around the world."
Said Alticor president Doug DeVos: "We are delighted to have the chance to work closely with the Magic and the City of Orlando. We're especially excited to have the chance to align the charitable efforts of our One By One Campaign for Children with some of the great things that the Magic are doing in the community."
Besides Amway, Alticor is also the parent company of North American e-commerce leader Quixtar Inc., business services provider Access Business Group, and a number of other ventures.
Amway will receive exterior and interior building signage, and television, radio, print and Internet promotion.
"We're pleased to generate additional revenue sources, continuing our commitment to operate a self-sustaining arena," said Allen Johnson, City of Orlando Centroplex Director. "With more than 150 events per year, we're confident the Amway Arena will serve as a central venue for our region's sporting, entertainment and cultural events."
This proposed, four-year naming rights agreement would generate an increased net return to the City.
"We're looking forward to many memorable moments ahead in Amway Arena," said Orlando Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins. "Amway represents the quality and excellence we strive for in bringing our product to our fans and stakeholders. We are excited to bring Amway on board. This is a win-win-win situation for the City of Orlando, Amway, and the Orlando Magic."
The Orlando Magic is committed to the community. Over the last 17 years, more than $13 million has been distributed to local non-profit organizations via the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation. Annually, Orlando Magic community relations efforts impact 75,000 kids. Ticket highlights for 2006-07 include: 9,752 seats priced $30 or under per game - the most in franchise history, a new $20 ticket in the lower bowl, and 1,963 seats priced at $10. For ticket information log on to orlandomagic.com or call 407-89-MAGIC. Through NBA CARES, the league, players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than one million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities worldwide, and build more than 100 places where kids can learn and play over the next five years.
The arena, owned by the City of Orlando, opened in 1989 and is one of six facilities owned and operated by the City of Orlando all under the name of "The Orlando Centroplex." Originally called the Orlando Arena, the facility was named TD Waterhouse Centre in February of 2000.
Future
see Amway Center
Beginning around 1999, the Orlando Magic and the City of Orlando entered discussions for a complete refurbishment or demolition of the TD Waterhouse Centre in favor of a new facility. In recent years, arena and city officials had reported revenue losses, and criticized the facility for not being large enough compared to more recently constructed arenas. The media have offered rumors that the Orlando Magic may relocate to another city, but team officials denied such claims.[citation needed] The facility currently ranks near the bottom in the NBA as far as capacity and luxury.
On September 29, 2006, the City of Orlando and Orange County came to an agreement on a $1.1-billion improvement package that includes $480 million for a new arena. The Magic will provide $114 million in cash and up-front lease payments and guarantee $100 million in bonds toward the arena. The venue plan received final approval on July 26, 2007, and the arena is expected to be complete in time for the 2010–11 NBA season. The Orlando Sentinel reported on June 12, 2009 that the city is trying to sell the 367,000 sq ft building that seats up to 18,000 and has parking for 4200 cars. The asking price is only $90 million. Of course, there is still the possibility of it being torn down but hopefully that will not be necessary.
