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Orlando sports, entertainment district approved
The City of Orlando gave developers the green light on Monday to begin constructing the 8.5-acre sports and entertainment district near the Kia Center.
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Magic Entertainment District has been approved by the City of Orlando.
The Magic Entertainment District will bring a mix of retail, entertainment, apartments, and hotels to the City Beautiful. It would be located across and surrounding downtown Orlando's KIA Center.
The $500 million project will include a live event venue, plaza space, retail, restaurants, a hotel with 260 rooms, and a residential high-rise with 270 units. It would also have office space and parking.
"I would definitely show up to games earlier if they had stuff going on outside the stadium," said one Orlando Magic fan.
"I really think it would be a good addition to Orlando itself, bring good money to Orlando, and bring good energy before games and everything," added Orlando Resident Chidoziri Maghiro.
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The developer believes the Magic Entertainment District would economically enhance and benefit Orlando’s downtown.
"That entertainment system would bring a lot of traffic, and bring money to Orlando, and I think it’s needed for people who come to the KIA Center and go to the NBA games," said resident C'ashia McCrary. "Those apartments would be great for more people to stay downtown as well."
Source: SED Development
On Monday, the city council met to vote on an incentive for the entertainment complex. The city would refund the developer between $35 million and $40 million in property taxes.
"Some people don’t want their taxes going to that," said McCrary. "They feel like they shouldn’t have to pay for the new development of things around the city."