Today thousands assembled Downtown Orlando to participate in the historic opening of the Amway Center, a world class sports and entertainment facility. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando Magic President Alex Martins, Orlando City Commissioners and other Central Florida leaders joined to officially open the doors to the state-of-the-art Amway Center at precisely 10:01 a.m today.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Central Florida community poured into the new Amway Center for the first time to listen to Mayor Dyer’s Annual State of Downtown address.
Mayor Dyer told the audience of about 3,000 that, just as the the opening of Walt Disney World, the establishment of UCF and the founding of the Orlando Magic were defining moments in Orlando, so too, was the opening of the Amway Center.
“I believe that when we look back at this moment 20 or 30 years from now we will view the Amway Center opening as another significant milestone”, said Mayor Dyer. “We are going to look at the opening of the Amway Center…all its far-reaching impacts..and the historic collaboration that made it possible..as another bold step toward fulfilling our destiny as the next great American City!”
In his address, Mayor Dyer also provided a brief history of the development of the Amway Center, noting that “economic catastrophe” struck at the same time that the project broke ground. As a consequence, the Amway Center played a major role in the local economy, on businesses and the labor force.
“For companies struggling in a crippling recession…work on the Amway Center literally saved their business and kept people working”, said Mayor Dyer.
Mayor Dyer said that through “The Blueprint” effort, more than 1,400 Central Floridians found jobs, of which 430 are Parramore residents.
And of the 170-plus minority and women-owned firms which worked to construct the facility, 61 were African-American-owned firms, 51 women-owned firms, 36 Hispanic-owned firms, 20 Asian-American-owned firms and two Native-American-owned firms.
Overall, the Amway Center represents one of the largest minority and women owned business participation rates of any project in Florida’s history.
“The new Amway Center is revolutionizing the way fans will watch a live basketball game,” said Orlando Magic President Alex Martins. “The building is the most technologically advanced arena in the country featuring more than 1,100 high-definition television screens and a state-of-the-art digital signage network throughout the building which maximizes fan engagement and interaction and provides patron information.”
The Amway Center will provide fans with extraordinary access to event coverage both inside and outside the arena — delivering more captivating video in higher definition, dramatic lighting and sounds, and an overall entertainment event that exceeds anything fans have previously experienced.
Inside the arena, patrons will find modern amenities in a comfortable setting – perfect for hosting family events as well as basketball games. Concourses are spacious, offering unique concessions and activities for kids and adults alike. The Budweiser Baseline Bar on the main Terrace concourse overlooks the event floor, and children will enjoy spending time in the kid-oriented STUFF’s Magic Castle presented by Club Wyndham and retail opportunities on the upper Promenade concourse.
At precisely 10:01 a.m. on 10/01/10, thousands gathered outside downtown Orlando’s newest destination and community icon, the Amway Center, to officially open the doors to the public. Orlando Magic CEO and Vice Chair Bob Vander Weide, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando Magic President Alex Martins, Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty and Amway Chief Marketing Officer Candace Matthews (center, from left to right) joined City Commissioners and other Central Florida leaders for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
