The Amway Center is located in downtown Orlando, Florida, and is home to the NBA’s Orlando Magic, the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bear, and the NAL’s Orlando Predators. Its sponsor, Amway, is an American multi-level marketing company that sells health, beauty, and home care products.
Table of Contents
- Arena Guide
- History
- Seating Chart
- Matchday Experience
- Best Bars
- Food
- Team Store
- Arena Tours
- Ticket Information
- Visiting the Arena
- Map
- Driving
- Parking
- Public Transport
- Airports and Flying
Arena Guide by Basketball Tripper
History
The Amway Center was built as a replacement facility to the Amway Arena, the Magic’s original arena. The arena didn’t officially break ground until July of 2008 and wasn’t finished in October of 2010.
On September 29, 2006, after several years of back and forth, negotiations between Orlando and the Magic, the Orlando Mayor, the Orange County, and the Orlando Magic finally reached an agreement on a new arena for the franchise. Amway Arena was built in 1989, before the recent boom in technology in professional sports arenas. The hurry to make new arenas in professional sports quickly became one of the oldest arenas in the league. The arena cost around $380 million, with an additional $100 million for land and infrastructure, for a total cost of $480 million.
The Orlando Magic contributed at least $50 million in cash up-front, covering the cost of going over budget and an annual rent of $1 million for the next 30 years. The City of Orlando paid for the land and infrastructure. The remaining financing came from bonds paid off by part of the Orange County Tourist Development Tax, collected as a tax on hotel stays, which was lifted to 6% in 2006. The Magic will guarantee $100 million of these bonds.
As part of Amway’s naming rights with the old Amway Arena, the company received the right of first refusal for naming rights to the new venue and ultimately used those rights, announcing a 10-year, $40-million naming deal to call the venue the Amway Center on August 3, 2009.
Seating Chart
Below is a seating plan of Orlando Magic's Amway Center:
Matchday Experience
Best Bars Near Ground
Several popular bars are located within walking distance to the arena, with a few of the favorites being Lion’s Pride Orlando, Harry Buffalo, The Basem*nt Orlando, and Downtown PourHouse. The Downtown Pourhouse is a bar that caters to just about everyone. If you’re looking for somewhere to eat great American food, a place to watch the game, or sit down and enjoy a drink, this is the spot for you. On nights and weekends, have a burger and a draft beer as you want the game on one of their many HD TVs.
Food - Places to Eat
While several of the bars and pubs in the area offer several food options, a few other food options are a favorite of the locals and are right around the arena that you can stop at before tip-off. Some of the area’s choices include Harry Buffalo, Hamburger Mary’s, Pepe’s Cantina Church Street, Kres Chophouse, The Boheme, Artisan’s Table, and many others. There are several spots near the Amway Center that are sports-themed and will be great places to catch a bite to eat before the game or even watch the game while you eat.
Team Store
Orlando Magic Team Store
Arena Tours
The Amway Center currently does not offer public tours.
Ticket Information
Orlando Magic Tickets
Typically, Magic tickets vary on who they are playing on the given night, but tickets can be found for as low as $15, with an average price of $80. Some of the arena’s premium seating options include:
• Legends Suites: 2+ people, $115 per person
• Loge Seating: 4-6 people, $235 per person
• MVP Tables: 4 people, $180 per person
• Founders Suites: 16 people, $150 per person
• Presidents Suites: 16 people, $85 per person
Visiting the Arena - Travel
Stadium Map
Since the Amway Center is located near the heart of Orlando, there are several travel options you can choose from. The most popular transportation methods would include the LYNX, which operates busses as well as a rail system. There are also various forms of care services and thousands of parking spots if you chose to bring your vehicle.
Driving
The address for the Amway Center is as follows:
• 400 W Church St Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32801
While traffic during game nights will drive larger crowds than usual down to Orlando, you should be in the clear of heavy traffic if you leave a few hours before tip-off. If you are coming from surrounding suburbs, you will most likely be coming into the city on one of the three major highways (436, 441, and 423).
Parking
While there are public/paid parking options on any given game night, the lot that the Amway Center sponsors is the Geico Garage. The City of Orlando has additional downtown Orlando parking options available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking prices vary from $10-$20.
Public Transport
For public transportation, you are most likely looking to be on the LYMMO, a rapid transit bus system, or the SunRail, a light rail system. With the convenient location of the arena in downtown Orlando, you will find no public transportation shortage on game day.
Airports and Flying
If you are coming from out of state and flying, you will most likely fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Sanford International Airport (SFB). The drive from either airport will roughly take you 20-45 minutes and are 12.5 miles and 25 miles away, respectively.
