Programming Note: 3QC Touring the Orlando Events Center Tomorrow Morning

by Ben Q Rock on Jul 1, 2009 3:15 PM EDT in Diversions Comment 27 comments

The days here at 3QC have been busy lately. Orlando Magic player evaluations, free agency news, trades, summer league... it's hectic. Not as focused as I'd like, perhaps. Ordinarily, I'd hate to throw another proverbial curve with this site's Magic coverage. But this is different.

Tomorrow, I'll take part in a media tour of the construction site of the Orlando Events Center, into which the Magic will move in 2010. Later on, I'll have a post about the experience. Until then, feast your eyes on the latest rendering of the arena, pictured above. And below the jump, a head-to-head comparison of Amway Arena--which the Magic have occupied since their inception--and the Orlando Events Center.

Statistical Comparison of Amway Arena and Orlando Events Center
Orlando Events Center		Amway Arena
18,500	NBA seating capacity	17,282
875,000	Square footage	367,000
60, including: 4 Chairman suites, 2 super suites, 4 party suites	Suites	26 skyboxes
1,428	Club Seats	0
4 (30')	Concourses (avg. width)	1 (20')
18 men's, 19 women's	Public restrooms	4 men's, 4 women's
3	Retail stores	0 (4 fixed stands)
1:150 spectators	Concession points of sale	1:215 spectators
Fall 2010	Open date	January 1989
All information courtesy of the Orlando Magic

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Comments

I think the names on the column are backwards..

"It's difficult to win when you're outscored in every quarter." -Bill Walton

by betterthanburke on Jul 1, 2009 3:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fixed. Thanks for the catch.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 1, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No problem

You guys make so few errors here that the opportunity is rare lol

"It's difficult to win when you're outscored in every quarter." -Bill Walton

by betterthanburke on Jul 1, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL .. I hear you. Don't blame you for jumping on the opportunity to correct us.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 1, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WTF!

We are downgrading? you beat me to it erivera7 LOL!

by O-Town MagiCane on Jul 1, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That'd be funny .. Orlando goes from playing at the Amway Arena to playing at the local YMCA.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 1, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where can you find more pictures?

by bandrewg08 on Jul 1, 2009 3:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

http://orlandoeventscenter.com/

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals Central

by Ben Q Rock on Jul 1, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beautiful

Thanks

by bandrewg08 on Jul 1, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Props to Ben Q Rock & Erivera7!

Thanks for your time and a first class site! I recommend you highly when talking to other fans.

by O-Town MagiCane on Jul 1, 2009 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No problem.

Thanks for the kind words.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 1, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Public Tours?

I am sure there will be Season Ticket Holder tours once it is nearer to completion, but I am sure the first public tour is going to get a lot of response. Every time I pass it on I-4, it just looks more beautiful. Can’t wait to see what it looks like next time I am in Orlando.

Having said that, a lot of good memories at the O-Rena. I am going to miss her when she is gone.

Philip,
The Curse of the Big Aristotle
http://bigaristotle.blogspot.com/

by philrsquared on Jul 1, 2009 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the new arena is going to be huge.

I’ve driven past it a few times on the East/West .. just crazy. I’m going to miss the O-Rena, too.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 1, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, I’d taken a few pics of the new arena with the O-rena in the background whiloe stuck in pre-game traffic. it already looks huge!

by GuapoDCole on Jul 1, 2009 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it's monstrous compared to the O-Rena.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 2, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Orena is a dump

A dump which almost chased the team out of town. I won’t miss it.

One Freaken Second

by magic fanatic on Jul 2, 2009 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was age and changing demographics of attendance that did the Orena in...

Back in 1991, it was voted Arena of the Year by Performance Magazine, and was nominated for Concert Venue of the Year by Pollstar.

Personally, I’ll miss it because it’s the last link to our professional hockey team (the Solar Bears). The Events Center can theoretically host hockey, and it could hold more than some current NHL arenas, so maybe we can get some preseason games or a minor league team.

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Jul 2, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe we can get BVW to buy the Phoenix Coyotes

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jul 2, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe, but it'd be real tough to get the NHL to sign off on three teams in Florida

Especially since the Coyotes are in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, so you’d have to do some major reorganization of the league. A stronger possibility might be the New York Islanders – their ownership is ticked off at Nassau County, and are looking to move when their lease expires in 2015. If the EC can host some preseason games and do well, it might draw the NYI down here.

I wouldn’t mind seeing an AHL franchise here either. The Panthers’ AHL affiliate is in Rochester, and Tampa’s is in Norfolk. Orlando would be more convenient for both for recalling players to the big team.

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Jul 2, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Solar Bears were erased because the AHL had a one-team-per-owner rule

Why couldn’t RVD have put the Solar Bears in another league, or chosen them over the Griffins in the AHL?

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jul 2, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not saying it doesn't need an upgrade... a major upgrade

Just a lot of memories in that building. From the 1995 Finals, to a few Solar Bears games (miss the Solar Bears!), to Arena Bowl XIV when Dave Cool hit a game-winning field goal as time expired to give the Predators the win over the Nashville Kats.

I did a lot of growing up in the O-Rena. It is going to be hard to go to my last game there.

Philip,
The Curse of the Big Aristotle
http://bigaristotle.blogspot.com/

by philrsquared on Jul 2, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs