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 The main entrance to the arena in 2024 | |
| Former names | Orlando Events Center (planning/construction) Amway Center (2010–2023) |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 West Church Street |
| Location | Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 28°32′21″N81°23′1″W / 28.53917°N 81.38361°W /28.53917; -81.38361 |
| Public transit |   Church Street Station  20, 36, 40 Grapefruit Line |
| Owner | City of Orlando |
| Operator | Orlando Venues |
| Capacity | 18,846 (NBA) 17,030 (center stage concert) 16,486 (end stage concert) 20,000 (NCAA basketball) 17,192 (arena football) 17,353 (ice hockey) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 25, 2008; 17 years ago (2008-07-25) |
| Opened | October 1, 2010; 15 years ago (2010-10-01) |
| Construction cost | US$480 million (US$701 million in 2024 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Populous (formerly HOK Sport)[2] Chand Tarneja Windows C.T. Hsu + Associates Baker Barrios Architects, Inc. |
| Project manager | Turner Construction[3] |
| Structural engineer | Walter P. Moore |
| Services engineer | Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. |
| General contractor | Hunt Construction Rey Group R.L. Burns HZ Construction Albu & Associates[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Orlando Magic (NBA) (2010–present) Orlando Predators (AFL) (2011–2013, 2015–2016) Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) (2012–present) Orlando Predators (NAL/AFL) (2019–present) WWE Thunderdome (Pro Wrestling) (2020) Orlando Pirates (IFL) (2026-present) | |
| Website | |
| kiacenter | |
Kia Center (formerlyAmway Center) is anindoor arena located in thedowntown core ofOrlando, Florida. The arena is home to theOrlando Magic of theNational Basketball Association (NBA), theOrlando Solar Bears of theECHL,[4] and formerly the home of theOrlando Predators of theNational Arena League andArena Football League (2024).
In 2012, while operating under the name Amway Center, the facility hosted the2012 NBA All-Star Game and the 2015ECHL All-Star Game. It also hosted some games of the round of 64 and round of 32 of theNCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in2014 and2017 and2023.[5] On January 14, 2013, theArena Football League's Board of Directors voted to awardArenaBowl XXVI toOrlando in the summer of 2013.[6]
The arena has also hosted several local graduations, as well asprofessional wrestling events by theprofessional wrestling promotionWWE, notably the2016 Royal Rumblepay-per-view. Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the promotion took a long-term residency at the Kia Center from August 21 to December 7, 2020. During this residency, WWE aired its shows from abehind-closed-doors set called theWWE ThunderDome. The promotion relocated toTropicana Field inSt. Petersburg, Florida due to the start of the 2020–21ECHL andNBA seasons.
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Prior to Downtown Master Plan 3, the Orlando Magic's ownership, led by billionaireAmway founderRichard DeVos and son-in-law Bob Vander Weide, had been pressing the City of Orlando for a new arena for nearly ten years.Amway Arena was built in 1989, prior to the recent era of technologically advanced entertainment arenas. With the rush to build new venues in the NBA (and sports in general), it quickly became one of the oldest arenas in the league.
On September 29, 2006, after years of on-and-off negotiations, Orlando MayorBuddy Dyer, Orange County MayorRichard Crotty, and the Orlando Magic announced an agreement on a new arena in downtown Orlando, located at the southwest corner of Church Street and Hughey Avenue. The arena itself cost around $380 million, with an additional $100 million for land and infrastructure, for a total cost of $480 million (as of March 8, 2011, the arena was expected to be within $10 million of the estimated cost[7]). It is part of a $1.05-billion plan to redo the Orlando Centroplex with a new arena, a new $375-millionperforming arts center, and a $175-million expansion of theCitrus Bowl. When it was announced in the media on September 29, it was referred to as the "Triple Crown for Downtown".
As part ofAmway's naming rights to the oldAmway Arena, the company receivedright of first refusal for naming rights to the new venue,[8] and exercised those rights, announcing a $40-million naming deal to name the venue theAmway Center on August 3, 2009.[9]
On December 20, 2023, Amway Center was renamed theKia Center in partnership withKia America.[10]
The details of the agreement were finalized on December 22, 2006. In the agreement, the City of Orlando will take ownership of the new arena, while the Magic will control the planning and construction of the facility so long as contracting procedures are done in the same public manner as governments advertise contracts. In addition, the city will be paid a part of naming rights and corporate suite sales, a share estimated to be worth $1.75 million the first year of the arena's opening. The Magic will receive all proceeds from ticket sales for Magic games, while the city will receive all proceeds from ticket sales to all other events.[11] The Orlando Magic will contribute at least $50 million in cash up-front, pick up any cost overruns, and pay rent of $1 million per year for 30 years. The City of Orlando will pay for the land and infrastructure. The remaining money will come from bonds which will be paid off by part of theOrange County Tourist Development Tax, collected as a surcharge onhotel stays, which was raised to 6% in 2006. The Magic will guarantee $100 million of these bonds.
The Orlando City Council approved several operating agreements connected with the arena plans on May 22, 2007.[12] The City Council approved the plan officially, 6–1, on July 23.[13] The Venue plan received final approval by theOrange County Board of County Commissioners, 5–2, in late evening of July 26 after a long day of public hearings.[14] Amendments were made by the County Commission which were approved on August 6 by the City Council, 6–1, sealing the deal once and for all. On December 1, 2007, the City and the Magic came to an agreement on nearly $8.5 million in compensation to three owners of the land where the arena is planned to be built. Aneminent domain hearing confirmed the agreement and finalized the sale.[15]
Populous (formerly HOK Sport) was named the Architect of Record on August 3, 2007, with Smith Seckman Reid andWalter P Moore Engineers and Consultants as planning partners.[16]
California-based art curator Sports and the Arts assembled the Amway Center Art Collection. The collection includes more than 340 works of art, including about 200 museum-quality photographs. Fourteen of the 21 artists housed in the collection representCentral Florida. The Amway Center Art Collection includes over 140 pieces of fine art paintings and mixed media originals, over 200 photographs, and graphic wall treatments highlighting both the Orlando Magic and the spirit of Orlando and Central Florida.
Responsive to a challenging 876,000 SF program, the design intention of the Amway Events Center was to mediate its disparate context of elevated highways, central business district and low-rise housing. The simple, planar form of precast, aluminum and glass presents a timeless civic quality. The solidity of the precast and aluminum skin is punctured in carefully considered locations with expansive areas of glass including a crystalline entry lobby facing historic Church Street, blurring the boundary of inside and outside.
The elevated I-4 freeway bordering the east side of the site posed a distinct challenge, threatening to disconnect the arena both physically and psychologically from the downtown core. In response, the corner of the arena is anchored by a diaphanous feature tower bathed in color changing LED lighting that reveals the color and pageantry of sporting and entertainment activities within while marking the facility within the flat topography of downtown Orlando. This tower is both architectural and occupied – housing the Orlando Magic Team Store, hospitality space, Big Storm Brewing Company – an onsite brewery connected to the atrium, and the "Sky Lounge" or "One 80" rooftop Sky Bar. The latter two are exterior spaces that take full advantage of the warm Orlando climate, commanding views to the plaza below and the greater community beyond. Further city connection is achieved via a 40’ × 60’ LED video feature that addresses downtown from an elevated façade position above the highway.
Kia Center is one of the most technologically advanced venues in the world. Inside the building, a unique centerhung installation, manufactured byDaktronics, is the tallest in any NBA venue.[17] It maximizes creative programming options by using high resolution, 6mm-pixel technology on each of the 18 displays, including two digital ring displays and four tapered corners. Additional displays include approximately 2,100 feet (640 m) of digital ribbon boards, the largest of which is a 360-degree 1,100 feet (340 m) display surrounding the entire seating bowl. These displays have the ability to display exciting motion graphics and real time content, such as in-game statistics, out-of-town scores, and closed captioning information.[18] Outside the building, a large display utilizes more than 5,000Daktronics ProPixel LED sticks, each a meter long, which make up a 46 feet (14 m) by 53 feet (16 m) video display. This display will reach millions of motorists traveling by the Kia Center on Interstate 4.[18]
Kia Center has an assortment of mid-level luxury seats and club seating, located below the upper bowl.[19] This contrasts Amway Arena's design as its luxury boxes are above all seats and suspended from the ceiling. The arena's design was unveiled at Amway Arena on December 10, 2007, with an official press release the next day.[20] The floor of Kia Center is designed witharena football in mind, as it features more retractable sections that will permit squared end zone corners, a feature previously not possible for Orlando Predators games.
| Characteristic | Kia Center | Amway Arena |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity Ice hockey Arena football NBA NCAA basketball End stage concert Center stage concert | 17,353 17,192 18,846 20,000 16,486 17,030 | 15,948 15,924 17,461 17,283 12,592 18,039 |
| Square footage | 875,000[22] | 367,000 |
| Suites[23] | 32 Founders Suites 28 Presidents Suites 68 Loge Boxes 2 Legends Suites (161 seats in each suite) 14 MVP Tables 4 Silver Suites 6 IOA Hardwood Suites 2 All-Star Decks 1 Southwest Flight Deck 1 Kia Deck 3 Club Hospitality Rooms | 26 Skyboxes (suspended from ceiling) |
| Club seats | 1,428 | 0 |
| Concourses | 5 concourses, average 35' width | 1 concourse, average 20' width |
| Public restrooms | 18 men's, 19 women's | 4 men's, 4 women's |
| Retail stores | 3 | 0 (4 fixed stands) |
| Concession points of sale | 1:150 spectators | 1:215 spectators |
Complete Construction Project[24]
The official ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication took place on September 29, 2010, at 10:01 AM. The general public was invited to enter the building where Orlando MayorBuddy Dyer gave his annual State of Downtown address. The first ticketed event was aVicente Fernández concert on October 8. The Orlando Magic hosted their first preseason game at Kia Center on October 10 against theNew Orleans Hornets when they won by a historic margin of 54 points, while the 2010–11 regular season home opener took place on October 28 against theWashington Wizards, where they won 112–83.
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| Artist | Date(s) | Special Guests / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vicente Fernández | October 8, 2010 | withEdith Márquez |
| Eagles | October 26, 2010; November 23, 2013 | withJD & the Straight Shot |
| Chayanne | November 20, 2010 | — |
| Johann Strauss Orchestra | December 11, 2010; March 7, 2013 | withBéla Mavrák |
| Trans-Siberian Orchestra | December 12, 2010; December 11, 2011; December 16, 2012; November 30, 2013; December 14, 2014; December 17, 2022 | (2 shows each date) |
| Gaither Homecoming | December 18, 2010 | — |
| Barry Manilow | January 20, 2011; January 18, 2014 | — |
| Celtic Woman | February 5, 2011 | — |
| Brad Paisley & The Drama Kings | February 24, 2011; January 25, 2014 | withDarius Rucker,Jerrod Niemann,Chris Young,Danielle Bradbery |
| Lil Wayne | April 6, 2011 | withRick Ross,Nicki Minaj,Porcelain Black,Travis Barker,Mix Master Mike |
| Ricky Martin | April 8, 2011 | — |
| Lady Gaga | April 15, 2011; May 9, 2019 | withSemi Precious Weapons |
| Usher | April 28, 2011; December 12, 2014 | withAkon,Dev,The Cataracs,August Alsina, DJ Cassidy |
| Tim McGraw | May 1, 2011 | with Luke Bryan andThe Band Perry |
| Bon Jovi | May 15, 2011 | — |
| Taylor Swift | June 11, 2011; April 11–12, 2013 | withNEEDTOBREATHE,Frankie Ballard,Ed Sheeran,Brett Eldredge |
| WMMO 98.9's Concert Series | June 12; October 8, 2011 | — |
| Rubén Blades | June 17, 2011 | withGilberto Santa Rosa |
| Maná | July 9, 2011 | — |
| Sade | July 17, 2011 | withJohn Legend |
| Britney Spears | July 20, 2011 | with Nicki Minaj,Nervo,Jessie & The Toy Boys |
| NKOTBSB | July 22, 2011 | NKOTBSB Tour; withMatthew Morrison,Midnight Red |
| American Idol Live! | July 24, 2011; August 2, 2012; August 1, 2013 | — |
| Marc Anthony | September 18, 2011; August 5, 2012; August 25, 2013; October 5, 2014 | with Chayanne,Marco Antonio Solís |
| Marco Antonio Solís | September 25, 2011 | withAna Gabriel |
| Sugarland | October 20, 2011 | withSara Bareilles |
| Enrique Iglesias | October 21, 2011; October 28, 2014; November 14, 2017 | withPitbull,Prince Royce,J Balvin |
| Guns N' Roses | October 28, 2011 | withBuckcherry |
| Josh Groban | October 29, 2011; November 9, 2013 | withJudith Hill |
| Jason Aldean | January 22, 2012 | with Luke Bryan,Lauren Alaina |
| Jimmy Buffett & TheCoral Reefer Band | February 4, 2012 | — |
| George Strait & TheAce in the Hole Band | February 11, 2012 | withMartina McBride |
| Andrea Bocelli | February 12, 2012; February 18, 2024 | Valentine's Day Concert (2024) |
| Michael Jackson: The Immortal | February 28–29, 2012 | — |
| Romeo Santos | March 2, 2012; March 28, 2013; May 30, 2014; March 13, 2018 | — |
| Elton John | March 10, 2012; March 7, 2015 | — |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | March 31, 2012; April 26, 2017 | withSantigold,Babymetal,Jack Irons |
| Van Halen | April 14, 2012 | withKool & the Gang |
| Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | May 3, 2012 | withRegina Spektor |
| Nickelback | May 4, 2012 | withBush,Seether,My Darkest Days |
| Roger Waters | June 16, 2012 | withThe Bleeding Heart Band |
| LMFAO | June 23, 2012 | withFar East Movement,Sidney Samson,Natalia Kills |
| One Direction | June 30, 2012 | withOlly Murs,Manika |
| Rod Stewart | August 3, 2012 | withStevie Nicks |
| The Who | November 3, 2012 | withVintage Trouble |
| Carrie Underwood | December 21, 2012 | withHunter Hayes |
| Justin Bieber | January 25, 2013 | withCarly Rae Jepsen, Cody Simpson |
| Luke Bryan | January 26, 2013; February 19 & 21, 2015 | withThompson Square,Florida Georgia Line,Randy Houser,Dustin Lynch |
| P!nk | February 24, 2013 | withThe Hives |
| Muse | February 25, 2013 | withDead Sara |
| Three Days Grace | March 9, 2013 | withShinedown,P.O.D. |
| Maroon 5 | March 30, 2013; September 9, 2016 | withNeon Trees,Owl City,Tove Lo,R. City |
| Rush | April 28, 2013 | — |
| Paul McCartney | May 18–19, 2013 | — |
| New Kids on the Block | June 21, 2013; June 5, 2015; July 10, 2022; July 13, 2019 | withBoyz II Men,98 Degrees,TLC,Nelly,Salt N Pepa,En Vogue,Rick Astley,Debbie Gibson,Tiffany,Naughty By Nature |
| Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band | February 5, 2023 | — |
| Billie Eilish | March 10, 2020; October 14, 2025 | withJessie Reyez;Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour |
| Twice | October 27–28, 2026 | This Is For World Tour |
Florida musicians who have performed at the Kia Center includeShinedown in 2010,NKOTBSB (with Orlando's Backstreet Boys) in '11,Rick Ross in '11,Jimmy Buffett in '12, the lateTom Petty in '12,Pitbull in '12 at the NBA All-Star Game,Enrique Iglesias in '17,Florida Georgia Line in '17, andAriana Grande in '15, '17, and '19,Backstreet Boys again in '19, and Luis Fonsi in '21.
On January 24, 2016,WWE hosted itspay-per-view eventRoyal Rumble at the Kia Center.[25]
From April 1 to 4, 2017, Kia Center hosted multiple WWE shows as part of the festivities forWrestleMania 33 atCamping World Stadium, includingNXT TakeOver: Orlando on the Saturday before the event, and the post-WrestleMania editions ofRaw andSmackDown.[26][27]
From August 21 to December 7, 2020, WWE producedRaw,SmackDown, and their associated pay-per-views at the arena as part of abio-secure bubble called theWWE ThunderDome. The programs and events had been broadcast from theWWE Performance Center in Orlando since mid-March due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in the United States; as with the Performance Center broadcasts, these programs were producedbehind closed doors with no in-person spectators, but featured a larger-scale in-arena production in comparison to the Performance Center (promoted as being at a similar caliber to WWE pay-per-views), avirtual audience (similar to thenearby NBA bubble), and other lighting and pyrotechnic effects.[28][29] Under the arrangement, five pay-per-views were hosted in the arena, includingSummerSlam,Payback,Clash of Champions,Hell in a Cell, andSurvivor Series. WWE relocated the ThunderDome toTropicana Field in St. Petersburg on December 11 due to the start of the 2020–21ECHL andNBA seasons.[30] WWE returned to Kia Center for the first time since the ThunderDome for the August 9, 2021Raw.[31]
It hostedUFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne on April 19, 2014,[32]UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 on December 19, 2015,[33]UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens on February 24, 2018[34] andUFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland on December 3, 2022.[35]
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