The Amway Center is a large sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Orlando, Florida. It is home to the Orlando Magic NBA team and also hosts major concerts, conventions, and other events throughout the year. The Amway Center first opened in 2010 and has a capacity of over 18,000 people. It replaced the older Amway Arena as the premier event space in Orlando.
Some of the notable performers and teams that have played at the Amway Center include:
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are the main tenants of the Amway Center. The NBA team plays their home games at the arena. The Magic have played at the Amway Center since it opened in 2010 after moving from the older Amway Arena where they played from 1989 to 2010. Some of the star players on the Magic over the years include Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, and many others.
Concerts
Many major concerts have been held at the Amway Center since its opening. Pop superstars like Taylor Swift, Elton John, Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, and Kesha have all performed concerts here. Other big name acts include Bruno Mars, Andrea Bocelli, the Eagles, Drake, Fleetwood Mac, and many more. The Amway Center offers an intimate indoor concert experience despite its large size.
Family shows
Along with concerts, the Amway Center also hosts many family-friendly shows. Disney on Ice is an annual tradition at the venue. Other family shows have included Sesame Street Live, Marvel Universe Live, Circus performances, and more. The arena’s capacity and staging capabilities allow it to host these elaborate touring productions.
Other sports
In addition to hosting the Orlando Magic, the Amway Center is home to the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. It also hosted the 2012 NBA All-Star Game and has hosted NCAA basketball tournament games. WWE wrestling, UFC and boxing matches have all been held there as well. The versatility of the arena allows it to accommodate these various sporting events.
Notable Events
Some of the most notable concerts and performances at the Amway Center since its opening have included:
| Year | Artist/Event |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Celine Dion – Opening Night |
| 2011 | Bon Jovi |
| 2012 | NBA All-Star Game |
| 2013 | Justin Bieber |
| 2014 | Bruno Mars – Super Bowl halftime performer |
| 2015 | Fleetwood Mac |
| 2016 | Adele |
| 2017 | Chance the Rapper |
| 2018 | Taylor Swift – Reputation Tour |
| 2019 | Elton John – Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour |
| 2020 | Celine Dion – Courage World Tour |
These concerts attracted huge crowds of fans to downtown Orlando and the Amway Center. Having world-famous musicians and performers grace the stage has added to the prestige and history of the arena.
Architecture and Features
The Amway Center was designed by architects Populous and HKS Sports & Entertainment. It features a distinctive modern exterior with a glass-and-metal facade. Inside, the arena bowl provides exceptional sightlines with not a single obstructed view. Some key features and amenities include:
Capacity
– Over 18,000 seats for basketball games
– Up to 20,000 for concerts using the arena floor
– 80 luxury suites and 2,400 club seats
Concourses
– Wide, open concourses allow easy circulation for large crowds
– The two-level Grand Concourse includes a team shop, restaurants, and bars
Scoreboard
– Center-hung video scoreboard is one of the largest in the NBA
– Four auxiliary boards and almost 2,000 feet of LED ribbon boards
Sound System
– State-of-the-art audio system delivers clear sound throughout the arena
– Designed specially for concerts with acoustic baffles to optimize sound quality
Green Roof
– Over 18,000 square feet of solar panels cover the roof
– Provides over 1 megawatt of renewable energy
Future Events
The Amway Center has a busy schedule of events lined up for the future. Upcoming concerts include performances by Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, and Jurassic World Live Tour. The Orlando Magic’s ongoing NBA season will continue packing in big crowds. And major family shows like Disney on Ice keep the arena busy year-round.
Other future events potentially headed to the Amway Center include:
NBA All-Star 2025
The NBA has hinted that Orlando is on the short list of cities under consideration to host the 2025 All-Star game, which would bring major fanfare and economic impact to the city. Orlando last hosted the game in 2012.
NCAA Tournament
March Madness tournament games seem likely to return in future years. The Amway Center has hosted tournament games in the past.
Concert residencies
The era of concert residencies, with major artists performing multiple shows in one venue, opens up possibilities for the Amway Center to host extended concert runs – similar to Las Vegas residencies.
UFC
More UFC and major boxing matches appear very possible based on the Amway Center’s track record of hosting past UFC events.
Professional wrestling
WWE and other wrestling organizations consistently include Orlando on their tour schedules, making future wrestling events at the arena highly likely.
Impact on Downtown Orlando
The presence of the Amway Center has greatly benefited downtown Orlando and helped spur redevelopment in the area. Some of the key impacts include:
Year-round activity
Between the Orlando Magic schedule and the steady stream of concerts and shows, the Amway Center brings consistent crowds downtown. This generates constant activity for local bars, restaurants, hotels, and shops.
Greater national exposure
Events like NBA games are televised nationally, putting downtown Orlando in the spotlight. For big concerts and shows, the city gets mentioned in national tour announcements. This exposure benefits Orlando’s image and profile.
Increased city tax revenue
All the activity at the arena generates increased tax dollars for the city from ticket sales, food and drink sales, hotels, and other spending related to events. These revenues help fund city services.
Jobs
The Amway Center provides steady employment for hundreds of full-time and part-time service staff to run operations on event days. Local construction jobs were also created during the arena’s development.
Related development
New hotels, restaurants, condos, and entertainment venues have been drawn to downtown Orlando near the events center. The arena acts as an anchor for continued downtown investment and development.
Conclusion
In its first decade, the Amway Center has cemented itself as the heart of downtown Orlando. The modern arena continues attracting big-name concerts while also serving as an excellent home venue for the Orlando Magic. With its striking design and diverse range of events, the Amway Center has established itself as one of the premier indoor venues in America today. Going forward, Orlando can expect many more years of top-tier entertainment and sports at this world-class facility. The Amway Center serves as a crown jewel and key economic engine for the city.
