Amway Center is the name of the Orlando Magic's arena. It is a large indoor sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Orlando, Florida. The arena was officially opened on October 1, 2010, and it serves as the home court for the Orlando Magic, an NBA team. The Amway Center was built to replace the previous arena, the Amway Arena, which was deemed inadequate and outdated. The new arena was designed to provide modern amenities and a better fan experience. It has a seating capacity of over 18,000 for basketball games.

Kia Center: Orlando arena scores new name

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando arena formerly known as Amway Center officially has a new name: Kia Center.

The downtown entertainment venue opened Oct. 1, 2010, keeping the “Amway Center” name for 13 years. From the Orlando Magic’s first official regular home game there against the Washington Wizards later that month to upcoming appearances by world-famous musicians, comedians and more, the arena boasts on its website that it hosts around 225 events and over 1.3 million guests annually.

The new name was shown off Wednesday morning at a triumphant event that began with a spotlit Stuff the Magic Dragon inspecting a Kia EV6 GT and plugging it in, sending a theatric power surge throughout the stands before David Steele — Orlando Magic play-by-play announcer “since the beginning of time,” as he put it — welcomed guests to the refreshed space.

“Good morning, and welcome to Kia Center. How great does that sound?” Steele said. “I ran into a close friend yesterday at lunch who came up to me and we were talking with my wife and he has been a Magic fan since 1989 and he pointed out, he said, ‘You know, it’s really cool that you’ve been a part of the Magic organization from the very beginning. You’ve seen all of the great events on the court and all the big events off the court. The new arena in 1989, this building in 2010, the AdventHealth Training Center last season and now another momentous day in Magic history.”

The arena’s change of face was at a scale large enough, however, that it was viewable in the hours prior. From what could be seen on News 6 tower cam, the “Kia Center” name was all but confirmed ahead of time.

That belief was reinforced, to say the least, when seeing the arena up close. News 6 reporter Ezzy Castro sent in pictures ahead of the event with even more brand new “Kia Center” signage, complete with a lineup of Kia vehicles on display outside, an AdventHealth sponsorship attribution and graphics commemorating the Orlando Magic’s 35th anniversary season.

“As you know, this year the Magic are celebrating their 35th anniversary as part of the NBA and Kia has been a long partner with the NBA and also has been with the Magic for many years now. In fact, Kia has played a big role in some of our recent franchise history with Paolo Banchero are being named the Kia NBA player of the year last season,” Orlando Magic Chairman Dan DeVos said. “We are incredibly excited to expand its partnership with Orlando and are encouraged by what this will mean for all our fans, for our city and for everyone who comes in touch with Magic basketball. Coincidentally, I happen to also be in the automobile business and happen to be a Kia dealer, very proud of that association with Kia personally for the past 15 years, so I know what quality of a company that they are and the people that are involved with the company and so that makes it really a unique opportunity for me individually.”

Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins said that the team is excited to help Kia drive its brand forward using the power of the NBA, making mention of some new amenities at the arena such as electric vehicle charging stations, the renamed “Kia Terrace” and a hospitality lounge for fans of cars, sports and music alike.

Kia America President and CEO Sean Yoon also spoke at the event, promising that the “high tech venue” will also serve to showcase Kia’s new electric vehicles and educate guests on what the future of the automotive industry has in store for them.

“We have served as the official automotive partner for 16 seasons and during those years we have always looked for ways to expand and to energize our relationship. As you may know, Kia is the official vehicle of the WNBA and the NBA’s G League, but as we’ve seen over the past 16 years, there is plenty, plenty to celebrate, and we are not done yet,” Yoon said. “Today, we enter a new phase of our relationship and the beautiful Kia Center is a perfect example of how we confirm our commitment to the NBA and to the community of Orlando.

Yoon, in a statement released during the event, also mentioned that Kia’s influence in the sports and entertainment sector now stretches coast to coast following its acquisition of the naming rights for the Kia Forum in California in April 2022.

“This building has really been a beacon and a place for people to assemble and make memories with Magic games and Solar Bears games,” Mayor Buddy Dyer said at the event.

Also… @MiamiHEAT is the first team to play the @OrlandoMagic under the new name “The Kia Center” @news6wkmg pic.twitter.com/MANTSutMi9
— Ezzy Castro (@EzzyCastro) December 20, 2023

The Orlando Magic will be playing against the Miami Heat later on Wednesday. This is the first basketball game under the new arena name.

“We get to play the Heat tonight and the state of Florida is completely represented as we open the Kia Center,” Martins said.

Watch the unveiling again in the video player below:

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Orlando's downtown arena to get a new naming rights partner Wednesday

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Central Florida community will learn Wednesday the new naming rights partner for the downtown arena that has been called the Amway Center since it opened in October 2010.

What You Need To Know

The Amway Center will get a new name on Wednesday
Amway has had its name on the venue since it opened in October 2010
The company originally paid $40 million over 10 years for those rights
Crews took the "Amway" lettering off the building last week

Crews last week removed the "Amway" lettering from the building in preparation for the announcement.

The Sports Business Journal reported last month that Orlando Magic Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins said a new naming rights partner was expected to be announced by the end of the year, and the Orlando Sentinel reported last week that the announcement would be made Wednesday.

Amway Global has held the naming rights on the building since the original 10-year, $40 million deal was announced. Amway was co-founded by Richard DeVos, and he also was the owner of the Magic when the arena opened. DeVos passed away in 2018, but the DeVos family still owns the Magic.

The 875,000-square-foot venue is the home court for the Orlando Magic and hosts more than 220 events per year, including NBA games, major concerts, hockey games, mixed-martial arts and wrestling, family entertainment and special events like NCAA basketball tournament games and the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. More than 1.3 million people attend events there annually.

The new name will come during the Magic's 35th anniversary season and at a time when the franchise is enjoying success in the facility. Orlando is 11-1 in its home arena so far this season.

Kia Center: Orlando arena scores new name

The Orlando arena formerly known as Amway Center officially has a new name: Kia Center.

It has a seating capacity of over 18,000 for basketball games. The Amway Center is not just limited to basketball games. It also hosts a variety of other events, including concerts, ice shows, and college basketball games.

Reviews for "The Name of Orlando Magic Arena: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion"

1. John - 1 star

I have to say that the Name of Orlando Magic Arena was a huge disappointment for me. The seating arrangements were terrible, and no matter where I sat, I had a restricted view of the court. The staff was also unhelpful and seemed disinterested in providing any assistance. Furthermore, the atmosphere lacked energy and enthusiasm, making the overall experience quite dull. I will definitely not be returning to this arena for any future events.

2. Sarah - 2 stars

I attended a basketball game at the Name of Orlando Magic Arena and was left unimpressed. The arena was outdated and in desperate need of renovations. The facilities, including the restrooms and concessions, were dirty and poorly maintained. The sound system was awful, and I could hardly hear any announcements or the music during breaks. Overall, it was a lackluster experience, and I would recommend considering other venues if you're looking for an enjoyable sporting event.

3. Mark - 2 stars

There are several reasons why I did not enjoy my time at the Name of Orlando Magic Arena. Firstly, the seating arrangements were uncomfortable, making it difficult to sit through the entire game. Additionally, the food and drink options were limited and overpriced. The lines for concessions were long and poorly managed, causing unnecessary delays. Moreover, the parking situation was chaotic, and it took me a considerable amount of time to find a parking spot. Overall, the Name of Orlando Magic Arena did not meet my expectations, and I would not recommend it to others.

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Kia Center: Orlando arena scores new name

Orlando's downtown arena to get a new naming rights partner Wednesday

What You Need To Know

Kia Center: Orlando arena scores new name

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