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Amway Center
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Stadiums & Arenas Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Stadiums & Arenas, Music Venues [Edit]
400 W Church StOrlando, FL 32801
Neighborhood: Parramore
(407) 440-7000
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 6 pm
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
75 reviews for Amway Center
75 reviews in English
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Review from John P.
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
..this place is awesome...I go here for the Magic games (GO MAGIC!) and also have been here as well for a comedy show (Bang Bang Tour w/ Chelsea Handler feat. Jo Koy). I love this place and it's a great experience every time I come here.
The One80 Grey Goose Lounge is a good place to come to after the game or even on a normal downtown night (no cover!) but get here quick since it gets SUPER packed at times. I'm a fan...thanks Orlando! -
Review from Rhommel P.
San Jose, CA
4/15/2012
I decided since I had a few days of downtime before the 2012 Walt Disney Marathon, I figured it'd be cool to see what's changed in the downtown area. While the city itself hasn't grown to the cultural/shopping epicenter of say The Big Apple or San Francisco, it's still nice to come back home to O-town after living a few years in NorCal and seeing the, uh new 'high'rise buildings being built here.
Anyways, I also wanted to see the centerpiece of all this revitalization in the former ghetto section of the Parramore area by catching a Magic/Wizards game at the new Amway Center. In short, other than AT&T Park in San Francisco, you will be hard pressed to find a nicer sports venue to check out a game - from the multi-level concourse to the restaurant and lounge/nightclubs, this place is high class digs and quite impressive.
Better still was the fact the Magic rumbled past the Wizards, with D-12 having a monster game.
Go outside after, and you'll see a number of people walking about all enjoying themselves; due to the large crowds made up of families, college kids, and singles, it currently makes for a somewhat safe place at night as you walk over to the Church Street area. While it was a weekday when I went there, it was a little disheartening to see everyone basically scatter home instead of patronizing the bars and clubs.
Which means, it'll be awhile till downtown Orlando actually gets up with the rest of the big boys when it comes to a vibrant night life. Hopefully, there will be more projects at work to offer visitors and citizens alike an opportunity to take spend more time and money in helping out the local economy.
However, I feel that with the new Amway Center in tow, and as long as the Magic continue their winning ways, the development of the downtown area will continue to move in the right direction. -
Review from Daniel M.
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have been to the Amway Center one time, for a concert.
While the facility looks nice, the acoustics were beyond horrible in the upper deck compared to the old arena. The echo and sound distortion was actually painful to listen to.
I'll give this venue another chance at some time and update this review if it turns out that it was a one-time experience. Talking with friends, though, it does not sound like mine is an isolated observation. -
Review from Robert G.
3/7/2012
This is not an arena.
This is a palace.
A palace filled with TONS of food options (albeit expensive ones), TONS of souvenier shops (albeit expensive ones), and TONS of seating (albeit...you guessed it...expensive ones).
It is immaculate. The design is beautiful, the interactive features (such as the mini Orlando Magic Museum, the Disney lobby, the random Metro PCS store...) are entertaining, the view from the Sky 360 lounge is breathtaking, the whole place just gives me chills everytime I walk in.
Prepare to pay an arm and a leg to park in the Geico Garage, conveniently attached to the arena by a glass skybridge a la the Orlando Science Center. Personally, I prefer to park at the Library parking garage (you can enter from either Central Blvd. or Pine St.), pay the cheaper parking (I payed $6 for parking for the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour and $10 for a Magic game) and walk the 3 blocks to Amway.
This is a beautiful addition to Downtown. -
Review from Kelley I.
3/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I am a HUGE fan of the Amway Center. From day one what I've really loved is how friendly the staff is. Everyone is always saying, "Thanks for coming", "Enjoy your night", ect. Even when you are in the nosebleed section, everyone is very friendly.
There is such a variety of food here at a not too expensive price (for an arena type setting) This place offers tons of seating and I've sat in the "nosebleed" seats a lot and the view isn't too bad. I love that for Magic games you can find tickets for $15 (including fees) when they play against lesser teams. That makes going to games affordable and doable for most people.
This place is really state of the art and always super clean. They have a play area for kids during Magic games (pretty cool).
Whether you are going here for a concert or a sporting event I don't think you'll be disappointed. -
Review from Casey H.
3/24/2012
Thank you for such an awesome building and friendly staff!
I was lucky enough to be in the luxury suite and its way better than the standard seats!!!! Enjoyed the game with a dozen friends and I'm looking forward to the next game.
Food was good, service was awesome and the Magic won their game! -
Review from Dave J.
Updated - 4/27/2012
Another bonus: You can have a good view of basketball games from pretty much anywhere due to the lack of championship banners.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/7/2012
This is a really nice arena. The only thing I can find wrong is that there is a log jam to get on… Read more »
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Review from Bill T.
Updated - 4/14/2012
Update number two, went to see Van Halen Thursday and the show was great. The venue still has crappy sound, horrible, narrow floor seating and lousy overpriced food and drink. In fact, we got sandwiches and I swear the bun was scientifically engineered to force beverage consumption, thus the purchase of additional overpriced mediocre beer. On top of that they must have had at least one security guard for every two concert goers. As much as I like being safe, it was pretty intrusive while you are trying to enjoy the show to have people walking in front of you constantly with flashlights etc. Bottom line, if there is any other venue you can reasonably get to for a show do it!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/2/2012
Alright, I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers here Saturday night with a friend and I have to say the… Read more »
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Review from Andre G.
San Juan, PR
4/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great venue, loved it. Went to a magic game in the very last row and wasn't even near as far as I thought it would be. That was enough for me right there.
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Review from Rhea P.
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I never have seen the old center, so I have nothing to compare it to. The sound quality of what I experienced was really great. I feel thelayout of the facilities nicely done and easy to maneuver.
That being said, some of the signage is really difficult to figure out. The design of the building is somewhat awkward during intermission as lines for the restrooms can get extremely long, which spills into the hall walking space. that is a bummer.
The food vendors seem to only have crap. This should not surprise me because people want to make money. However, it would be nice to have a small collection of whole fruit available at some of the hotdog places.
It's kind of sad about the location of this place. I understand with gentrification there seems to be the hope that the area itself will improve based on new facilities. I'm not sure of the time expected with this downtown project area - all I know is that there is a noticeable mix of downtown homeless and those "regular folk " out to have a good time in this area.
It's really sad to see the huge disparity in the way people live downtown. I understand that having the downtown homeless can make some people feel really uncomfortable. And I understand that it's probably not really comfortable to be one of the homeless downtown either. Whatever the case, both groups of people exist in downtown Orlando, so if going to this area just understand that it comes with the territory. -
Review from Tom B.
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I visited Amway Center for the first time a couple of weeks ago for a free event, which is just about all I can afford (if Springsteen or Neil Young appears there, I'll make an exception).
The was an open Magic practice, but more of a "please don't leave, Dwight" event. Although the entire seating area wasn't open, the place was packed with about 9,000 people. I sat in the rafters.
I guess Amway is state-of-the-art -- quite nice and a fine addition to downtown. -
Review from Brian M.
Updated - 2/17/2012 29 Check-ins Here
Having frequented the Amway Center (Magic and Predators games, concerts), I have tried much of the food. I consistently find that the Blue Taco restaurant, which is located on the Terrace Level (3rd floor), delivers great food for the price.
The taco meat, either steak or chicken, is delicious, and the toppings are all fresh. They even top it with what appears to be queso fresco, a nice accent to the taco itself. They also serve nachos, if you are not in the mood for a taco, topped in the same fashion. It does take them more than the typical time of another restaurant there to make your food, but it seems well worth the wait.
Compared to chicken tenders and fries, or a burger, this just has the look and taste of something a little more upscale.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/11/2012
This place is loaded with places to get drinks, grab food, and just have an overall great… Read more »
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Review from Cathy Y.
Anchorage, AK
3/24/2012
Such a great building!! New, clean, & friendly staff (except for this one cranky old man that yelled at me to go the other way) but won't hold it against everyone else lol food was great also when we watched a magic vs. bulls game on 3/19
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Review from Heidi B.
1/13/2012
Last night was actually the first time I had stepped foot in the brand new Amway Center. A little late, I know. But forgive me if I don't have $70-$100 to be tossing around to go and see shows here all the time. The first thing that I have noticed since the addition of the Amway Center to the downtown Orlando area is that from the outside, the setup is immaculate and at the same time welcoming. What I mean by this is that it looks impressive as any large venue should, but also had this shopfront, dowtowny feel about it. If I had to describe what makes the Amway Center unique, I would say this is probably it. Additionally, I enjoy the tower which can be seen prominently from I-4 and can be illuminated with bands of different colored light--an ingenius marketing strategy.
As far as the interior of Amway is concerned, the open atrium area and separation of the escalators by East and West I think is very helpful when it comes to crowd control. Granted, there will always be hundreds of people on the escalator at a time during any show rush...but there is also a rather wide staircase to help with that. The actual arena itself stunned me at first with the overly comfortable seats and aesthetically pleasing LED panels that surround the entire bowl. However, the more I started to consider it, the more I realized that it is quite small compared to the old Amway Arena. I am not sure how I feel about quality trumping quantity, in this case.
And as long as we're on that subject, I have to say I now realize why parking is an issue. With the geographic location of the arena, it is hard to fit in a parking garage massive enough to accommodate everyone. If it were me I would have taken this into consideration before building the place and made sure enough parking was secured. However, I suppose you can park in the general area and walk over. It's just that this creates chaos once shows get out--people are leaving lots, garages from every direction all at once and it is a MESS.
All in all, there are so many aspects of the Amway Center I could comment on, but I think I am in favor of saving them for a second edit. For now, I am only mildly impressed, so 3 stars is my rating. -
Review from Kelly H.
1/4/2012 9 Check-ins Here
Love, Love, Love. This place is fantastic and so happy to have a new arena so close to home. I was there for every single Magic game last season and the new arena is definitely a much better experience for the Magic games than the old Amway Arena was. The concerts here are also great. The sound in the arena is outstanding, and the size of the new complex allows for a lot more tickets to be available for all of the events, which is much appreciated when things are in popular demand.
Needless to say I'm a huge fan and you can find me there very often. -
Review from Candace W.
Windermere, FL
2/25/2012 7 Check-ins Here
Go Magic! I love the new Amway. As a season ticket holder the new arena was great for Orlando. The food in the Mercedes Benz lounge is average, but I'm going for the love of the game!!!
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Review from Lance W.
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've seen NBA games at dozens of arenas around the country and I'm trying to decide if I've ever been in a place where the building and game day atmosphere is any better than the Amway Center... After much reflection, I can say it doesn't get any better than the Orlando Magic's Amway Center.
1st, the surrounding areas are full of pre and post game activities including the restaurants and pubs around Church street. Kids games are set up outside the center and radio stations are giving away freebies and stirring up the pre game crowd.
Once inside, the place is beautifully architected and thought through. Multiple clubs and restaurants are available for pre game dining. Dozens and dozens of food stalls offer cuisine ranging from Cuban to gluten free to foot long chili dogs. All bases and demographics are covered.
The seating seems intimate for such a large arena, each section is divided each 10 rows so it doesn't seem like a huge mass of cheap seats in the upper deck.
The kids club is extremely well thought through with a private area for smaller kids to play basketball and work off energy.
Bottom line, Amway Center has raised the bar on new arenas in the NBA!Listed in: Stadiums, Coliseums, Ball…
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Review from NY C.
New York, NY
3/8/2012
Beautiful venue, great service and very helpful employees
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Review from Mike S.
9/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
the arena is awesome, nothing really bad to say except $10 a beer or wine. And one bartender i had was kind of an ass. How he didn't notice the 6'4" dude right in front of his face, as he helped EVERYONE around, even if they came after me is mind boggling.
GREAT VENUE. Go Magic. -
Review from Pamela M.
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is certainly the swankiest place I've ever been to for any event. I did have the good fortune to be sitting in Club seats so I'm sure that is swaying my impression.
The food and drinks are still incredibly expensive but the selection is exceedingly better than our average arena. Ever employee we came in contact with was absolutely gracious and just for icing in the cake.....the bathrooms were nice and clean.
As an added perk, the Church street entertainment zone is 2 blocks away. I was also pleasantly surprised that event parking for a city location was only $10.
I look forward to my next opportunity to visit this spectacular structure. -
Review from Kathleen L.
Windermere, FL
7/25/2011
This is my second concert event at the Amway Center and my second event that leaves me perplexed and concerned. I am physically disabled and use a wheelchair. I cannot transfer to a regular seat.
The elevator situation is atrocious! Not only are the elevators difficult to locate, the staff does absolutely nothing to control the crowds or show priority to disabled guests who must use an elevator. Staff members have no knowledge of alternative elevators.
The crowd flow is horrible. We were caught in a bottleneck of people trying to get to the garage via a small little bridge. The flow inside the building means you're going against the flow of traffic at times for things. I shudder to think what an emergency evacuation would be like as I definitely feel that I would not be safe.
The staff is unfriendly and unhelpful. We had won tickets and needed to exchange for disabled seating. We understood doing this we weren't going to have our great seats that had been won, but the staff member was more than reluctant to exchange the tickets. Patrons appeared to be a bother for all staff.
I'm coming to the Tampa Bay Lightning game in about 2 months and I hope they will handle a sporting event better than a concert.
I would rather drive over an hour to the St. Pete Times Forum than choose to see the same concert at the Amway Center. -
Review from Libby W.
5/25/2011
So here goes it. Game 5 of the playoffs Orlando Magic versus Atlanta.. and what a high it was.
It showed we can do it, and we will this upcoming season.
I'm going to start of with the negatives.
* Stadium hotdog - I don't care what sporting event you are at you should be able to get a decent hot dog - Silver Spark Grill does not deliver one. It was just a huge messy failure, the bun split in half and was mushy, the mustard was watery and the ketchup did little to help.
* Prices on food and beer - they are a little steep but I understand. A little tip on the beer go for the better quality draft instead of Budweiser in a bottle, a little more in price but a little more in volume and well worth it.
* End of Game Shenanigans - We paid good money for our seats and at the end of the game it seemed they let whoever wanted to take up the empty seats from people who didn't show or in our case the people in front of us who had to leave early because they had small kids, take those seats. I wouldn't have cared however those people were rude, saying I was yelling too loud and that I coughed on him. Sorry for getting exciting about our team winning. If I wasn't having such a good time I would have complained. Maybe I should have complained. I don't think I'll let it happen again.
The Good News is that this place is awesome, there are plenty of places to eat that make up for the crappy hotdog.
* Structure of the place is cool. We found it easy to meet up with our friends over at the Budweiser Bar.
* Budweiser Bar was a nice pregame drink with friends, good service, and friendly fans dwell in this area.
* Bathrooms are clean and not much of a wait
* Service at the small beer stand we went to was awesome, and super friendly. She knew us after the first time we stopped there. She was a volunteer but I wished she was an employee.
* Gentleman Jack Club Bar is super cool after game lounge area. I tried one of their signature drinks for 9 bucks and was not impressed. The guys got beer and I got a beer as well, maybe I should have just went with a rum and coke an a beer.
* The last call for the game is weird its before the game ends. I see their point it is valid but is it almost too responsible? Perhaps not, perhaps I'm running on fumes here, you tell me. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Orlando, FL
1/18/2012
Woohoo, finally got to experience the new arena! I went here last night for a Magic game and was very impressed. Every single staff member was friendly and helpful - even just saying hello and enjoy yourselves when we walked by. We got cheap seats, but could still see everything just fine. The game was so much fun and the graphics and music added a lot of excitement. The only bad thing, which I don't know if they control or not, is that the parking lot under !-4 goes up in price to $10. Dislike. Other than that, a very cool place.
Listed in: Funlando
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Review from Suzie B.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
3/17/2012
Went here for the first time last Sat for the Elton John show. The building itself is beautiful & love the "going green" concept. For a 3 hour show- we never encountered a line, or mobs of pple. That was odd but to our benefit for bathroom use & buying beers. The staff couldn't have been more accommodating & attentive. Best staff I've ever encountered at a concert! The negatives don't outweigh the positives but they were frustrating to say the least. The beautiful city skyline rooftop bar is gorgeous. Just be aware that you can't smoke there even if it is outside. No problem. The irritating part was after we purchased 2 beers @ $9.25 a piece, we were not allowed to take them back to our seats or walk the concourse to go to the smoking area on the West side of the building. Never got a clear answer why. All the tv's in the concourse areas never showed any of the concert while you were getting a beer etc. it was quiet as a mouse. Maybe because it's an NBA arena? I know at football games they show the game on the tv's if you have to leave your seats. The escalators were switched to the going down position at an early time in the evening. Way before the show ended. Causing u to walk way out of the way to catch an elevator which had an employee running it with no pple on it! If you smoke, we all understand we have to go outside. Please note they only have one area on the west side of the building. You have to have your ticket stub scanned to go in and out. This area closes early too. My whole perception of these glitches are: come to a concert here but we don't want you hanging out in the concessions area, or walking around for extended periods of time. Yes, we came to see a show but, you should not be made to feel like you should be regulated to sit in your seat the whole time. We did have a great time, really we did! Elton John was great.
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Review from Josh E.
4/27/2011
This place is HUGE. Amazing. WOW its like walking into an airport terminal at a huge mall or concourse. Its massive and alot to take in. I was blown away at how nice everything is. The stores, and bars and the huge escalators. I couldn't afford the good seats so we sat way up in the promenade, which wasn't too bad,, we could still see kinda, but it was still nice. And when you look around its almost too much to take in. I loved it and it got so LOUD up in there. No Joking this place ROCKS! Seriously a fun time and you should definitely get there early to check everything out and grab some drinks at Gentleman Jack, or the Budweiser Baseline, or take your kids for some fun at Stuffs place. The lines are short because there is so much of everything.
Check out Big Blue, they got Ultimate Nachos w/Tequila Lime chicken on them, Yummy and right next door is coldstone creamery, I had the cake batter omg so delicious.
I will try to go back and with better seats next time. -
Review from Colleen B.
Orlando, FL
Dear Amway Center,
Thank you for being built so fast and not in lieu of design or quality, it is mucho appreciated.
I know many of the fine citizens of this lovely city may not have been on board in the beginning of your conceptualization and budgeting, however, hopefully now most of those haters have visited you and realize you are truly an experience.
I am writing this review in comparison to various sporting and entertainment venues I have visited in the past including our very own Amway Arena (RIP). I truly think the haters have to realize what an amazing thing they are doing with the old Amway Arena space too!
http://www.cityoforlan...
Ok, I know, I am obviously excited about this new arena and everyone is wondering why it is taking me so long to review since I spend at least one day a week here buttt.... I wanted to get a great feel of everything so I held off on the review until I had various experiences here and after being there quite a few times this year, I am in love with so many things but there are some things that I am not the hugest fan of.
It definitely feels like you are walking into an airport it's so grand and open in the "lobby" area; it is somewhat majestic. I also love how the entrance is on the street. I love walking out and watching the drummers jam out and everyone gathers around to participate. I also love being able to grab dinner or watch/listen to the live pre-show at Mojo and then WALK over to the game. Please note, I have never parked in the arena parking that is allocated. If I have parked, it has been DT somewhere and I walk. It's AWESOME!
This state-of-the-art building is full of beautiful decor, Magic info and history, and delicious food and drinks! With TV screens on either side of all the concession stands, bars with views of the court and radio broadcast of the game in the restrooms, you never miss a minute of the game! There are plenty of options to feed your hunger and quench your thirst no matter where you turn.
Because it's got a great view of the court with convenient distance to a bar and food, I dig hanging out at the Budweiser Baseline Bar. Also, my season tickets are up high and I get a much better view from this location. This is a large bar with 360 degree access, plenty of surrounding tables, and a great view overlooking the court. It's convenient, the bartenders are always nice, and I always run into people I know there!
I also adore the Gentleman Jack patio bar. This luscious space has an amazing view of the downtown skyline, plush seating, and monitors to watch the game. They generally have other games on as well, including football, if you don't want to miss out on anything! So if you are at a slow game and just want to kick it, this is the place to hit up. However, avoid it right at halftime, it gets PACKED!
Food!!!! So the food options are almost endless. They go way above and beyond the pizza, nachos and popcorn choices you find everywhere else. Example: Big Blue Taco, they have awesome tacos, nachos, and a fajita salad! Or if you adore the original nachos you would get at the cart in the Amway Arena, they still have one stand for that but the line is usually crazy long. Want home cooking? Yup, they got that too Country Friend Chicken sandwiches, pulled pork, brisket... etc. There are plenty of burger, hot dog, chicken finger, tater tot, etc. options, as well as deli sandwiches, Panera, Papa John's, Coldstone Creamery... Really, anyone could find something they'd be happy with in here!
Overall, this is completely an experience center from beginning to end. There is a block party 2 hours before the game, dinner and drinks within walking distance, so much to keep you entertained during the game/event, Gentleman Jacks stays open an hour after the events if you want to chill while the crowds leave and then walk to a bar for after party, perfect! Best part about living near here... pedi cabs! I would suggest that when leaving with crowds, avoid the escalator... go for the stairs.
Things I would change:
- Coke instead of Pepsi
- Large seats in top tiers
- Charge same for 2 vodka drinks compared to one drink & a shot
- Stuff's castle being directly on a concourse. I would move this to a separate area, no where near a bar!!!
Things I am so glad they changed and noticed immediately:
- The game audio in the bathrooms, genius
- Adding bathrooms in general
- Not all the retail locations on the concourses are behind counters, you can walk around them
- Huge retail store within the center
- Amazing history about the Magic throughout the center
Keep up the great entertainment,
Truly yours,
Season Ticket Holder and Proud Citizen of Orlando,
Colleen B.
**I would also like to thank everyone who reads my reviews, this is #500 and it feels good to share my opinions and experiences =) -
Review from Natalie C.
Orlando, FL
2/20/2011
I was extremely fortunate to watch a recent Magic game in courtside seats with access to the Mercedes Benz Lounge; a phenomenal experience that I hope all Magic fans get to experience at least once.
The special wrist band that allows you to partake in the MB Lounge is as good as gold, or at least I thought so. Before the game and until half time, dinner was served and served well. From create your own nachos to spaghetti squash and fresh, carved turkey, the options were plentiful. I went for the amazing Minestrone soup which would have received approval from my Italian grandmother. And for beverages, everything was free except for liquor drinks.
Then, at half time, my favorite spread was offered -- dessert. A make- your-own sundae bar was tonight's feature. A chef scooped vanilla bean ice cream and the choice of toppings were spectacular: hot caramel, hot fudge, oreos, chocolate chips, whipped cream, cherries, and sprinkles. And, if you wanted to get fancy, they had moist brownies, fudge cake and a variety of cookies to add to your sundae concoction. Who needs basketball to watch basketball stars like Dwight Howard when you can have the best ice cream sundae ever? Only kidding. (but it was pretty amazing!)
Good job Amway Center for creating the option to have such a wonderful time at a game! -
Review from Brad K.
Sat in the LOGE seating (G4)
WOW, what a nice arena center.
Will definitely go back when we want to see another concert. -
Review from Cliffy M.
1/8/2011
Been here three times now. Magic game, the UCF mega triumph over the evil forces of UF, and Trans Siberian Orchestra. Here are my thoughts, and I've been a gym rat all my life.
It is HUGE. It is something like three times the size of the old arena.
Seats are wider. Aisles are wider too, so you no longer have to pull your knees off your ears to hear. People can actually get by you. Each seat has a cup holder.
Lots of concession stands. That's the good news. But the prices are absolutely insane. Eat someplace else downtown before you go. A beer is $7. The bbq is putrid.
The bars - awesome idea. Terraces overlooking the court. Absolute genius.
Great audio and video. Almost insane. And TV's everywhere.
They f-ed up the bathrooms again. Despite all the talk about how many more johns they would have compared to the old arena, it isn't true. The men's room looks like they didn't install about half the urinals or stalls. Value engineering run amuck. When's the last time you saw a line out the door into the corridor for the MEN"S ROOM?
Some pro tips:
1. Don't eat or drink there. Eat or drink downtown. Pourhouse works. Club 57 West works. Mojo's if you can get in. I notice tons of people walking in from east of Rosalind, eating and drinking at the joints on Central and Wall Street.
2. Parking - don't park nearby. It's more expensive and a huge pain in the ass to get out after the game. It took more than an hour to get out of the SunTrust garage after the UCF triumph. Instead, park someplace on the other side of Orange Ave. It''s cheaper, you will get out easier, and you get to walk by all the restaurants and bars that will help you achieve pro tip #1 (above). May I suggest the garage at 77 E. Jackson? This is a half block east of Orange, across from the Grand Bohemian. They charge $4 to park, and you can jet out and away from traffic with no delay after the game.
3. Grand Bohemian - this is where all the teams and musical acts stay. The hotel sets up a rope line, and if you really want to get autographs and pictures, this is the place to get them.
Overall, it's a physical masterpiece. Nicest arena I've ever been in - and that's 50+ years of experience. -
Review from Shar F.
Ocoee, FL
7/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is stunning! I went here for the Lil Wayne concert and also to a a magazine party and it is simply beautiful inside.
Go to a kick ass event or show here and look your best because you never know who you are going to run into.
This place is WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY cooler than the ARENA!
#TEAM AMWAY IS THE ISH -
Review from Rod H.
10/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is an amazing venue. I am not of fan of heights, and the upper level makes feel like I need a parachute. You can always watch the game from one of the bars whose names I can't remember.
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Review from Mike M.
12/19/2010 13 Check-ins Here
There is not a better arena in the land. I have been to many but this one is by far the best. The food options are simply incredible from the normal concession stands to the food carts that serve sandwiches to the fancy restaurant (Jernigans) available.
The place is phenomenal and I would recommend Jernigan's highly. I think I may have forgotten to check in there when I went so I am not sure if I can post a review. -
Review from Paulene K.
Orlando, FL
Attended the official opening of the arena and got an awesome preview! At first the area looked small from the entrance area - it's a big change from the large open entrance with the grand staircase of the old Amway Arena. Oh but once you set foot into the building it does not disappoint! It's 1000 times better than the old arena. Really high celling and large receiving lobby and large concourses through out the building. The "regular" seats are super comfortable too, hopefully I can try out the club seats soon!
A few things worry me but hopefully it all works out... the escalators going up to the seating area seemed to be a bit small. The opening didn't even fill up 10% of the area from what I can tell and there was a huge bottle neck and cue to get up. When I get to the upper level concourse, the hallway leading up to the seating area seemed a bit narrow. Probably only 3-4 people wide, and there's steps to climb.
I really can't wait to attend an official event - I'll make sure to update then! -
Review from Lawrence B.
Orlando, FL
10/27/2010
COLD hotdogs (as in not even cooked), half filled trays of 'tater tots' (at least they were hotish), can't get to the restaurants on the Club level (at least for the Eagles concert - 'That's for the families, etc. of the Eagles'????).
And don't even get me started on the gestapo security CONSTANTLY walking up and down the aisles (we were on the floor). Seriously people - it was an Eagles concert... what are you trying to do - keep the ladies from throwing their Depends on the stage?
Looks pretty though. -
Review from Joshua J.
According to Yelp, a five star rating equals = Woohoo! As good as it gets!.. This couldn't be more literal. The new Amway Center has actually created the new standard to which all other arenas will be compared to for years to come!
Being an Orlando resident, I have waited anxiously for this new venue to complete construction. Today I had the opportunity to tour the new facility. I can say without reservation that it not only met my expectation, but it soared above and beyond what I anticipated.
The Amway Center offers around 1,200 seats more than the old Amway Arena bringing the total to 18,500! Under other configurations it will be able to accommodate 20,000 patrons!
The arena itself is said to cost $380 million with an additional $100 million in infrastructure and land! Once you are inside, it appears that price tag is a bargain.
Amway brought Harris Corporation in as their technology partner. Harris has equipped the center with countless monitors and screens. The mega tron hanging over center court is over 40 ft tall and all of the mega screens are full HD! The full extent of technology capabilities won't truly be realized until the venue hosts its first events.
The architects and developers took great care to ensure that the new facility goes above and beyond meeting all ADA (Americans w/ Disabilities Act) requirements. The new home of the Orlando Magic has nearly double the wheelchair and wheelchair companion seating and they are available on virtually every level of the venue. -
Review from Alexis N.
Dallas, TX
10/19/2010 11 Check-ins Here
YAAAYYYY!!!! This place is beautiful! I'm SO excited about his being the new home of the Magic!
When I first walked in, I was kind of overwhelmed. It's beautiful, huge, clean, and SO cool!
LOVE the outdoor setup at Gentleman Jack's! So pretty on that patio overlooking downtown!
The food is so much better than at the old arena. Much better options. O3 - the bar on the Ozone level, is pretty sweet, too! and ColdStone?! Are you kidding me?
ALSO - as my quick tip says - they play the radio broadcast of the game in the bathroom!! How cool is that? You can take a potty break without missing anything! Not to mention all the TVs at the food stations - don't miss the game standing in line, either!
LOVE this place!! Excited to check out some of the stuff on the club level next game!Listed in: Random Miscellaneousness
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Review from Dru M.
11/29/2010
I finally made my way to the new Amway Center and was impressed. I was there for a Magic game, meaning the house was almost packed. On each level of the center there was a good amount of food venues, as well as shops.
Parking in the garage was $20 (which I think is ok for a venue like this), but there was parking across the street for $10 and $5 a tad farther away. Pro to being in the garage is being close to the arena...and if it;s raining there is a bridge connecting the two.
Prices were higher than outside venues ($5+ for sodas, $8+ for beers, $6+ for food), but you shoul expect that when going to a professional arena.
Restrooms were clean and there were plenty of them. There's nothing worse than having to wait in a long line to go the bathroom after several drinks.
Only real con would be the burger I had. I asked the cashier what was on the "Magic" burger and was told meat, lettuce, tomato. After getting it, walking to a table and sitting down...I realize there was cheese and some sort of sauce. It was covered with it. Not very good. Would have been nice if there was a plain burger option. -
Review from Remington R.
Orlando, FL
10/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
I know everyone is giving this place a million stars because it is new and shiny,but I just dont think its 5 star special, dont get me wrong it IS an amazing building in function and form (although a little ugly outside)... Im just going to list a few of my feelings on this establishment both good and bad.
-Clean
-Lots of space yet its crowded
-Jumbotron on the building causes even more traffic on I-4!
-Pleasing structure inside
-Jack Daniels Bar
-Drink Prices
-Hype
-Drink Prices ahhh
-Sponsors Galore, someone spent a fortune!
-Did i mention i had to sell my truck to buy drinks?
So bring me an extra flask and I will see you there. -
Review from Bryne Y.
Orlando, FL
10/21/2010
Just checked out the new Amway Center last night for a Magic preseason game and to echo what everyone else has said here, it's just a gorgeous facility and an exponential upgrade over the old Amway Arena a few blocks north.
One of the biggest problems with the old building was the lack of space on the concourse--when a game or concert finished, the experience was reminiscent of say, a post-apocalyptic rush. In reality, it was just a fire and safety hazard. But the new building has three concourses and they're all easily twice the size of the one concourse at Amway Arena. So, if my math is correct, that's six times more walking and breathing space.
Not only that, but the architecture both inside and out is beautiful, with a heavy emphasis on windows. In fact, pretty much the whole front entrance area is a giant window. It looks great as the sun is setting.
Inside the arena (at least for a Magic Game) it's a wonderful experience. The new video boards are massive, the lights are bright and the atmosphere is already one of the best in the NBA. I just hope we get to see some championship banners hung in the rafters soon.
I didn't get to check out the concessions, restaurants and bars too much but the fact that those things even exist at the new Amway Center makes it a huge upgrade.
Go Magic. -
Review from Corey M.
Orlando, FL
11/11/2010 6 Check-ins Here
Finally got to go to my first game in the new amway center just last week, magic won btw ;). So is it worth all the hype and huge costs to the city.......
Yes and no
Yes because its infinitely better than the old arena. Light years beyond it in fact. Its really nice to have a state of the art building to go into to cheer on your team. Everything is brand new, flat screens everywhere so you don't miss a second, food at every corner, drinks everywhere. Heck even bars and restaurants where you can still see the game...
now there are some drawbacks. I imagine parking in the single garage next door would be awful when leaving. So tip of the day, park downtown and walk. The food although plentiful, was a bit iffy. Not only did it take forever to make things keeping you waiting and away from your seat, it seemed all the same. Just normal concession stuff. They have a few "nicer" things around but they weren't close and were super expensive. Same goes for drinks. beer was everywhere, but only in a handful of stands did they have anything other than your standard bud bud light miller light etc. having to walk half way around the arena just to get a guinness or a new castle is a bit much. They should just carry all beers in all the stands, simple solution.
Despite these shortcomings, this arena is what this city needs. Not only for the magic but with this building there are tons of opportunities for events and concerts that normally wouldn't even come to central florida. I can't wait to go to more magic games and to see what events come here to this city and this new arena
