Amway Arena

Before coming here I was thinking Amway arena where the Magic plays. I put in my outdated gps the name of this place «Amway Arena» so we followed directions to what lead to this place.
I’ve been to old venues or arenas but wow! Really?! the Magic plays here?! It kinda reminds me of the old Forum back in Inglewood but even the fabulous Forum (where the Lakers used to play) the structure looks better than this place!
Whats up with the location?! Its close to a neighborhood, and a few small buildings, and also we see palm trees to add some icing to the cake! We were shaking our heads this place is sight for sore eyes, its old and outdated! We were like… Dwight? WTH!!! You better ship your ass to LA!!! Well this place is isolated now and defunct, I better make a review before they tear this place down. We later learned the Magic didn’t play here anymore they moved a few blocks away to the new Amway «CENTER» thanks in part to my outdated gps to find the Magic Team Store. I’m an avid NBA fan but for the Magic to finally get a new arena after all these years might as well right?
Here’s a brief history: opened back in the late 80’s and used to be dubbed «the O-​rena» the original squad of Nick Anderson, Scott Skiles, Otis Smith, Terry Catledge, and Reggie Theus graced this floor on it’s first year of existence. Then Shaquille O’neal’s dominance pounded the hardwood here in his younger days before he bolted to LA. Fast forward to modern times Dwight Howard jolted above the rims here and has been the bright spot.
Then you have the heartbreakers here in Amway Arena: I hate to bring back old memories but sorry Nick you choked on those two free throws against the Rockets during the 1995 finals. Then on recent times losing to the LA Lakers during the 2009 finals here.
Amway Arena didn’t have the glitz and glamour history like Madison Square Garden, Chicago Stadium, and the Fabulous Forum but the only cool thing I could remember out this place during the hay days was Shaq, Penny, T-​Mac, and that silver star padded on those jerseys with the black and the royal blue going on here, who can’t forget Rony Seikaly played ball here in Amway Arena and tried to be Shaq’s successor?! But
hey maybe keep this place standing and give it’s old name back to the «Waterhouse Centre»

Even though this is no longer the home of the Orlando Magic it is still a good place for special events to be held and that is what i went to today as i was part of the Project Homeless Connect of Central Florida and got to to something special with the less fortunate but either way this arena should be kept for special events or they should even bring in a hockey team and have them play here or keep the arena football team playing here instead of just having this landmark sit here wasting tax payers money.

Because I am such a HUGE Orlando Magic Fan, I just had to review this arena before it has gone completely bye-​bye. Having just moved to the Orlando area in February of 2010, we never had the pleasure of seeing a Magic Game in person. You can only imagine my sheer thrill when we scored tickets to see one of The Magic Playoff games versus the Carolina Bobcats!!!
I don’t use my wheelchair very often anymore, but I knew I was going to have to use it for this game. The tickets we had were at the very top of the bowl and I was shocked to hear there was no elevator to the top. There was NO WAY I was going to make it walking from the parking garage, all through the arena, and then up all those stairs without my sciatic nerve going out on me, and I was not about to watch this game on Percocet!
I called the arena two days before the game and was put into contact with David Turner who is head of the box office for The Magic. I left him a voice mail very late in the afternoon explaining my situation. By 9am the next morning, he had already called me back and informed me he had tickets waiting for me in my name at the box office in the wheelchair section. All I had to do was show my ID and exchange the tickets Hubby and I already had. David was also aware I have an 85 pound yellow lab service animal and he knew that even if I was able to do all that walking and climbing, that poor Levi, my service animal, was never going to be able to squeeze into the small section between the seats. I was floored by how nice and accommodating he was and he told me to call him anytime in the future if I ever needed assistance again for a Magic Game! Talk about some excellent service!
Also, being very new to the Orlando area, I had no clue about parking. David spent extra time talking to me on the phone about parking and informed me that even though the garage across the street was already sold out for the event, they kept extra spaces reserved for disabled people with handicapped parking and he also informed me I would receive a discount on the parking because I was disabled. He personally gave me directions and directed me to websites so I could see exactly where the garage was located, etc. He truly went above and beyond!
My one and only time in this Arena was thrilling and a time I will never forget! I can’t remember our section number now (the tickets are around here somewhere), but David gave us great seats as we were just across from The Magic Players bench. We had a perfect bird’s eye view of the free-​throw line and a perfect view of all The Magic Players! When we arrived at our seats, Dwight Howard was practicing free throws and for a good 5 – 10 minutes I made a complete fool of myself constantly pointing and repeating to my Hubby, «That’s Dwight Howard! That’s Dwight Howard!!» LOL But I don’t care if I did look like a crazed fool because we had watched so many games from Jacksonville on television and then finally, there he was… «Superman» Himself! All I can still say is, «WOW!!»
I honestly can’t remember now what we had to eat, but my Hubby and I had different things and I do remember we both enjoyed our food.
I can’t wait for the new Arena and to see my first Magic Game there, but I am so thankful I was able to see The Magic play in their original home!

As being a person that attends many concerts and WWE events in many arena like venues I can say that the Amway really is not half bad. Many good live event experiences have taken place here.
Refreshments within I noticed are quite pricey for concerts, yet for WWE events not at all unreasonable, I have noticed.
Amway (like mentioned) was built well but is outdated. Halls are VERY crowded during sold out events (the mistake of wearing flip flops to a sold out concert=beer soaked feet) and not enough accessible restroom and concession stands to accommodate the high volume of patrons. I once waited in line for 30 min (This isn’t Disney World!) No line organization for merchandise stands, it is more or less a free for all.
Seats wear built «sardine» style, especially the upper sections. Like mentioned be careful walking in the upper decks, its very steep, and (like what happend once) is very slippery if someone spills something.
Having a love/​hate relationship with the lovely CSC security, it depends on the mood of whomever. Some get on to you just standing in the isles for a second, others could care less… If you ever care to, standing near the backstage area is very easy and security has never chases us away (the area toward it is a public street) although some might try to chase you out if its getting too late into the night.
I’ve never had problems with parking, either buy reserved parking or get their an hour early.
Glad to hear the new is nearing complete, as this arena in all is acceptable but needs updating.

It is almost pointless to write a review for a building that will be closed this time next year. But the arena may live on in some other form so here it goes! The arena as it stands now is really showing its age. The outside is stained and looks like it needs paint or at least some pressure washing. The inside is the same as always. There is a big lack of variety when it comes to food choices (do you know the St. Pete Forum has a Five Guys?!?). The steps leading down the aisles are permanently sticky. The chairs are so tight that this 6′ tall girl has a tough time fitting her legs comfortably in front of her! I’m really looking forward to experiencing the new arena and hope that it breathes some much needed life into downtown and Church Street in particular.

I always enjoy going to an event here, but I must say, I’m glad they are building a new arena. The main hallways is WAY too small. At half time can you say MOOOOOOOOOve? I had flashes of cattle herding images. And not that I got to sit in one, but the luxury boxes are on top of the upper level seats!!! Major altitude sickness!!! Lets just wrap it up and say, it’s out dated and that’s why they are building a new one.
I’ve been here a few times but the concessions are not rip offs like you would assume and are pretty descent for «stadium food». People even comment when they see a little girl like me holding a hot dog or sandwich. I recommend The Carvery.

NACHOS! Yummo, you must try the big nachos (def worth $ 8) as you get ground beef, queso, cheese, etc… tons of toppings you can choose from. A GREAT substitution to the plain chips and queso.
All behind 116 – 118 ish area.

Holy shit, WHO DESIGNED THIS?
The concessions/​restroom/​entry/​exit area is like 20 feet wide around the whole arena, and it’s ONE LEVEL. It’s a complete clusterfuck. Claustrophobics beware.
Tear it down.

I really enjoyed visiting the Amway Arena for a recent Orlando Magic game. I found my seats (section 101) to be absolutely spectacular. I could see the players and their respective emotions clearly. The sound system of the Arena was clear and the level was tolerable. The promotions during the game and the general energy was excellent and would rank in the top tier of many NBA oriented games. The half-​time show was excellent too. I sensed a real community spirit within the arena and a general positive attitude environment.
Security around and within the Arena was good. There are numerous cabs in the area and I felt generally safe.
I had a great time and look forward to visiting the new arena in a couple years!

Not sure how to rate an arena that will be obsolete in a year, but as of writing date, there are still thirty-​two Magic home games (plus the playoffs) left in Amway Arena’s final season. The simple design of the structure leads to its versatility. Not only has it been the sports hub for basketball, football, and hockey, the arena has also served as a concert venue and host to the Ringling Brothers Circus.
While the location, across the Interstate in downtown, helps ease potential traffic, the parking isn’t the best. It’s not bad if you don’t mind walking. But for some, events held during a torrential rainy season could put a damper on enthusiasm. Also, seating is a little tight, so you may unintentionally get comfortable with your neighbor. But the three star rating has a variable effect: a home win makes everything look good. A loss…

I really don’t have any qualms about Amway, aside from the hideous parking situation.
Yes, it gets crowded, but so does any arena that is full to the brim. Sitting in the upper bowl gives me a bit of a vertigo type feeling, as the seats are packed pretty steeply, and it’s also far enough from the court/​stage that I’d rather watch on tv at home.
But if sitting in the lower bowl is an option, it’s really a fun experience regardless! Food and drinks are convenient, and everything is relatively clean.
No reason to avoid Amway, but I am PUMPED about the new arena!

Though it won’t be around for much longer, Club Cambria, on the top floor, is a nice place to watch a game. Cambria is the large lounge for those willing to pay a lot of cash to watch basketball. I had the pleasure of accompanying a season ticket holder and can happily report what it was like.
There are many seats that run along the balcony that go quick so arrive early if you’d like to sit there. There are also pub tables that flank the seats and offer more of a restaurant feel. Most drinks are free and can be obtained via the bar or through many of the kind waiters/​waitresses. The buffet is all you can eat and was absolutely terrific. I was starving, but am certain that I would have paid quite a bit for the roasted vegetables, cornbread, pan seared tuna and bananas foster that I ate. It was all so wonderful.
My only complaint was the altitude. It was like the penthouse of the arena therefore it was very high up. You could see the entire court but the players were small. Thankfully, flat screen TVs adorned the walls so you could keep up at all times.

Once again the sports fans of Florida have either no clue or no faith, but my lady and I purchased tickets right on Ticketmaster for Game 4 of the playoff series vs. the great Boston Celtics. Paying face value for a playoff game 2 days before said game just is unheard of in Boston.
We parked in a garage right next door for $ 10 which was a bargain. So the building opens for fans 2 hours before game time which seems a little late to me, but whatever. They had some entertainment out front and a bar selling cold beer so that made the wait tolerable.
The building itself is not at all «old» the dude that wrote that has got to be about 11 if he thinks a 12 year old building is old. The issue I had was that the way it was engineered is a little odd. If you’re sitting on the floor the only way to concessions is to climb the stairs though the entire lower loge section. Just strange…
Big Baby nailing the last second jumper to shut up all of the uneducated Magic fans made this an excellent visit.

Many may not know that prior to a concert, you can make a reservation for dinner at the Cannon Club which is located in the Arena. My beau and I recently attended a Yanni concert there and decided to give it a try. We were pleasantly surprised; the food was excellent and the price was very reasonable. We dined from 6:00 to & 7:30 and then immediately proceeded into the Arena for the concert. A perk is that you receive a VIP wristband that allows you access to the private restrooms there instead of having to stand in line at the concouse restrooms. Also, the club has a full bar for those that are interested in purchasing alcoholic beverages.

I’m glad me and Dairy Queen got floor seats for the Music as a Weapon concert.
(Disturbed, Killswitch Engage, and Lacuna Coil, etc) 3^rd or 2^nd friggin row! Woohoo! Would have been 2^nd the entire time if the dudes in front of us let us stand in front of them earlier.: shrug: Come on, we’re short, they’re tall. Hello? ahahaha
This arena was awesome! Sound quality was awesome and you could still hear the singers over the music even with both going at full blast. I’ve been to venues where the music was so loud that the singer’s voice could not be heard.
There were lots of security checks so that those of us who dished out a sweet buck wouldn’t get short-​changed with people sneaking into our section. Hooray!
And we also have security to thank for catching those random crowd surfers. O my goodness! They come out of nowhere! Too bad one of them knocked a guy’s glasses off behind me. One reason to always wear contacts to a concert!
If you’re a dumb butt and you forget to eat beforehand, you can always grab one of the overpriced concession eats. Lol. Hey, no hard feelings here. Because of that coke I was holding, I caught not one, but two guitar pics from Lacuna Coil. Hooray!
If you find yourself somewhere near the mosh pit, be aware that you’re going to get pushed either towards the pit or away, depending on how the crowd is feeling that day. It’s part of the fun!

I’ve been to a bunch of events at this venue, and I must say that I’ve never really been impressed by the arena itself. It’s huge and old and just BLAH. OH and don’t even get me started on parking. If you want to park within a mile of the place, plan on forking out $ 10 – 20 bucks. There’s a lot of «questionable» private lots around the area, but honestly I’ll pay the 10 bucks for piece of mind!
I recently went to see Coldplay here and found myself cramped and uncomfortable in my seats. There’s barely any leg room and the seats are squished together. If you’re sitting in the upper level, I’d suggest getting seated before they turn down the house lights because the staircase is EXTREMELY steep and it’s almost impossible to see once they turn those things off!
There’s your usual array of food stands located around the arena. There’s everything from stale popcorn (for $ 3 bucks) to overpriced margaritas ($ 10.50!!). I noticed a Starbucks stand that offered tiny little «grande» cups of coffee for 5 bucks. UGH, what a rip off! I’d highly suggest getting a bite to eat before you head to your event…
All in all, not a great venue. I’m a huge fan of more intimate venues (ie. House of Blues).

I have ventured to Amway Arena for several occasions and have mixed feelings about the place. I’ve been there to support the Magic as well as for the big name concerts it hosts and frankly feel like they could do a better job of making their patrons feel welcome. I will never forget the time I was there with my brother and to put it nicely a disgruntled woman working behind a refreshment stand flung nacho cheese all over him because we asked where our cheese was after standing there patiently waiting for what seemed like an eternity. That was at a Magic game. The game itself was enjoyable, the half time and breaks in the game brought about entertainment of varying sorts that did hold my attention. Having been there for concerts as well I’m not a fan of the attitudes of the crowd control employees. Give me a break people, when I am not bothering anyone please don’t bother me. As far as being able to see the stage from your seats I’d give it OK marks and while on the floor you can see fairly well also. But forget going to the bathroom at any point during the show because the lines were something out of a horror movie. For you too gentleman. So, I’m sitting out the upcoming Coldplay show even though their one of my favorite bands because I can’t stand the thought of paying out the wazoo for my fond memories of seeing them in an outdoor pavilion tainted by this venue. I prefer the UCF arena. Here’s to hoping our new complex being built as I type this will be a much needed improvement.

Went here a couple of times to watch NBA games and its a great place for Basketball. The games were against minor teams but the atmosphere was good, food, drinks etc were at reasonable prices and quality. The «flow» of this place and access is superb. No waiting getting in or out or to the restaurants, toilets and whatever else is on offer. If I had my kids with me than this is one of the places to take them while in Orlando.

At the risk of starting a Unilocal war about whether or not we need a new arena, I’m only giving the current one 2 stars. Whether you’re there for a Magic game or a concert, this place doesn’t measure up.
The seats are small, they replaced them with smaller chairs in order to pack more people in. It’s uncomfortable to sit (whether your fat-​bottomed like me or not) and when you’re standing, you’re standing nearly right on top of your neighbors.
You can find free parking within walking distance if you’re downtown savvy, and get to where you’re going early enough.
I highly suggest pre-​drinking if you’re headed here too (with a responsible driver of course). Bud\ Bud Light is $ 6.50!!!
The acoustics are generally very good. You’ll definitely be able to hear everything, though if the jumbo-​tron ain’t on, you’re SOL in the upper deck.