PRO-ACTIVE: Camping World Stadium, shown here during the NFL Pro Bowl in February, is in the early stages of planning a $400 million renovation, most of which will be spent replacing the upper deck. (AP Photo)
Final vote required to complete stadium upgrades
The job to design $400 million in upgrades to Camping World Stadium drew 10 responses from architects last week, among the initial steps to complete a makeover that’s spanned about 20 years in length, said Allen Johnson, chief venues officer for the city of Orlando.
Interviews are next week, with a short list to follow, and officials expect to select a design team over the next month for the city-owned venue.
HNTB designed the two previous renovations totaling $270 million that reformed the lower bowl and introduced new sideline clubs, among other retrofits.
The current project will move forward pending a third and final vote by Orange County commissioners by Thanksgiving to approve the use of tourist development taxes to fund the renovations.
Asked if he’s confident the project will be approved, Johnson said with a laugh, “When I deal with elected officials, my confidence is always eternal, as is my patience.”
The design process will take 10 to 12 months to complete. Construction is targeted for early 2026 with the renovations completed in time for the 2027 college football season.
“We may have to shut down for a short period of time, but right now, our hope is to stay open through our (three) bowl games and maybe close down after that,” Johnson said. “That’s still to be determined.”
The city is in contract negotiations with Turner & Townsend Heery of Atlanta to serve as owner’s representative. A general contractor has yet to be selected.
A big chunk of the project cost, about $300 million, will be spent to replace the upper deck, the oldest part of the stadium that was constructed in the 1990s, prior to the most recent upgrades.
In addition, a new suite tower will be constructed in the north end zone, plus existing suites that were built in 2014 will be updated. There will be new concession spaces and restrooms, improved gate entrances and exits and updated infrastructure systems at the 88-year-old building.
The project extends to building a 100,000-square-foot multipurpose indoor event space attached to the stadium that could be used for tailgating prior to football games and host volleyball tournaments in Orlando, a hotbed for the sport in addition to women’s sports in general, Johnson said.
All told, Camping World Stadium would increase to 65,000 seats over its current 63,000-seat makeup.
“This is completing the vision we had back in the mid-2000s to re-do the stadium completely, and because of the recession and pandemic, we have done it in (three) phases,” Johnson said.
Johnson believes Orlando will essentially have a new stadium after the upper deck is redone, along with the other improvements. Spending about $700 million over the past decade is more favorable compared with building a new venue from the ground up at a much higher cost, he said.
