Amway Center

[bulldogger]

They way you guys are describing this, we may be the laughing stock of the NBA with a nicer parking structure than our actual arena.

[prahaboheme]

^Doubt it.

[bulldogger]

The arena design looks pretty boring right now.

[JRS1]

They way you guys are describing this, we may be the laughing stock of the NBA with a nicer parking structure than our actual arena.

design-wise; i.e. egress and ingress, not necessarily the look.

[bulldogger]

I really think someone's earlier idea of making a ramp from the garage directly onto the 408 is genius. Well, smart at least.

I remember going to the north station in Boston and I was taking the Fung Wah bus to NYC. Only 15 bucks and 4 hours total travel. Anyway, the light rail (subway) was underground with commuter rail on the ground level and buses on the third level which exited directed onto a highway. Very nice intermodel station.

That example could work here. If you park in the garage, you can exit street level. People could also leave on the upper deck and head out to the 408. It would eleviate congestion immediately.

[prahaboheme]

^That is a great idea and totally plausible.

[sunshine]

Not neccesary if the ramp is done right. Plus the game normally go on during non peak hours.

[codypet]

Not neccesary if the ramp is done right. Plus the game normally go on during non peak hours.

I think that's what they are trying to avoid though. They want traffic to be a mess after the games so you're kind of forced to say aw hell i'm not driving in that......I'll go to hang around Downtown till the traffic lets up.

[sunshine]

If that's the case, they should not even bother to put a garage there, just put a mall there and get the rail done.

I think Charlotte Bobcats Arena has an entertaintment complex directly across from it and Memphis Fedex Forum has the same thing. Staple centre is in a bad neighbourhood and that area is start to develop with retails.

[bic]

The Orlando Sentinel put up a 2.5 minute virtual walk through video of the new arena, which shows a number of new perspectives we haven't yet seen in the renderings. A glimpse of the much-hyped parking garage and its skywalk connecting it to the arena across the street can be had as well. I gotta say that the stretch of South St. between the south facade of the arena and the parking garage looks pretty bland and not pedestrian friendly in the least but the same cannot be said for the north side of the complex on Church Street-- it looks fantastic.

Link to Video

[JRS1]

Until traffic backs up with a game, and then all that traffic is now backed up right onto the expressway.

...like Magic games now... there's a line at Amelia on I-4 EB that's a couple of blocks long on I-4 usually all the way to Central when games are about to begin.

[sunshine]

yeah but that's normally cuz by traffic lights and people going into the garage. Which I dont understand why they never have a policeman directing traffic during game time to ease the traffic.

When you are leaving, if there is a merging lane that's done right on 408 from the garage...and without red lights...it would work.

[bic]

yeah but that's normally cuz by traffic lights and people going into the garage. Which I dont understand why they never have a policeman directing traffic during game time to ease the traffic.

When you are leaving, if there is a merging lane that's done right on 408 from the garage...and without red lights...it would work.

While I've thought about how nice it would be to have on/off-ramps from I-4 to the new arena's parking garage, I'm starting to think it's not such a great idea; not because it wouldn't be an efficient way to solve the traffic problems that plague game nights but because it might be better to use those funds to promote alternative transportation solutions. Rather that spend a ton of money on some ramps that will quickly shuttle people in and out of a parking garage so that fans will never have to travel the streets of downtown seems a little wasteful. It also sends the wrong message in this age of high gas prices, eco consciousness, and new urbanism.

Instead of that, how about using the money to expand the Lymmo system just ever so much so that fans would be able to park almost anywhere downtown and get to the arena for free in just a few minutes and perhaps drop a few dollars in some downtown retail establishments along the way? In addition, maybe create a small bicycle parking lot under a covered portion of the arena so that all these new downtown residents have a [somewhat] secure, dry place to leave their bikes should they wish to ride on out to events.

The design of the new arena's parking garage and its location at the crossroads of I-4/408 should already lessen the amount of traffic that occurs pre- and post-game around the Centroplex. Further, when commuter rail comes into the picture that should also help out a great deal providing an alternative to driving, so I think all of these little factors will add up to traffic not being such a terrible problem that it would warrant exclusive on/off-ramps at the new arena.

[Boomer136]

If that's the case, they should not even bother to put a garage there, just put a mall there and get the rail done.

I think Charlotte Bobcats Arena has an entertaintment complex directly across from it and Memphis Fedex Forum has the same thing. Staple centre is in a bad neighbourhood and that area is start to develop with retails.

I just got back from Columbus Ohio. My last night I had some time to go exploring and I went to their Arena District around their Nationwide Arena. The arena district was nicely done with a number of restaurants/bars, all chain, and great wide open spaces. It's in their downtown close to their convention center and hotels which is close to another nightlife/lunch area called Short North. All an easy walk from each other. Everything was close, but chopped off from each other. I got a real feeling of one area ending, a place to trudge through, and then another area beginning. Its an energy killer.

I am more convinced now than ever that making the "bridge" under I-4 along Church to help the transition from downtown to the events center is needed. An event at the arena could feel like an event all over downtown.

The picture posted of the site construction with the Citrus Bowl in the background finally brought home to me what Church Street in Parramore could become. Maybe not what I've half jokingly suggested in the past (a hotel/casino district), but definitely something more urban. Perhaps shopping.

As an aside, Google Earth seems to have caught the Citurs Bowl preparing for the Florida Classic. only a few people inside the stadium, but tailgaters out in the lots.

Edited July 29, 2008 by Boomer136

[facilities man]

Isn't the Parking garage South of the new arena supposed to be a smaller VIP lot mainly for skybox ticket holders?

[sunshine]

While I've thought about how nice it would be to have on/off-ramps from I-4 to the new arena's parking garage, I'm starting to think it's not such a great idea; not because it wouldn't be an efficient way to solve the traffic problems that plague game nights but because it might be better to use those funds to promote alternative transportation solutions. Rather that spend a ton of money on some ramps that will quickly shuttle people in and out of a parking garage so that fans will never have to travel the streets of downtown seems a little wasteful. It also sends the wrong message in this age of high gas prices, eco consciousness, and new urbanism.

Instead of that, how about using the money to expand the Lymmo system just ever so much so that fans would be able to park almost anywhere downtown and get to the arena for free in just a few minutes and perhaps drop a few dollars in some downtown retail establishments along the way? In addition, maybe create a small bicycle parking lot under a covered portion of the arena so that all these new downtown residents have a [somewhat] secure, dry place to leave their bikes should they wish to ride on out to events.

The design of the new arena's parking garage and its location at the crossroads of I-4/408 should already lessen the amount of traffic that occurs pre- and post-game around the Centroplex. Further, when commuter rail comes into the picture that should also help out a great deal providing an alternative to driving, so I think all of these little factors will add up to traffic not being such a terrible problem that it would warrant exclusive on/off-ramps at the new arena.

It sounds like a good vision but it is like saying dont expand I-4 and let it jam so people will move closer to where the work. In reality, most people will always drive there to watch the game and leave. If parking and traffic is really going to be jam pack like you said, I suspect a lot of people will decide to stay home and watch it on their big screen (that's if u dont have bright house). LOL

Looking at the video on O-sentinel, the design on the south end is definitely another mistake. It looks like a glorified dark alley that reject any pedestrian activities.

[JRS1]

I can understand the South St. side of the arena being the way it is; it's akin to a back of house like at the OCCC and other similar places. South St. isn't very pedestrian friendly now as it is; it's more of a point A to point B road b/c of the exit ramp and parking decks lining it. this will merely add to that-- for better or worse.

I saw the video.

when you're at Church and garland right where Rustic is supposed to go and where the valet is at garland, the arena will be extremely close to that point. they should definitely do the bridge district thing... it would flow perfectly from Garland to Hughey.

[prahaboheme]

^I disagree. The majority of Red Sox and Celtic fans come into Boston from the North Shore on the commuter rail.

Make it hard and expensive for people to drive in and they will take a commuter train--well, if one is in place.

[tc01]

Does any of you guys like the design of the event center?

Edited July 30, 2008 by tc01

[jack]

The garage will be arounf 1000 or so spaces. And the South street design is bland because it is back of the house. South street will be like an alley.

[bic]

And the South street design is bland because it is back of the house. South street will be like an alley.

Okay, but it doesn't have to be.

[bulldogger]

Good place to buy a hot dog from a cart, score a bag of weed, and get your scalped tickets.

[sunshine]

Or a place to hide the homeless and prostitue

[tc01]

The city is suppose to redo all of that area that leads up to the Citrus Bowl.

Edited July 30, 2008 by tc01

[Magicfan95]

^I disagree. The majority of Red Sox and Celtic fans come into Boston from the North Shore on the commuter rail.

Make it hard and expensive for people to drive in and they will take a commuter train--well, if one is in place.

That is Boston though, not Orlando.

Different lifestyles, and it's not changing anytime soon.