ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando officials have approved plans for a new 140,000-square-foot multipurpose event center near Camping World Stadium.

The project is part of a larger $400 million round of upgrades at Camping World Stadium, funded through Orange County’s tourist development tax. It will host civic events and youth sports.

“It’ll be able to accommodate 16 volleyball (courts), eight basketball courts, all kinds of youth sports activities and community activities. So, it’s going to be a great location, a great addition to the Camping World campus,” Orlando’s Chief Venues Officer Allen Johnson said.

The event center will be built on a 3.9-acre site at the corner of Church Street and Tampa Avenue. In 2025, the city bought properties there and added them to the downtown Community Redevelopment Agency boundary in 2026.

The city will demolish the Tabernacle of Praise Ministry church, which is currently on the lot, to make room for the new event center.

“It’s going to change the whole neighborhood for the better,” resident James Drayton said.

He has lived near Camping World Stadium for more than 20 years, and over time he has seen the area change quite a lot, and he welcomes the idea of the event center.

“I think it’s going to be great. And I look forward to something, something of significance being put over there,” Drayton said.

Renderings shared by the city show what the project would look like once completed. Johnson says the focus of the facility will be around youth sports.

“Think about fan fest pre-events, concert fan fest, bowl games fan fest. We’re going to have that right now within steps of our front door,” Johnson said.

According to the city, the event center will cost an estimated $61 million. District 5 City Commissioner Shan Rose said the project will be an economic boost to the area.

“This creates an opportunity for Orlando to continue to grow as a world-class city, especially in our sports and entertainment world. This gives small businesses the opportunity to continue to grow, continue to thrive,” Rose said.

Johnson said the design and build team is kicking off the project today and expects it to be completed by the end of 2027.