ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Orlando is set for a busy weekend as multiple events bring crowds and traffic to the city.<\/p>\n
EDC kicks off Friday, joining a lineup of events including the Orlando Magic playing the Boston Celtics, the Orlando Pride facing the Seattle Reign and the musical \u201cWater for Elephants\u201d at the Dr. Phillips Center.<\/p>\n
[WATCH \u2018WATER FOR ELEPHANTS\u2019 INTERVIEW BELOW]<\/p>\n
Mayor Buddy Dyer said the city\u2019s busy event schedule is no accident. <\/p>\n
\u201cBack in 2008, you\u2019ll remember that we conceived this community venues plan to do the performing arts center, to build what\u2019s now the Kia Center, and to renovate what was then the Citrus Bowl, and we envisioned stuff like this,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have to have the facilities to be able to handle events like this, but I think it\u2019s proven to be a real economic benefit for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
With so many happenings, the city is preparing for logistical challenges. Walking, driving and parking will be intense as hundreds of thousands descend on Orlando. EDC alone is expected to generate over $100 million for the local economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we\u2019ve sold over 100,003 three-day passes, and then there are single-day passes as well,\u201d Dyer said. <\/p>\n
[WATCH BELOW: Frito-Lay plant in Orlando set to close]<\/p>\n
\u201cSeventy percent of the people are coming from out of the market. So that means a lot of hotel room stays if they\u2019re staying here for the full three-day experience, and most of the tickets that have been sold are three-day passes, not a single-day passes.\u201d<\/p>\n