By Jim Carchidi
June 4, 2026
Upgrades and additions at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium will soon include an event center. The bid process for design/build services is reaching the home stretch with a shortlist of companies chosen for project presentations.
A new venue
The location of the event center, highlighted on a project map, currently houses grass parking lots. Image courtesy of City of Orlando
The facility, estimated at $61 million, is among $400 million in Camping World Stadium investments funded by Orange County Tourist Development Tax allocations. Plans for the 140,000-square-foot event center were announced when the bid process began in April. Approximately four acres northwest of the Tampa Avenue/Church Street intersection has been set aside for the project, which will host a variety of programming beyond stadium events.
Project features
Floor plans and architectural renderings will be produced during the design/build phase, but procurement documents describe the main venue as a central field house capable of hosting multi-sport activities, large-scale events, and boutique functions.
Key components will include:
- a welcoming main lobby
- concessions areas
- flexible locker rooms
- a mezzanine level
- adaptive banquet and event hall
- back-of-house operations spaces
The next phase
A 30–day application submission schedule began on April 27. Four companies – WELBRO, Gilbane, PCL Construction, and Austin Commercial – have been chosen to present plans in the next phase of the selection process, beginning June 10. According to the procurement timeline, project rankings will be complete by June 22 and contract negotiations with the chosen company will begin soon after. The city hopes to begin construction before the end of the year with completion in the fall of 2027.
Not slowing down
Fans wait in line to enter the Rolling Loud Festival grounds in May. The three-day event was held at Tinker Field as Camping World Stadium upgrades were in progress. The stadium is set to host college bowl games later this year. Photo by Jim Carchidi
Despite the construction activity and ongoing upgrades, Camping World Stadium is set to host the Florida Blue Florida Classic (Nov. 21) Pop-Tarts Bowl (Dec. 29) and Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2). Stadium upgrades are expected to be complete before the start of the 2027 NFL season, when Orlando will host the Jacksonville Jaguars while EverBank Stadium undergoes renovations.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
Enjoy this blog post? Click here to subscribe for updates
Leave A Comment