By Jim Carchidi
January 8, 2026
Kia Center could once again host basketball’s biggest stars and pop culture celebrities for a future NBA All-Star Game. Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) President & CEO Jason Siegel announced at a January 8 meeting of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce that a formal bid to host the 2030 NBA All-Star Game is underway and will be submitted to the league in the coming months. Siegel will serve as Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, working alongside a coalition of regional business leaders and key stakeholders to pursue the opportunity.
See the Orlando Real YouTube page for Ken Pozek's video with Jason Siegel.
Three-peat
Greater Orlando Sports Commission CEO Jason Siegel is working with the city and regional partners to bring Orlando its third NBA All-Star Game. Photos by Jim Carchidi
If selected, the 2030 NBA All-Star Game would be Orlando’s third time hosting the marquee mid-season event. The city first hosted All-Star Weekend in 1992 and again in 2012. However, landing events of this caliber means more than sold-out stadiums and marquee matchups.
Economic wins
Hosting events like WrestleMania 33 in 2017 not only boosted Orlando's credibility as a sports event leader, it added millions to the local economy through hotel and entertainment spending.
Bids for premier sports events can reach tens of millions of dollars with Olympic trials and FIFA matches requiring greater investments. To bolster GO Sports' efforts, Orange County commissioners recently approved additional incentive funding for the pursuit of marquee events, allocating $10 million per year in tourist development tax funds. The public investment is supplemented by private partnerships, grants, and state funding. Siegel emphasized the success of each bid is ultimately measured by its return to the community. “For every dollar spent, we aspire to earn back a significant return on that investment, and we want to recover a portion if not all of the tourism tax used to land the event.”
The objective is to position the region on a global stage while giving local residents access to world-class sporting experiences in their own backyard. GO Sports is currently pursuing five of the top 20 global sporting events with the highest economic impact:
- WrestleMania: $215 million estimated impact in 2025
- NBA All-Star Game: $300 million-$400 million estimated impact
- Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup: $4 billion-$6 billion estimated impact
- FIFA Women’s World Cup: $5 billion-$10 billion estimated impact
The level of city, county, and stakeholder collaboration that enabled the 2020 MLS and NBA seasons to carry on in “bubbles” at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort elevated Orlando’s credibility within the global sports industry.
Checking every box
Local event venues and the Central Florida hospitality industry work together to accommodate the needs of big events, like when Orange County Convention Center hosted the All-Star Jam Session during NBA All-Star Game Week in 2012.
Venue investment is a critical component of staying competitive in the international sports marketplace. Camping World Stadium will undergo a $400 million renovation to enhance infrastructure and amenities ahead of potentially hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars 2027 season. Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), which hosted the NBA All-Star Jam Session in 2012 and the WrestleMania Axxess fan zone in 2017, will soon begin a $560 million expansion. And Osceola Heritage Park, which is home to Orlando City and Orlando Pride practices and the NBA G League Osceola Magic, is planning its own expansion.
Hospitality assets also play a major role in each bid with four- and five-star hotels, Michelin-recognized restaurants, and world-class tourism destinations helping create an exceptional event hosting ecosystem. Additionally, the Westcourt mixed-use development is expected to be completed ahead of the 2030 All-Star Game, adding new hospitality options directly across from Kia Center.
“All of it goes into the equation,” Siegel said. “To host a successful event we need hotel room inventory, practice and training venues, restaurants, and places to host fan fests. Everybody comes together for the common purpose of delivering a successful outcome. Orlando can check all the boxes.”
Room for everyone
The AAU Junior Volleyball National Championship has confirmed its return to OCCC through 2035. Image Courtesy of Orange County Convention Center
As more global events become part of the conversation, GO Sports and its partners continue to prioritize youth, amateur, and grassroots competitions. “Our community can host major marquee global events and not impact the work we are already doing,” Siegel said, pointing to the AAU Junior Volleyball National Championship’s return to OCCC through 2035 and ESPN Wide World of Sports’ annual slate of youth soccer, cheerleading, and dance events.
Details of the NBA All-Star Game bid remain in progress and are on track for a spring submission. There is currently no timeline for when the league will announce its decision. GO Sports is also negotiating dates for a future WrestleMania event and preparing additional event bids expected to be announced in the coming months.
See the Orlando Real YouTube page for Ken Pozek's video with Jason Siegel.
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.
Leave A Comment