Fifteen years ago today, Kia Center opened its doors and transformed the landscape of Orlando and Central Florida, evolving into far more than a world-class entertainment venue, it has become an economic powerhouse and cultural cornerstone for the community.

Since opening on October 1, 2010, the state-of-the-art arena has welcomed nearly 20 million guests through its doors, hosted thousands of unforgettable events ranging from sold-out concerts by music’s biggest stars to diverse, high-profile sporting events and generated $6.5 billion in economic output while creating more than 4,070 jobs. As Kia Center marks this milestone anniversary, it stands as a shining example of how strategic investment in sports and entertainment infrastructure can drive sustained economic growth and unite the community while putting Orlando on the national stage.

The arena’s impact extends well beyond its walls, consistently delivering a huge return on investment and proving that bold vision pays dividends for generations. Economic studies show that 35% of Kia Center attendees stay overnight, averaging 416,000 hotel nights per year. These visitors fill restaurants, shops and attractions throughout the region and create a powerful multiplier effect that has injected sustained revenue into the local economy. Aside from the financial benefits, Kia Center has fundamentally enhanced the quality of life for Orlando residents, becoming a destination where families can watch their hometown heroes compete, where friends gather for once-in-a-lifetime concert experiences and where the community comes together to celebrate, cheer and create lasting memories.

"Over the past 15 years, Kia Center has brought our city together for major sporting events, concerts and family shows while creating thousands of jobs and driving significant economic impact by attracting visitors from across the region. Beyond the headline events, the arena has served our community in countless ways, from hosting high school graduations and numerous job fairs to serving as an election voting site. Kia Center is a source of tremendous pride for Orlando and has unquestionably played an outsized role in creating a more vibrant city."

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

“Since day one, Kia Center has far exceeded expectations of what an arena can be, consistently delivering legendary experiences and extraordinary moments. Our seasoned team makes it all happen and they are truly the best in the business. As excited as we are for what Kia Center has accomplished, we’re even more enthusiastic about what lies ahead, from elevating the artist, athlete and fan experience to planned facility enhancements that will keep this venue competitive well into the future.”

Allen Johnson, Orlando Venues Chief Venues Officer

The continued investment in Kia Center has been made possible thanks to a unanimous vote by the Orange County Commission which approved using Tourist Development Tax funding, a 6% surcharge on hotel and short-term lodging within Orange County, to allocate $226 million over 10 years for Kia Center upgrades. This funding will substantially improve many public-facing areas and address capital replacement of infrastructure including mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems along with security and fire protection, elevators and escalators (vertical transportation) and updated technology. Additional areas within the scope include interior and exterior finishes, along with furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E). These replacements and modern enhancements will not only protect our community’s investment but ensure the arena continues to draw in-demand events year-round.

Kia Center’s first 15 years, by the numbers:

• $6.5 Billion economic output
• $506,721,281.97 Total gross ticket sales (excludes Orlando Magic and Orlando Solar Bears)
• $358,987,700.14 Total food & beverage sold
• $55,575,262.23 Total merchandise sold (excludes Orlando Magic and Orlando Solar Bears)
• 19,783,334 Guests
• 4,070+ Jobs created
• 3,291 Events
• 2,038 Ticketed events
• 644 Orlando Magic games
• 496 Concerts
• 494 Orlando Solar Bears games
• 140 Latin shows (subset of overall concerts)
• 99 Disney on Ice shows
• 30 Comedians/comedy shows (subset of overall concerts)
• 26 WWE events
• 7 NHL preseason games
• 4 UFC events
• 3 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships (1st and 2nd Rounds)
• 1 NBA All-Star Weekend

Last night, the bustling arena closed out an extremely busy September - and its 14th year - by hosting an NHL pre-season hockey game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. Earlier in the month, Kia Center hosted WWE SmackDown and 12 concerts, nine of which were completely sold out.

The anniversary celebration continues throughout October at Kia Center with high-profile concerts by Lil Wayne (October 1), Brandon Lake (October 3), Andrea Bocelli (October 9), NBA YoungBoy (October 11), Billie Eilish (October 14), Jonas Brothers (October 26 & 27) and Elevation Worship & Steven Furtick (October 30), along with new season home openers for the Orlando Solar Bears (October 17) and the Orlando Magic (October 22).