Commissioners approve convention center GMP and back bids to host NBA All‑Star Week and Olympic Qualifier Series

Orange County commissioners voted to advance construction of a major expansion and renovation of the Orange County Convention Center complex and to authorize county support for bids to host two major sporting events: the NBA All‑Star Week and the Olympic Qualifier Series leading into Los Angeles 2028.

At the meeting, Convention Center staff presented Guaranteed Maximum Price 3 (GMP3), which covers remaining construction scopes not included in earlier enabling and owner‑direct purchase GMPs. Senior project staff reported a GMP3 amount of about $345,524,164 and a cumulative construction total consistent with the $560 million budget the board approved in October 2023; the project crew said it is carrying an owner contingency of roughly $30 million and owner soft costs of about $87 million.

“Through value engineering we reached budget without touching program,” said Terry Devbit, the convention project lead, describing design adjustments such as reducing some glass façades, optimizing pile depths and selecting alternative materials to protect schedule and cost without eliminating planned program elements such as a 100,000‑square‑foot ballroom.

Board review and vote: commissioners questioned staff about local contracting, maintenance implications and specific value‑engineering choices. Staff said about $15 million of subcontracts would go to Orange County companies and roughly $104 million of labor will come from the local five‑county region. The board approved the GMP amendment by a 5‑1 vote (Commissioner Wilson voted no; Commissioner Moore was absent). Commissioner Wilson said she remained concerned about funding tradeoffs and infrastructure needs outside the convention center project.

Sports event pursuits: the board then reviewed two separate requests from Greater Orlando Sports.

- NBA All‑Star Week: Jason Seagull, CEO of Greater Orlando Sports, requested up to $20 million in county support to bid for hosting the NBA All‑Star Week (one year of build‑up and a multi‑day festival). The NBA’s league estimates cited in the presentation projected roughly 50,000 room nights, about 150,000 total attendees and an economic impact in the hundreds of millions. The board unanimously authorized staff to pursue the bid and negotiate funding agreements.

- Olympic Qualifier Series (IOC partnership): Greater Orlando Sports also presented an opportunity to host the final stop of the Olympic Qualifier Series — multi‑sport qualifiers (including beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, skateboarding, sport climbing and flag football) — ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Staff projected roughly 25,000 room nights and an estimated $48 million economic impact and requested up to $15 million in county support and up to $500,000 to reimburse pursuit expenses. Commissioners approved pursuit and funding authorization unanimously, while asking for contract protections, insurance and clarity about how additional security or altered event scope would be funded.

Local and fiscal safeguards: commissioners pressed staff and county legal counsel to build contract language to protect taxpayers (clawbacks, insurance, force majeure and IOC/league commitments) and to define precisely when county funds would be disbursed (county counsel and staff said detailed funding agreements would follow board authorization). Administrator Byron Brooks and the county attorney’s office will negotiate the funding agreements and report back to the board before funds would be expended.

Context and community benefits: presenters emphasized community legacy programming — volunteer recruitment (2,000–2,500 volunteers), school and youth outreach, equitable ticket distribution, and equipment and infrastructure left in the community after events. Jason Seagull highlighted prior local successes including the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials in Orlando and noted county partners (hotels, attractions, Visit Orlando) are already engaged in bid preparations.

Next steps: staff will return with formal funding and host‑community agreements spelling out protections and delivery milestones before funding is released. The convention center construction schedule presented by staff targets completion in 2029 with sales and bookings to follow.