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Orange County TDT Funds: Millions for Arts & Stadiums
12 Aug
Summary
- Task force recommended $750 million for Doctor Phillips Center upgrades.
- A $60 million cultural center for Eatonville was also advanced.
- Stadium and convention center proposals were notably dismissed.
An advisory task force in Orange County has finalized its recommendations for allocating millions of dollars generated by the lucrative tourist development tax (TDT). This tax, applied to hotel stays and short-term rentals, is a significant revenue source for the county, which attracts over 76 million visitors annually.
The task force advanced a substantial $750 million proposal to enhance the Doctor Phillips Center. This includes plans for additional parking, interior improvements, new theaters, and a banquet space. Concurrently, a $60 million request for an Eatonville history and cultural center was also approved, aiming to boost tourism with immersive exhibits and educational programs.
Additional recommendations include a $54 million extension for Camping World Stadium, featuring a parking garage and a rooftop sports field. However, the task force dismissed a nearly $1 billion stadium proposal for the Orlando Dreamers as premature and rejected a $523 million request from the Orange County Convention Center for a new venue, citing insufficient return on investment.
These recommendations will now be presented to the Orange County Commissioners for their final approval on which projects will receive funding. The county's TDT collections reached a record $384.6 million for fiscal year 2024-25, partly attributed to the opening of Universal's Epic Universe.
